JOHN OF SALISBURY (c.1120-S0). An Eng lish scholar and churchman, for thirty years the central figure of English learning. He was horn between 1115 and 1120 at or near Old Sarum. In 1136 he went to France. attended the lectures of Abtslard and other famous mas ters, and remained there for several years, study ing logic. grammar. the classics, and theology.
Ile was sent on important missions to Popes Eugenics III. and Adrian ., by %\ hom he was received with great honor. When Thomas it Beck et became Archbishop of Canterbury, he was made his secretary, was with him in his exile in France, returned with him to Eng land. and witnessed his martyrdom. In 1176 he NVas appointed Bishop of Chartres. His greatest works are: Policrat tens sire de nugis r'u-iuliucr et 1 est igiis Ph ilosoph orum, in eight books, a work of great. crud it ion, dealing government, philosophy, and various learn ing: and lick/Jog/ens. in four books. a defense
of the studies of the schools against the sneers of the Ilis 1 ita it Passio 1 homa- and his letters, numbering about 300. are of the highest interest. Other works are: Lath( ic an elegiac poem containing 1852 lines, which deals with the same subject as Poll era t icus ; I i None, i I uselm i ; and 11 istoria Pont ipea Ile died at thartres. October 25, 1180. John of Salisbury is described as a grace ful Latin poet, an impressive orator, and by far the most. learned man of his age. Consult his oi,cru. ed. by t;iles (5 vols., Oxford, 1848) ; schaarsehmifit, Johanucs nod/ n»(/ Stu die Nelfrif ten and Philosophic Leipzig. 1862) : Stubbs. Se ren teen Lee( ores On y _f ia.ral and Modern istory (Ox ford. 1886).