Editing John of Salisbury (section)

==Early life and education==
Born at [[Salisbury]], England, he was of [[Anglo-Saxon]] rather than of [[Normans|Norman]] extraction, and therefore apparently a [[Cleric|clerk]] from a modest background, whose career depended upon his education. Beyond that, and that he applied to himself the cognomen of ''Parvus'', meaning "short" or "small", few details are known regarding his early life. From his own statements it is gathered that he crossed to France about 1136, and began regular studies in [[Paris]] under [[Peter Abelard]],<ref name="Guilfoy">Guilfoy, Kevin, [http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2015/entries/john-salisbury/ "John of Salisbury"], The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy  (Spring 2015 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).</ref> who had for a brief period re-opened his famous school there on [[Montagne Sainte-Geneviève]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=449}}

His vivid accounts of teachers and students provide some of the most valuable insights into the early days of the [[University of Paris]].<ref>Cantor 1992:324.</ref> When Abelard withdrew from Paris, John studied under Master [[Alberic of Paris|Alberic]] and [[Robert of Melun]]. In 1137, John went to [[Chartres]], where he studied grammar under [[William of Conches]], and rhetoric, logic and the classics under [[Richard l'Evêque]], a disciple of [[Bernard of Chartres]].<ref name="Pike">[http://www.constitution.org/salisbury/policrat123.htm John of Salisbury. ''Frivolities of Courtiers and Footprints of Philosophers'', (Joseph B. Pike, trans.), University of Minnesota, 1938]</ref> Bernard's teaching was distinguished partly by its pronounced [[Neoplatonism|Platonic]] tendency, and partly by the stress laid upon literary study of the greater Latin writers. The influence of the latter feature is noticeable in all of John of Salisbury's works.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=449}}

Around 1140 John returned to Paris to study theology under [[Gilbert de la Porrée]], then under [[Robert Pullus]] and Simon of Poissy, supporting himself as a tutor to young noblemen. In 1148, he resided at the Abbey of Moutiers-la-Celle in the [[diocese of Troyes]], with his friend [[Peter of Celle]]. He was present at the [[Council of Rheims (1148)|Council of Reims]] in 1148, presided over by [[Pope Eugene III]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|pp=449–450}} It is conjectured that while there, he was introduced by St. [[Bernard of Clairvaux]] to [[Theobald of Bec|Theobald]], whose secretary he became.<ref name="Guilfoy"/>