02/10/2009

Today is the Anniversary of the St. Scholastica Riots

On this day, February 10, in 1355, Oxford University erupted in a violent riot that lasted three days, and ended with the deaths of 93 people, most of them students. The riot began when two students in a group drinking at the Swindlestock Tavern (now a branch of Abbey National Bank) in Carfax ordered wine. According to Anthony Wood, author of a 1674 history of Oxford University:

John de Croydon the vintner brought them some, but they disliking it. and he avouching it to be good, several snappish words passed between them. At length the vintner giving them stubborn and saucy language, they threw the wine and vessel at his head.

Croyden apparently appealed to the Mayor, John de Bereford, who caused the town bell at the church of St. Marton's to be rung, thus summoning the townsfolk into an impromptu militia. They, armed with a variety of implements, assailed Oxford, and attacking the students. Alarmed, the university Chancellor rang the bell at the university chapel of St. Marys, at which point students assembled and counter-attacked the townsfolk, forcing a retreat.

The next day, Bereford went into the countryside, and returned with some 2,000 folk carrying a black banner and chanting "Slay, Havock, Smyte!" They broke into the various colleges colleges at Oxford, ransacking the buildings, and killing 63 students, and 30 townsfolk.

The king, Edward III was appealed to by the Chancellor, and found in favor of the University. He ordered the Mayor and Bailiffs promenade bareheaded through the town (a public humiliation since hats indicated social status) and attend a special Mass on every subsequent St Scholastica's Day. In addition, they had to swear an oath to observe the University's privileges, and pay an annual fine of 63 pence to the University. This practice continued until 1825, when the Mayor simply refused to participate. Oddly, the "town-gown" conflict has never really disappeared in Oxford, to this day, to the point that there are pubs that are designated as "university" friendly, and others that are perceived as strictly for "townies."

(Originally written for Klat/http://campusreport.com/article/today-anniversary-st-scholstica-riots)

Feb 10, 2009 9:31:00 AM | Higher ed, History

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