Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 16.pdf/799

was rescued by force from the custody of shot the said Rector in the left eye, and the Mayor. Students were beaten to death within an hour he expired." by townsmen, and a trader was killed by This was the turning point of the battle. Now that their leader was dead, the Clerks the students. And further, the students cap fled in all directions, while "the Laics with tured a beadsman and forced him to pray out more ado, fell immediately, as madmen, for the souls of several burghers whom they upon them, dispersed them into several intended to kill. •Matters reached a crisis in 1297, when places, and executed justice upon such that had as they conceived evil treated them. there arose another "grievous Discord be tween the Clerks and Laices." The inci Then "a numberless multitude of country dents from which it sprang, so trivial in ap clowns came in to the assistance of the pearance, show how inflammable was the Laics. Both of which parties falling with feeling on both sides. Two servants fell to great rigor on the remaining Clerks, there fighting, and "the quarrel was at length happened such a terrible and dismal con translated to those that were Standers by. flict, as before this time was never known Toward the end, the Riot did so much in in Oxford. Some they killed, multitudes crease that all the Clerks and Laices coming they wounded, others they beat and kicked out of their houses, each party gathered to about the streets. Some that fled to the gether into a body to fight." Churches for sanctuary and were praying "The next day, being Monday and the at the High Altar, ready with their open Feast of St. Matthias, the Clerks began to breasts to receive the fatal blow, them they gather in a great multitude, which being wounded and dragged out, and caused them straightway noised among the Laices, they to accompany those that they had before ordered that the common Bell of S. Martin's taken, to be driven to prison. Also if any should be forthwith rung, and the Cornets of them halted, or made a demur to go, (ox-horns) to be sounded about the streets. they whipped and pricked them forward Tli e townspeople now sent into the coun with goads. The Clerks that escaped fled from Oxford." l try "for help from the rustics," while the "Rector of the Church of Pychelstorne, and So the battle ended, but each side ap many others, came into the Highstreet and pealed to the Court. The University peti there with bows and arrows, swords and tioned the King for £ 1000 damage. The bucklers, slings and stones, set upon all the Town counterclaimed for £3000. The Bish Laics they could meet with, beat, wounded, op of Lincoln ex-communicated the Laics, and made them fly. Then they broke up royal commissions awarded 200 marks to their shops and houses and taking thence the Scholars, city baillives were removed all goods and chattels whatsoever they laid from office, and the burghers were com hands on, conveyed them away. After this, pelled to swear that all the liberties of the when the sd Rector had shot away all his University should be observed. arrows, he with some of his party came to In 1300 we find " the Universitie and the the house of one Edward, which they im Town much at variance" and the King sent mediately broke up, entered and took away a Commission "to bring them into agree those goods they could see. But the sd ment;" but the Commission accomplished Edward, running up into his solar or upper no more than its predecessors. chamber to defend it from being rifled, took his bow. and bending it with a strong arm, j 'Wood, I., pp. 349-35-2-