Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/111

UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER CENTRES OF LEARNING 99 of the peasant classes. One of his most read works was an outline of the history of the world, which in the course of eighteen years, dating from 1474, ran through thirty editions, was translated six times into French, and was one of the first books printed in Spain. Eole- winck held firmly to the orthodox Six Ages, but at the same time affirmed the repetition of history as a his- torico-philosophical law ; the succession of time is always repeated anew in the regular trifold change of abundance, poverty, and mediocrity. How deeply the heart of this theologian and mystic could enter into the life of the people, and how warmly it could beat for the German Fatherland, especially for his native Westphalia, ' The Land of the Heroes,' is markedly shown in his book entitled ' On the Praise of Saxony, now called Westphalia.' The sketch he gives here of the manners and customs of his country- people surpasses in vivid and delightful picturing any description that exists of any other German race. Eolewinck's works show a thorough knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, and of the writings of the Fathers and of the old theologians, as well as of the chro- niclers and historians of later times. The} 7 also give evidence of some degree of acquaintance with the classic writers. There is, therefore, nothing surprising in Potken's affirmation that ' this universally admired Carthusian, this virtuous, saintly man, was a promoter of classic culture from a Christian standpoint.' This Carthusian house of Cologne, moreover, which stood out as a lead- ing example of ascetic discipline in its complete renun- ciation of the world, sheltered a whole number of h2