Oxford (England) -- History; University of Oxford -- History
Persuasion was used by the Archbishop and the Bishop of Lincoln. The
example of Paris and Cambridge was quoted. The aid of Dr Foxe, who had
proved his skill by obtaining the decree at Cambridge, was called in.
Learned arguments were provided by Nicholas de Burgo, an Italian friar.
But there was no doubt about the popular feeling on the question. Pieces
of hemp and rough drawings of gallows were affixed to the gate of the
bishop's lodging; both he and Father Nicholas were pelted with stones in
the open street; the women of Oxford supported Catherine with such
vehemence, that thirty of them had to be shut up in Bocardo. The King
had dispatched two of his courtiers to Oxford: the Duke of Suffolk and
Sir William Fitzwilliam. The former imprisoned the women; the latter
distributed money to the more venal of the graduates. "No indifferency
was used in the whole matter."
Threats and bribes at last prevailed. A committee carefully packed was
appointed with power to decide in the name of the University. A verdict
was obtained which corresponded to the Cambridge decree. The important
reservation, "if the marriage had been consummated," was added to the
decision that marriage with the widow of a deceased brother was contrary
to the divine and human law.
Cranmer, who had succeeded Warham as Archbishop of Canterbury,
pronounced the King's marriage with Catherine null and void. In the
following year the University was asked to concur in the foregone
decision in favour of separation from Rome. The authority of the Pope in
England was abolished, and the monasteries were rendered liable to
visitation by commission under the Great Seal. The Act of Supremacy
followed. Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas More were executed for denying
the royal supremacy, and Thomas Cromwell was appointed Vicar-General of
England.
His failure to procure a decree invalidating Henry's marriage meant the
downfall of Wolsey. His downfall involved the fortunes of his college.
It was rumoured at once that the buildings were to be demolished,
because they bore at every prominent point escutcheons carved with the
arms of the proud Cardinal. Wolsey had "gathered into his College
whatsoever excellent thing there was in the whole realm." The rich
vestments and ornaments with which he had furnished S. Frideswide's
Church were quickly "disposed" by the King. The disposal of this and
other property, lands, offices, plate and tapestries forfeited under the
statute of Praemunire, and carefully catalogued for his royal master by
the fallen minister, had obvious pecuniary advantages. And as in London,
York Place, the palace which the Cardinal had occupied and rebuilt as
Archbishop of York, was confiscated and its name changed to Whitehall;
so, when "bluff Harry broke into the spence," he converted Cardinal's
College into "King Henry VIII.'s College at Oxford" consisting of a dean
and twelve canons only (1532).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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