From 1224. Frederick II Hohenstaufen wants bureaucrats, and wants them enough
to do something about it--including an early student loan program, and dire
threats against either students or professors who go out-of-state:
Medieval Sourcebook: Frederick II: Lictere Generales, establishing
the University of Naples, 1224: Frederick [II Hohenstaufen] etc. to all the
Archbishops, Bishops, priests, counts, barons, judges, executors of Justice,
bailiffs, and all authorities of the Kingdom [of Naples]:
With the favor of God, thanks to Whom we live and reign, and to Whom we
attribute all good deeds done by us, we wish that in all parts of the Kingdom
many will become wise and knowledgeable, by having access to a fountain of
knowledge, and a seminary of doctrine, so that they, made proficient by study
and observation, will serve divine justice, and will become useful to us for the
administration of justice and of the laws which we urge everyone to obey.
We have therefore decided that in the most pleasant city of Naples there
should be teaching of the arts and of all disciplines, so that those who are
starved for knowledge will find it in our own kingdom, and will not be forced in
their search for knowledge to become pilgrims to beg in foreign lands. We intend
to provide for the good of those of our subjects who after having become learned
will hope to acquire wealth, since the acquisition of what is good cannot be
sterile, and will be followed by nobility, the halls of the tribunals, wealth,
and the grace and favors of friendship. Therefore we will invite those scholars
who are not without merit, and without doubt we will entrust them with the
administration of justice once they have become able to do so. Therefore be
happy and ready for the teachings that scholars desire.
We will allow you to live in a place where everything is in abundance, where
the homes are sufficiently spacious, where the customs of everyone are affable,
and where one can easily transport by sea or land what is necessary to human
life. To them we offer all useful things, good conditions, for them we will look
for teachers, promise goods, and offer prizes to those who are worthy of it. We
will keep them under the gaze of their parents, we will free them from many
labors, and from the necessity of long trips--almost pilgrimages. We will
protect them from the dangers of brigands who would deprive them of their goods
on the long roads. Among the teachers that we have assigned to the School we
have Roffredo of Benevento, a faithful judge, professor of civil law, a man of
great science and proven loyalty.
We order therefore to all of you who govern provinces and preside over
administrations, to let all these things be known to all and everywhere, and to
command, under danger of persons and goods, that no student will dare leave the
Kingdom for reasons of study and that no one dare to teach in other places of
the kingdom. And that, through their parents, you order to those students who
are outside the Kingdom, to return here by the Feast of St Michael.
These are the conditions that we offer to the students: First, that there
will be doctors and teachers in every Faculty. We assure the students, wherever
they come from, that they will be able to come, stay and return without any risk
to their persons or goods. The best houses will be given to them, and their rent
will be at most two ounces of gold. All the houses will be rented for a sum up
to that amount, based on an estimate by two citizens and two students. There
will be loans given to students, based on their needs, by those who are
designated to do so, with the pawning of the books, which will be temporarily
returned after receiving the guarantee from other students. The student will not
leave the city until he has paid back his debt, or has given back the pawns
given to him temporarily. Such pawns will not be requested by the creditor as
long as the student remains in school. In civil trials all will have to
appear before their teachers.
As for grain, meat, fish, wine and other things that students need, we will
not make any rule, since the province has all these things in abundance, and all
will be sold to students as it is to citizens. We invite the students to such a
laudable and great task, we promise to respect these conditions, to honor your
persons and to order universally that you should be honored by all.