Social life in Britain from the conquest to the reformation / compiled by G.G. Coulton.

  • George Gordon Coulton
Date:
1918
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Social life in Britain from the conquest to the reformation / compiled by G.G. Coulton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    83/570 page 61
    I2, T3 hym, he wolde light doun of his hors and hire his schrifte, and spare for no lette of comynge to his in, neyther for wynde ne for rayn ne for other wedir. He ferde as the olyve tree that holdeth to itself the bitternesse in the rynde, and heldeth1 out to the other the swetnes of the oyle, so he was hard to hym- self and esiliche and goodliche to other men. He beet his brest ofte with his hond, and his knees agenst the grounde so that clerkes that leye in selers under hym myghte unnethe sleepe. For worschippe of oure Lady he worschipped alle wommen, but therby was he nevere i-wemmed2. 13 THE POOR SCHOLAR (a) St Richard of Chichester was born at Wych in Worcestershire, the son of well-to-do parents. He was studious from his childhood ; in youth, he preferred his studies to an advantageous marriage which had been arranged for him. The rest here following is translated from John Cap- grave’s life of the Saint in Acta Sanctorum Holland., Ap. 3 (Ed. 1675, L p. 279). Richard therefore hastily left both [his father’s] lands and the lady, and all his friends, and betook himself to the University of Oxford and then to that of Paris, where he learned logic. Such was his love of learning, that he cared little or nothing for food or raiment. For, as he was wont to relate, he and two companions who lodged in the same chamber had only their tunics, and one gown3 between them, and each of them a miserable pallet. When one, therefore, went out with the gown to hear a lecture, the others sat in their room, and so they went forth alternately; and bread with a little wine and pottage sufficed for their food. For their poverty never suffered them to eat flesh or fish, save on the Sunday or on some solemn holy day or in presence of companions or friends ; yet he hath oftentimes told me how, in all his days, he had never after led so pleasant and delect¬ able a life. 1 poureth. 2 corrupted. 3 Cappa, a long garment fastened down the front, statutory for all clergy and therefore for university students. The university gown on the one hand, and the priestly cassock on the other, are lineally descended from the medieval cappa. See Rashdall, t.c. 11. 636 ff., where, however, “boots” (caligae) should be “hosen.5'
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