Part 17 (2/2)
Now the three trivials are graree frowhereby he may obtain a deeper taste of the profundities of other knowledge also; the second is rhetoric, which by the charm of its colors adorns as with pearls the subject rammar, and instils acceptably into the ears of ic byis assigned to the individual sciences, without which the powers of all the sciences are quiescent, and by whose addition all the sciences are regularly organized (The letter ends with a similar description of the quadrivials)[82]
2 TWO OXFORD LETTERS OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY
(1) OXFORD UNIVERSITY TO THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, ACKNOWLEDGING A GIFT OF BOOKS (1439)
Most illustrious,value of the benefits you have conferred on the English nation, and the hness in its behalf can never die, but, with distinguished fame destined to endure, will flourish with ever-renewed praise and happy rehtful it certainly is for us to reflect upon these again and again! A the rest, however, that deed itself redounds to the splendor of your ht about the repression of heretic plotting against the church of God, you have chosen to reinvigorate the vineyard of the Lord, your hand-maid, the University of Oxford, with books on all the sciences and virtues, out of which the abundant wine of knowledge and truth may be squeezed by the press of study For this reason we set forth in this humble letter our thanks, our praise, and our prayers, but we cannot express ourselves adequately
Which of the Universities has found a Prince so nificent?--whose service in the field has ever been successful, whose mind is most liberal, and who displays charity to all, justice to each, and harm to none What respecter of the as ever so pious, what supporter of them so efficient, what patron of the sciences, of virtues, and of books so generous? And by these not only are the hearts of the living enlightened to the glory of God and the advance of virtue, but even es will posterity be illureat pass away? Nay, but it will be a benediction forever
A statute has been made in the words of your supplicant, and is to be forever in force, which will never fail in prayers in your behalf but will serve as an enduring h the fah being overshadowed by the rising of greater men, yet your fame cannot perish under the cloud of oblivion nor can it, of a truth, be obscured by the shadow of greater benefactions
If the great conquests of Alexander coh the devices of the wise Greeks who co, how much more will this University, your devoted supplicant, bear witness to your nificent deeds to the end of tis?
Nay, were the tongues of all to be silent the fact itself would bear witness more than speech, the fact, to wit, that one hundred and thirty-nine y, medicine, and the seven liberal sciences have been deposited in our library from your own collection, as an eternal witness to your surpassing virtues andto look upon this University as your vineyard and your handlorious, who chose your serenity for the bestowing of such benefactions, grant to you the fruits of the spirit and guide you to the University of the saints Written at Oxford in our congregation in the twenty-fifth day of the month of January
The most hu at Oxford[83]
(2) TESTIMONIAL LETTER FOR MR JOHN KING OF OXFORD
To all the children of Holy Church, our Mother, to whom this letter may come, the Chancellor of the University of Oxford and the whole asse in the ar in the sight of the highest truth, as often as we furnish a testie Therefore ishi+ng all whorance of honest conversation of our beloved brother, Master John King, MA and student in Sacred Theology, a prudent Procurator of our University who has filled his officeall to know, as we are bound to do,--and to prevent so bright a light fro hid beneath the bushel of silence,--do bear witness by this letter that, through the commendable merits of our aforesaid brother and his study, he has attained such proficiency that the fragrant fame of his name--which the praise of his excellent action has exalted to the pinnacle of glory with us--could not be concealed: but fro exaht to all people for profitable instruction And so, while adorning our University with his presence and outshi+ning all in the nity of his character, he won the love of all by his spotless name We commend him therefore to your worshi+pful reverences, earnestly praying that you will show yourselves favorable and kind to hiard for our University and for his deserts In witness of which, and that all may know more fully about his laudable character, we have caused this letter to be sealed for said Master John with the seal of our University
Given at Oxford in the Congregation-house, February 9th, 1434[84]
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 77: _Chart Univ Paris_, I, f 47]
[Footnote 78: _Chart Univ Paris,_ I, No 22, p 24]
[Footnote 79: Jaffe, _Bibliotheca_, V, pp 285, ff]
[Footnote 80: _Chart Univ Paris_, I, No 51, p 50]
[Footnote 81: _Bulletin de la Societe de l'Histoire de Paris_, 1877, p
37 f]
[Footnote 82: _Archiv fur oesterreichische Geschichte_, Vol 55, p
385]
[Footnote 83: _Epistolae Academicae Oxon_, I, p 177]
[Footnote 84: _Epistolae Academicae Oxon_, I, p 113]