Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-04-30
TOWN AND GOWN ROW
The Origin Of an Anci:nt Dispute
at Oxford.
STALE FISH AND BAD BEER.

lDe modern Town ana gown row,
surprising that town and gown rows
have not altogether ceased. Is a row
about nothing In particular. inspired
solely by the JOY OF battle and the lust
for strife. The juniors fight. and the
seniors separate the combafants. In
the old days there was really some
thing TO fight about. and tho seniors
were as pugnncious as the juniors and
Joined ms pugnaclousiy IN the ARRAYS.
The dispute arose IN the first instance
out OF disa greements between overlap
ping Jurisdictions. The origin was In
the divergent views entertained by the
municipal and university authorities on
matters OF sanitation ana hygiene. and
II will not be denied that the unlver-
sity authorities were In the right.
They objected to the sale of sinking
fish and the brewing Of beer from wa
ter contaminated with sewage. The
townsmcn thought such objections fas-
tIdious and were very angry when the
university appealed TO the king to In.
terfcrc; hence constant chickering's and
frequent exchange OF abusive Ian
guage: hence ultimately open war and
that battle OF st. Scholastica's day.
which takes rank In history as the
earliest OF the recorded town and gown
rows
The trouble began In tavern on
FEB. 10. 1854. Some scholars who were
drinking there found fault with the
wine. and the vintner said that II was
quite good enough wine for them. The
scholars threw the wine at the vint-
ner's head. and the vintner summoned
his friends and neighbors TO the res
cue. They rang the bell OF the Church
of 81. Martin NJ Carfax. and the pop.
ulnce. summoned by this tocsin. shot
at the scholars with bows and arrows
The chancellor of the university ap-
peared upon the scene. ingeminnting
peace where there was no peace. aud
he also was shot NJ. Then the hell OF
the university Church OF St. Mary was
started ringing. aud the melee became
general and lasted until the setting OF
the sun. No one was killed. The
gownsmcn got the best OF II. aud the
chancellor was under the impression
that the riot was over. He issued a
proclamation bidding the scholars go
TO their lectures as usual on the fol-
lowing day.
They went MS he babe them. but not
with the iinpuniiy which he expected.
The townsmen had vowed and planned
vengeance and were lying In wait
for them. Rc-enforcements-2.0 peas
ants carrying nm oininious black flag
swarned into the city from Cowley.
Headington and Hinksey. The Carfax
tocsin pcalcd out second time. Just
after the midday dinner hour. and the
tocsin Of ~ Mary's responded IA be-
fore. The townsiuen not only nssailed
the scholars In the streets. but. when
they fed before superior forces. pur-
sued them into their lodgings. inns
and halls. killing all that they could
and stealing or destroying all the prop.
erty that they could lay their hands
on.
Peacemakers were badly needed. and
the chancellor having called for peace
In vain. the monks tried what they
could do. There sailed forth Wall.
ant band 81 frlars. carrying their cru.
ciiix and seeking TO compose the strife
by chanting litanlcs. without avail.
They themselves became the objects
OF the popular fury: scholar was
struck down while actually clinging
TO the crucifix. Other scholars were
followed into the churches and massa.
cred nj the foot OF the altar. Dead
bodies were lung on to dunghilis: the
wounded were haled 10 prison. aud
even torture WAS not spared The
crowns Of some chaplnlns." says the
chronicler- viz. all the skin. So far MS
the tonsure went-these diabolical
imps nayed 90 In scorn OF their
clergy"
At last the university could resist
no more. The gownsnicn began 10 fee
Into the country. all OF them save the
scholars OF Merton. who alone had
solid walls behind which they conld
retire. Withdrawing TO their college.
while the town trimmphed outside. the
sole representatives OF learning IN a
deserted city which the bishop had
laid under an interdlct. the scholars
Of Merton waited for the day OF venge-
ance and redress OF grievances.
II came. The king sent down spe-
ciai commission to investigate. The
mayor OF oxford and his baillffs were
sent to prison. the sheriff was removed
from office. and presently the town
was further Inundated by the be-
stowal OF fresh privileges upon the
gownsmen. The gownsmen and not
the townsmen were henceforth 10 de-
eide whether Ash skunk. and II they
decided that II did stink they were TO
send II 10 the hospitals for the con
sumption ~ the sick. They were also
adjudgcd pecuniary compensation for
the damage done. and their supremacy
was in various other ways established
ON n firm basis.
Such was the first town and gown
row. In which Merton may be said TO
have saved the university. But for
- l.uws