“ At an early age he entered himself as a monk in the monastery of St. Gerard at Aurillac. After laying a foundation of all the sciences cultivated in that ignorant age, he travelled for improvement, and visited Spain in order to hear the Arabian doctors in its universities. At length he rendered himself so distinguished by his acquirements, that he was appointed by Hugh Capet preceptor to his son Robert. ”

“ Living in the very depth of the dark ages, it is no wonder that, like other illustrious illuminators of that darkness, he fell under the suspicion of magical practices, and several ridiculous stories are related to this purpose. ”

“ He was afterwards made preceptor to Otho III., who succeeded to the imperial crown while a minor. In 991 Hugh Capet promoted him to the Archbishopric of Rheims, from which Arnulf, the natural son of Lothaire King of France, had been deposed ”