The Earliest Franciscan Masters at Oxford

Abstract We are fortunate in being able to follow quite closely the development of one of the early Oxford schools of theology, that belonging to the Franciscan Order, and to record something of the debt it owed to its first master. Although the chronicler Thomas of Eccleston, O.F.M., was not himself a scholar, he devoted particular attention to the place held by studies within the life of the English Province, from the arrival of the first friars up to the time (ca. 1258) when his narrative ends. Nine Franciscans landed at Dover on IO September 1224, at a time when St. Francis himself was still alive. The founder of the order had appointed as the minister for England Fr. Agnellus of Pisa, formerly guardian of the Paris house. Before the end of October two of the nine, Richard of lngworth and Richard of Devon, were staying with the Dominicans at Oxford. They rented a house, which rapidly became too small as students and bachelors joined the movement. A larger house was bought for them, and near it Agnellus of Pisa had a school built. Agnellus made the decision to invite Grosseteste to lecture rather than any of the friar theologians he might have requested. Under him, Eccleston proudly records, “within a short time they made incalculable progress both in scholastic discussions [in questionibus] and in subtle moralities suitable for preaching.”