1388-09-27, Cambridge

To the chancellor and proctors of the university of Oxford. Order, upon petition of John Ripplay clerk, to restore him to his former estate and admit him to scholastic acts, notwithstanding the banishment by them pronounced and published against him, and order at their peril to the chancellor and proctors, their commissaries or deputies and successors, the masters whatsoever regent and non-regent, and other the officers, ministers and scholars of the university under pain of the king's wrath to cause him no trouble or grievance, and suffer - none to be caused him, for the aforesaid cause or by other reprobation of his person which in anywise concerns the banishment aforesaid, but rather to ensue and with all their might to preserve such things as belong to the unity and peace of the university ; as his complaint shews that on Tuesday in the fourth week after Easter last seven scholars of the northern parts lately dwelling in a hall of the university went forth into the fields with bows and hounds for hunting and sport, that at no small space without the town they were suddenly attacked by scholars of Wales, in number about forty, wherefore a loud report came to the town that the seven were slain, that six companions of the petitioner with others of the university repaired to the seven for rescue to save them alive, that upon pretext of that rescue the scholars of Wales, being tempted of the devil, came after curfew with all their power to the hall wherein the said John dwelt, by force of arms broke the doors thereof, although strong and bolted, in order to slay him and . 527 his fellows if any were there found, but found no man, and that he is innocent of such riot, as he is ready to prove, at the instigation of certain his enemies, averring of malice that of the university was by him broken, which it was not, the and proctors have convicted him in his absence as one said seven scholars of breach of the peace, and in the market although that is not the usual or appointed place, without or other due process have unlawfully banished him, and and published his banishment, to the no small disturbance scholars who would flock thither for the sake of learning, for remedy, inasmuch as by reason of his banishment he dare thither to keep his acts; and the king's will is that, if the be true, he shall not be banished nor his good name blackened.