For while my heart o'erflows my eyes, MY NEIGHBOUR. If pressed with grief, if worn with pain, MY NEIGHBour. And when distress and sickness fly, MY NEIGHBOUR. MY NEIGHBOUR FEBRUARY received its name from the word Februa, because the expiatory sacrifices so called took place in this month. Its tutelar divinity was Neptune. In the first ages of Rome, it was at the end of the year; a decree of the Decemviri placed it after January. On the 15th of this month, the Lupercalia were celebrated in honour of the year, and of Pan. The sign of this month is Pisces, indicative of the waters and rains which then flooded the country. Remarkable Days In FEBRUARY 1826. *1. 1825.—THE UNIVERSITY SEAL OF OXFORD WAS this day affixed to an instrument releasing the mayor and citizens of that city from the performance of the acts till then annually required of them, on the 10th of February, named Dies Scholas tica. The origin of this custom is detailed by Anthony à Wood, in his History and Antiquities of the University of Oxford, and though long, claims a place in our pages, as illustrative of the turbulent manners of our ancestors in the reign of Edward III, 'On Tuesday, 10th February, 1354, (observes Ant. à Wood) being the feast of S. Scholastica the virgin, came Walter de Springheuse, Roger de Chesterfield, and other clerks, to the Tavern called Swyndlestock (being now the Meermaid Tavern, at Quatervois, [Carfax] stiled to this day in leases Swynstock) and there calling for wine, John de Croydon, the Vintner, brought them some, but they disliking it, as it should seem, and he avouch ing 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. The vintner therefore, receding with great passion, and aggravating the abuse to those of his family and neighbourhood, several came in, encouraged him not to put up with the abuse, and withal told him they would faithfully stand by him. Among these were John de Bereford, owner of the tavern, Richard Forester, and Robert Gardiner, who out of propensed malice, seeking all occasions of conflict with the scholars, and taking this abuse for a ground to proceed upon, caused the town bell at St. Martin's to be rung, that the commonalty might be summoned together in a body. Which being begun, they were in an instant in arms; some with bows and arrows, others with divers sorts of weapons. And then they, without any more ado, did in a furious and hostile manner, suddenly set upon divers scholars, who at that time had not any offensive arms, no, not so much as any thing to defend themselves. They shot also at the Chancellor of the University, and would have killed him, though he endeavoured to pacify them, and appease the tumult. Further also, although the scholars, at the command of the chancellor, did presently withdraw themselves from the fray, yet the townsmen did thereupon more fiercely pur sue him and the scholars, and would by no means desist from the conflict. The chancellor perceiving what great danger they were in, caused the University bell at St. Mary's to be rung out, whereupon the scholars got bows and arrows, and maintained the fight with the townsmen till dark night, at which time the fray ceased, no one scholar or townsman being killed or mortally wounded or maimed. On the next day, being Wednesday, Albert, the chancellor of the University, caused public proclamation to be made in the morning, both at St. Mary's Church, in the presence of the scholars there assembled in a great multitude, and also at Quatervois, amongst the townsmen, that no scholar or townsman should wear or bear any offensive weapons, or assault any man, or otherwise disturb the peace, (upon which the scholars did, in humble obedience to that proclamation, repair to the schools, and demeaned themselves peaceably till after dinner) yet the very same morning, about lecture time, the townsmen came with their bows and arrows, and drove away a certain master in divi. nity and his auditors, who was then determining in the Augustine schools. The ballives of the town also had given particular warning to every townsman at his respective house, in the morning, that they should make themselves ready to fight with the scholars against the time when the town bell should ring out, and also given notice before to the country round about, and had hired people to come in and assist the townsmen in their intended conflict with the scholars. In dinner time, the townsmen subtilly and secretly sent about fourscore men, armed with bows and arrows, and other manner of weapons, into the Parish of St. Giles, in the north suburb; who, after a little expectation, having discovered certain scholars walking after dinner in Beaumont, (being the same place we now call St. Giles's Fields) issued out of St. Giles's Church, shooting at the said scholars for the space of three furlongs: some of them they drove into the Augustine Priory, and others into the town. One scholar they killed without the walls, some they wounded mortally, others grievously, and used the rest basely. All which being done without any mercy, caused an horrible outcry in the town: whereupon the town bell being rung out first, and after that the University bell, divers scholars issued out, armed with bows and arrows, in their own defence, and of their companions, and having first shut and blocked up some of the gates of the town, (least the country people, who were then gathered together in innumerable multitudes, might suddenly break in upon their rear in an hostile manner, and assist the townsmen, who were now ready prepared in battle array, and armed with their targets also) they fought with them, and defended themselves, till after vesper tide; a little after which time entered into the town, by the west gate, about 2000 countrymen, with a black dismal flag, erect and displayed. Of which the scholars having notice, and being unable to resist so great and fierce a company, they withdrew themselves to their lodgings. But the townsmen finding no scholars in the streets to make any opposition, pursued them, and that day they broke open five inns, or hostles of scholars, with fire and sword. '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 evening public proclamation was made in Oxon, in the king's name, "That no man should injure the scholars, or their goods, under pain of forfeiture." 6 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 began. This being done, they, with hideous noises and clamours, came and invaded the scholars' houses, in a wreckless 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 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 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 them 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 Fryers) which were erected on the ground for the present time, with a “procul hinc ite profani," they overthrew and laid flat with the cheynell. This wickedness and outrage continuing the said day from the rising of the sun till noontide, and a little after, without any ceasing, and thereupon all the scholars (besides those of the Colleges) being fled divers ways, our mother the University of Oxon, which had but two days before many sons, is now almost forsaken and left forlorn.' The number of scholars killed in this sanguinary affair was sixty-two; and in consequence, the Bishop of Lincoln issued his letters of excommunication, interdicting the town, which were read in each parish church in Oxford, for several days, with ringing of bells, crosses erected, lighted and extinguished candles, by the priests or chaplains of the said churches, in their sacerdotal vestments and robes.' By this interdict the townsmen were deprived of hearing service, receiving the sacrament, burial, marriage, &c. The mayor and the principal ringleaders were sent to the Tower; and, in the following year, the townsmen made submission to the king, surrendering up their persons, chattels, rights and privileges: the University also made a similer submission, and a new charter was granted to them. After some time the Bishop of Lincoln's interdict was taken off, fresh liberties were granted to the town, and a new mayor and officers appointed, upon the condition, however, of the following repentance' being performed by them and their successors, viz. That the mayor for the time being, the two baillives, and threescore of the chiefest burghers, (sworn to the University according to the antient use) shall personally appear in St. Mary's Church, on the day of St. Scholastica (the 10th February), and there at their own charges celebrate a mass, with a deacon and sub-deacon, for the souls of the said scholars that were slain, (unless a rational cause, approved of by the chancellor, be given for their absence); and that the said laics or burghers shall be present at the said mass, from the beginning |