CHAPTER IX THE RISE OF THE UNIVERSITIES THE Readings contained in this chapter relate to the rise of the medieval university, the organization of its instruction, and the influence of these institutions on the intellectual life of the later mediæval period. Slowly evolving out of some cathedral or monastery school, which had for long been noted for the high character of its instruction, the universities of medieval Europe finally arose, were chartered as a mediæval guild, and in time became important not only intellectually, but socially and politically as well. For centuries they were almost the only homes of free thought. The value of their work is well set forth in the final selection of the chapter (124), by the great historian of these mediæval institutions. The table giving country and date of foundation of these great mediæval institutions (100) shows the slow progress of new ideas in the Europe of that day, and the direction and rate of that progress. As both teachers and students were regarded as clerici they naturally possessed the privileges and immunities of the clergy (51), but, these not being regarded as sufficient for the new traveling scholars, new privileges and exemptions and protections were extended to both masters and students. Of these new privileges the grants of Frederick Barbarossa in Italy (101), King Philip Augustus at Paris (102), Count Rupert at Heidelberg (103) and Philip IV of France (104) have been selected as typical. The charter granted to the new university of Heidelberg (103) is also typical of these early documents, and is noteworthy for the detailed provision it made for the future university. As these universities in time brought many strangers to the cities in which they were located, and as these persons needed eating and sleeping accommodations and thus helped local business, as well as adding to the intellectual prestige of the city, the different cities interested began to vie with one another in making special concessions to secure a university, and some even were willing to spend much money in maintaining such an institution. The privileges granted by Vercelli, to induce a migrating body of professors and students from Padua to locate there (105), is a good example of the first; and the selection from Villani, as to the cost for maintaining a university (106), is a good example of the second. The efforts made by the English king to secure scholars from Paris (109) is another example of the first type. As the early universities were in no way held to place by buildings and equipment, as is a modern university, it was easy for them to move to some other city whenever conditions did not please them. This right of cessatio was formally recognized by Papal Bull (107), and was frequently exercised (108, 109) for reasons that to-day seem trivial. As the early universities were essentially guilds, with the stages. of apprentice, journeyman, and master represented, the right to create and license masters was recognized almost from the first. The Bulls of Popes Gregory IX (107) and Nicholas IV (111), giving such right to Paris, are typical and illustrative. The form of this license to teach is well shown in the document reproduced from Rashdall (112). The courses of reading or lectures required for the different degrees are shown in the documents giving the requirements for the Arts degree at Paris (113), Leipzig (114 a-b), and Oxford (115); while the requirements for the still higher professional degrees in theology, civil and canon law, and medicine are well illustrated in the statement of Oxford requirements for each (116 a-b), and the Paris requirements for the degree in medicine (117). The scholastic character of the theological instruction may be inferred from the criticisms made by Roger Bacon (118), a keen Oxford scholar and monk of the latter part of the thirteenth century. The scarcity of books before the invention of printing did much to keep the character of the instruction on a low level, the master being compelled to "read" from the one text available and comment from his "gloss." This lack of books is shown by the list of twenty-seven volumes contained in a scholar's library, left by will to the University of Paris (119); by Roger Bacon's lament (120); and by the Paris statute prescribing the character of the classroom instruction to be given (121). The latter also throws some light on the classroom conduct of the time. Selections 122 and 123 reproduce two of the earliest schedules of lectures known, the one at Toulouse (122) dating from 1309, and the one from Leipzig (123) from 1519. 100. University Foundations before 1600, by Countries The table given below shows the progress, rate, and direction Studia Generalia founded by Papal or Imperial Bull Studia Generalia before or 1248 Piacenza, P. Founded by a migration from some other university. P. Founded by Papal Bull. by Imperial Edict. R. Founded by Royal Charter (Spain). I. Founded 100. University Foundations before 1600, by Countries (cont.) (After Rashdall and Minerva) of progress in founding the universities of medieval Europe. Founded by a migration from some other university. P. Founded by Papal Bull. by Imperial Edict. R. Founded by Royal Charter (Spain). I. Founded IOI. Privileges for Students who Travel for Study (Monumenta Germania Historica; Leges, II, p. 114; trans. by Munro, in Translations and Reprints from Sources of European History, vol. II, no. 3, p. 2) With the increase in the number of students who journeyed some distance to study, under famous cathedral-school teachers, the need for their better protection began to be evident. Many of these came from afar, and at a time when international courtesies and public safety were little known. As the presence of many strangers, attracted to a city or a little state to hear some noted teacher read and comment on the famous textbooks of the time, added much to its prestige and wealth, it came to be worth while to offer them inducements to come, in the form of special favors and additional safety. By way of giving students better protection, however, the Emperor Frederick Barbaross, in 1158, issued the following document, the first of its kind of which we have record. This was said to have been obtained for the benefit of students going to Bologna to study civil and canon law, but it was made general, and applied to students and professors anywhere. Freedom from arrest for certain causes, and trial before the professors or bishop instead of the city authorities, were valuable privileges, and once granted were tenaciously retained by the universities. One still finds survivals of these ancient privileges in the jails and courts of the German universities, and in the English universities. After a careful consideration of this subject by the bishops, abbots, dukes, counts, judges, and other nobles of our sacred palace, we, from our piety, have granted this privilege to all scholars who travel for the sake of study, and especially, to the professors of divine and sacred laws, namely, that they may go in safety to the places in which the studies are carried on, both they themselves and their messengers, and may dwell there in security. For we think it fitting that, during good behavior, those should enjoy our praise and protection, by whose learning the world is enlightened to the obedience of God and of us, his ministers and the life of the subjects is moulded; and by a certain special love we defend them from all injuries. For who does not pity those who exile themselves through love of learning, who wear themselves out in poverty in place of riches, who expose their lives to all perils and often suffer bodily injury from the vilest men this must be endured with vexation. Therefore, we declare by this general and ever to be valid law, that in the future no one shall be so rash as to venture to inflict any injury on scholars, or |