The Student Rows of Oxford.
737
any demur or patience entering his pres regular Master.1 Evidently such a law was ence, relates to him and the standers-by, as needed, for the record says that among the well as tears and sighs would permit, the students were a company of Varlets, who great abuses that he had received from the pretended to be Scholars, shuffled them Clerks of Oxford." 5 selves in, and did act much villainy in the The King promptly ordered the Town ш University by thieving, whoring and quar ai rest the culprits, sent soldiers to assist the relling." Burghers, and it is here that our interest In 1236 there was further bloodshed, lies, for such an opportunity appealed peace being restored with difficulty only by strongly to the townsfolk. In their zeal lest royal commissioners, nobles and prelates.11 the wrong doers might escape, they glee The University was gaining in self-confi dence, for the Clerks "were grown so stout j fully imprisoned every clerk upon whom they could lay hands. Masters and Scholars and constant in vindicating one another, were huddled into prison with all sorts of that nothing that savoured of an effront lawless violence, and all the students who Avent down with them, but was to the utmost could make their escape fled the town. Ex avenged." 4 communication and interdict followed from We have now to turn aside from the con the enraged Legate and from the Bishops, flicts between town and gown to an event and even the King showed marked hostility which all but ended the existence of the toward the University; for a year or more University, and which shows the fighting all lectures were suspended and many stu spirit among the students. Otho, Lord dents sought other universities, never to re Legate of the Pope, was staying at Osney turn; but penance being done, the bans fin Abbey, whither he had come, it is said, in ally were removed and university life once the hope of bettering Oxford morals. The more was resumed. Scholars called upon him, carrying him The University again gained substantial game for his table, but their appearance of privileges from a row with the townsmen in fended the Legate's Italian servant, who in 1248. A student was pursued and killed by sulted them and refused them admittance. the burghers, for what cause does not ap A fight immediately ensued, the Legate's pear, and the University promptly sus servant was killed, and "the Legate being pended all lectures and threatened to leave amazed, and jealous lest the same fate the- city unless punishment and security should befall him, puts on his Canonical against future trouble should be promised. Cope and locks himself up safe in the Tower of the Church," where he spends the night; As a result, these changes were made; henceforth in cases where students were in the students meanwhile calling him names volved the Oxford juries were to be made and "making diligent search after him." But up- half of clerks, and the Mayor and Bailiff in the morning he made his escape and, of Oxford on assuming office solemnly were "conveying himself over the rivers adjoin ing, soon after came puffing and blowing to ¡ to swear to respect the liberties and estab lished customs of the university. This last the King, then with his Court at Abendon promise was no mere form, for some four Abby. five miles from Oxford, and without hundred years later the mayor sought to 1 Ibid. evade taking the oath and was brought to ' Wood, I., p. 206. terms by the University. 3Lyte, p. 33. "'Hiilton, p. 48. "Wood, I., p. 223.
