A quarrel arose on St. Scholastica's day (February 10th) in the year 1355, between certain scholars and the host of a tavern which belonged to Bereford. The scholars thought the wine bad; and as the host only answered by ill words, they broke his flasks about his head. The tavern-keeper called for help. Speedily (as if all had been preconcerted) the Town alarm-bell was rung from St. Martin's Church armed citizens assembled, and fell upon the scholars who were walking unarmed and unsuspecting in the streets. The Chancellor in vain, and at the hazard of his life, entreated the townsmen to keep the peace; at last he ordered the bell of St. Mary's to sound an alarm, and call the scholars to arms. They had taken to flight at the first surprise; but they now rallied, and offered so stout an opposition, as to keep their adversaries in check that night. In the morning, the Chancellor's efforts at pacification were again frustrated by the determined hostility of the Town; and it appeared that the scholars would be murdered, if they did not stand on their defence. Though so inferior in numbers, yet by great exertion they succeeded in seizing the gates, to prevent the entrance of the country people;-a measure of traditionary tactics. But towards evening, about two thousand armed countrymen burnt down the West Gate, and forced their way in, headed by a black banner,* with a * Wood cites the following verses from a poet of the day: :Urebat portas agrestis plebs populosa; Post res distortas videas quæ sunt vitiosa, wild cry of Murder and Plunder. The scholars, borne down by the torrent, fled into the open country, into the churches or into their private rooms. But the savage mob, that night or next day, stormed most of the Colleges and Halls, and hunted-out the inmates. Those who could not escape were killed, wounded, thrown into the sinks and sewers, or dragged to prison. All their property was destroyed or plundered; after which the mob began to carouse, and abundance of drink inflamed them to still madder deeds. Crucifixes and church ornaments were demolished; students shaven as monks were treated with peculiar cruelty : the scalp was actually torn off the head of some. No holy place was respected. In vain did the more popular of the clergy carry the host along the streets in solemn procession. Monks were seized or maltreated at the foot of the cross or chalice. In short, forty scholars or masters are recorded by name, as having been killed in this fray; but these, without a doubt, are but a fraction of those who suffered. As soon as the storm began to subside, and the rabble to decamp with their booty, the more prudent citizens assembled to prevent further mischief. The Town-Authorities also met, with a few of the more eminent Academicians, who had sent to Vexillum geritur nigrum. "Slea! Slea!" recitatur ; demand assistance from the Bishop of Lincoln and from the King. The former issued an interdict against the Town; and the latter pursued measures, at first equally vigorous. Less energy however appears in their after-proceedings. Perhaps, upon examination, the King found the blame* to be more equally divided between the parties, than was supposed in the first moment of wrath against so brutal an abuse of victory. At any rate it was clear, that the scholars had begun the fray; and there must have been plentiful ground for crimination against them. That the Town-Authorities had misconducted themselves, does not appear; but the Sheriff of Oxford was displaced by the Royal Commissioners, which may seem to imply that the fault was in a different quarter. There is also ground to believe, that the very intensity of this savage contest gave rise by reaction to feelings of a far more honorable and Christian nature. Terror, grief, repentance and a feeling of helplessness and misery, seem to have driven all the more baneful passions into the back-ground. Both parties were humbled at the common guilt, distressed by the common suffering; and such feelings were widely shared by the nation at large. The whole affair assumed a public importance, and no one was concerned so much to recriminate or retaliate for the past, as to reconcile and prevent for the future. * The whole story is compiled from Wood. $74. Consequences of the Riot. We do not pretend to documentary evidence that we rightly read the hearts of the combatants; but the actual course of events can hardly be understood without assuming the above highly probable hypothesis. The University now resigned absolutely all her privileges into the hands of the King, as though her very existence were too dearly purchased by a liability to such outrages. Town took the same course, without the least effort at self-justification: thus the King [Edward III.] had to rebuild the whole system anew as a lawgiver, and not to sit upon the question as a judge. The The method which he pursued, was, to establish the University as a decidedly independent, as well as preponderating authority; vesting in the Chancellor control over the Town Police, and all the jurisdiction, civil or military, connected with it.* Every point before contested, was clearly given in favor of the University: and with these reservations, the Town also received back its privileges. Farther difficulty however arose concerning compensation to the plundered. The books destroyed were estimated at so very high a price, that the Town declared itself unable to replace them. Upon this, the sum of two hundred and fifty-six pounds was imposed as a nominal indemnification, and the * See Note (31) at the end. L University joined with other persons of consequence in interceding with the King for the immediate liberation of Bereford and others, who had been put into confinement. Bereford himself lived long after, as a sincere friend and benefactor to the University. The question remained; what was to be done with the country people, who had been the chief criminals. They were passed by unnoticed; probably on prudential grounds: as know how violent was the stir among them in the reign of Richard II., how deep-rooted a hatred against the clergy they had already displayed, and the danger of exasperating them at so critical* a moment of the French war. The Church followed up the King's merciful and prudent policy, and having first mitigated, shortly removed the interdict on the Town. As an expiation, the Town bound itself to institute masses for the souls of the dead, and to feed poor scholars on St. Scholastica's day for ever. Now also, it appears, was instituted the office of Steward or Seneschal of the University, who was chosen generally from the most distinguished of the neighbouring nobility, as conservator of the academic privileges. At least there is no other time on which we can fix, at which it is probable that an officer of so high dignity and prerogative was created; although we * The battle of Maupertuis was fought in July, 1356. The King's new charter to the University was dated 27th June, 1356. |