Oxford (England) -- History; University of Oxford -- History
The traditional site of this church is indicated by Church Place as it
is called to-day. The cloisters probably lay to the south of the church,
round "Penson's Gardens."
As the Franciscans fell away by degrees from the ideal of poverty, so
also they succumbed to the desire of knowledge. "I am your breviary, I
am your breviary," S. Francis had cried to a novice who had asked for a
Psalter. The true Doctors, he held, were those who with the meekness of
wisdom show forth good works for the edification of their neighbours.
But the very popularity of their preaching drove his disciples to the
study of theology. Their desire not only to obtain converts but also to
gain a hold on the thought of the age had led the friars to fasten on
the Universities. The same purpose soon led them to establish at Oxford
a centre of learning and teaching.
Their first school at Oxford was built by Agnellus of Pisa, and there he
persuaded Robert Grossetete, the great reforming bishop of Lincoln, to
lecture. Agnellus himself was a true follower of S. Francis and no great
scholar. "He never smelt of an Academy or scarce tasted of humane
learning." He was indeed much concerned at the results of Grossetete's
lectures. For one day when he entered this school to see what progress
his scholars were making in literature, he found them disputing eagerly
and making enquiries whether there was a God. The scandalised Provincial
cried out aloud in anger, "Hei mihi! Hei mihi! Fratres! Simplices
coelos penetrant, et literati disputant utrum sit Deus!" The miracles
which were afterwards reputed to be performed at the grave of this same
excellent friar caused the church of the Grey Friars to be much
frequented.
The friars now began to accumulate books and we soon find mention of two
libraries belonging to them. The nucleus of them was formed by the books
and writings of Grossetete, which he bequeathed to the brethren. And
they collected with great industry from abroad Greek, Hebrew and
mathematical writings, at that time unknown in England. The fate of this
priceless collection of books was enough to make Wood "burst out with
grief." For, when the monasteries had begun to decay, and the monks had
fallen into ways of sloth and ignorance and were become "no better than
a gang of lazy, fat-headed friars," they began to sell their books for
what they would fetch and allowed the remainder to rot in neglect.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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