Oxford (England) -- History; University of Oxford -- History
Such scholars as they
found in the said halls or inns they killed or maimed, or
grievously wounded. Their books and all their goods which they
could find, they spoiled, plundered and carried away. All their
victuals, wine and other drink they poured out; their bread, fish,
&c. they trod under foot. After this the night came on and the
conflict ceased for that day, and the same even public proclamation
was made in Oxen, in the King's name, 'that no man should injure
the scholars or their goods under pain of forfeiture.'
"The next day being Thursday (after the Chancellor and some
principal persons of the University were set out towards Woodstock
to the King, who had sent for them thither) no one scholar or
scholar's servant so much as appearing out of their houses with any
intention to harm the townsmen, or offer any injury to them (as
they themselves confessed) yet the said townsmen about sun rising,
having rung out their bell, assembled themselves together in a
numberless multitude, desiring to heap mischief upon mischief, and
to perfect by a more terrible conclusion that wicked enterprize
which they had begun. This being done, they with hideous noises and
clamours came and invaded the scholars' houses in a wretchless
sort, which they forced open with iron bars and other engines; and
entering into them, those that resisted and stood upon their
defence (particularly some chaplains) they killed or else in a
grievous sort maimed. Some innocent wretches, after they had
killed, they scornfully cast into houses of easement, others they
buried in dunghills, and some they let lie above ground. The crowns
of some chaplains, viz. all the skin so far as the tonsure went,
these diabolical imps flayed off in scorn of their clergy. Divers
others whom they had mortally wounded, they haled to prison,
carrying their entrails in their hands in a most lamentable manner.
They plundered and carried away all the goods out of fourteen inns
or halls, which they spoiled that Thursday. They broke open and
dashed to pieces the scholars' chests and left not any moveable
thing which might stand them in any stead; and which was yet more
horrid, some poor innocents that were flying with all speed to the
body of CHRIST for succour (then honourably carried in procession
by the brethren through the town for the appeasing of this
slaughter) and striving to embrace and come as near as they could
to the repository wherein the glorious Body was with great devotion
put, these confounded sons of Satan knocked them down, beat and
most cruelly wounded. The Crosses also of certain brethren (the
friers) which were erected on the ground for the present time with
a 'procul hinc ite profani,' they overthrew and laid flat with the
cheynell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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