Readings in the History of Education: Mediaeval UniversitiesNorton, Arthur O.
History
Readings in the History of Education: Mediaeval Universities
Norton, Arthur O.
Education, Medieval -- History -- Sources; Universities and colleges -- Europe
There was at Paris a notable German scholar who was bishop-elect
of Liege. His servant, while buying wine at a tavern, was beaten
and his wine jar was broken. When this was known, the German
clerks came together and entering the tavern they wounded the
host, and having beaten him they went off, leaving him half dead.
Therefore there was an outcry among the people and the city was
stirred, so that Thomas, the Provost of Paris, under arms, and
with an armed mob of citizens, broke into the Hall of the German
clerks, and in their combat that notable scholar who was
bishop-elect of Liege, was killed, with some of his people.
Therefore the Masters of the scholars in Paris going to the King
of France complained to him of Thomas, the Provost of Paris and
of his accomplices who killed the aforesaid scholars. And at
their instance the aforesaid Thomas was arrested, as were certain
of his accomplices, and put in prison. But some of them escaped
by flight, leaving their homes and occupations; then the King of
France, in his wrath, had their houses demolished and their vines
and fruit trees uprooted.
But as to the Provost, it was decided that he should be kept in
prison, not to be released until he should clear himself by the
ordeal of water or sword, and if he failed, he should be hung,
and if he was cleared he should, by the King's clemency, leave
the kingdom.
And yet the scholars, pitying him, entreated the King of France
that the Provost and his accomplices after being flogged after
the manner of scholars at school, should be let alone and be
restored to their occupations.
But the King of France would not grant this, saying that it would
be greatly derogatory to his honor if any one but himself should
punish his malefactors. Furthermore, this same King of France,
being afraid that the Masters of the scholars, and the scholars
themselves, would withdraw from his city, sought to satisfy them
by decreeing that for the future no clerk should be haled to a
secular trial on account of any misdemeanor which he had
committed, but that if the clerk committed a misdemeanor he
should be delivered over to the Bishop and be dealt with in
accordance with the clerk's court. Also this same King of France
decreed that whoever was the Provost of Paris should take oath
that he would be loyal to the clerks, saving his loyalty to the
King. Moreover this same King conferred upon the scholars his own
sure peace and confirmed it to them by his own charter.
But that Provost, when he had been detained in the King's prison
for many days planned his escape by flight, and, as he was being
lowered over the wall, the rope broke, and falling from a height
to the ground, he was killed.[35]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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