250 THE STAMFORD SCHISM April refers to the new pope who was elected in December 1334. But we have two documents about the schism which probably date from before April 1334. One of them is a petition to the king, printed by Peck 1 from Cotton MS. Vesp. E. xxi, fo. 62 ; in it the students dwelling at Stamford assert that they have left Oxford because of the disturbances which are, and have long been, there ; that they have withdrawn to Stamford ' a estudier & profiter plus en quiete & en pees quils ne soleient faire ', and petition the king that they may be allowed to dwell there. From the position of the deed in the manuscript, it is probably later than 23 January 1334. The other deed is a petition, 2 also from Stamford, in which the petitioners ask the king to stop the robberies and evils at Oxford, which are beyond the control of the chancellor and the town, but do not speak of a permanent settlement at Stamford. This may be of the autumn of 1333. There is a third petition, 3 addressed to the king by the masters and scholars of Oxford, asking for his help against the disturbances and grievances at Oxford, lest there should be a sudden dispersion. This may be of the first half of 1333. In a poem which depends so much upon rhyme and moreover has no punctuation, there is bound to be some obscurity ; but Mr. A. G. Little has suggested that it is a taunt addressed to Fitz-Rarph, who in a public speech had wagered his head that the Stamford schism would be stopped in six months. As it had now lasted six months his head was forfeit. As soon as Oxford met for the Michaelmas Term in 1333, there would be a meeting of congregation, probably, about or before 15 October, at which the new Stamford university would be discussed. It may be that it was on that occasion that Fitz-Ralph made his rash wager. The poem may be paraphrased as follows : ' Fertile Fitz- Ralph, who livest in abundance, pour forth other things ; let thy pledges be from elsewhere. It is better to leave alone the capital penalty and conviction by such a pledge, for it is cause of evil. While possessions endure, they are as it were a pledge in actuality ; but it is not necessary to offer the head expressly. Against Stamford, which is now a place of study, hated by its enemies, thou hast uttered heady words, that we ought to be suppressed, if there is government in the state ; thou promisest to thyself that the head shall be removed from here in half a year. What if we persist, and the king and the law allow it ? For what the virtue of peace commands is not a crime. It remains to endure what was agreed, and thou wilt pay thy head as a pledge ; alas for thy wretched fate ; thou wilt then think over 1 Annals of Stamford, book xi, p. 16. Collectanea, iii. 133. Ibid. i. 12
