University of Lendert

The University of Lendert

Seal of the University of Lendert
Latin: Universitas Lendartiensis apud Aldesiam
Type	Public
Established	1256
Religious affiliation	Church of Nortend
Endowment	£100 million
Chancellor	Lord Bishop of Chepingstow
Vice-Chancellor	Martin de Hazels
Students	9,000
Location	Lendert-with-Cadell , Great Nortend
Languages	English, Latin, Greek
Colours

The University of Lendert, formally the Chancellour, Masters and Scholars of the University of Lendert upon the Aldesey (Latin: Universitas Aldesiensis or Chancellarius, Magistri et Scholares Universitatis Lendartiensis apud Aldesiam) is an ancient collegiate university in Great Nortend located in Lendert-with-Cadell in the area known as the „Aldesey”, hence its common appellation of „the Aldesey”. To-day, the University consists of four faculties, eight schools and twenty four halls with a broad academic focus on the liberal arts. In 2018, there were around 9,000 students studying at the University. Graduates of the University occupy an exclusive place in Erbonian society and form the majority of lawyers, physicians, churchmen, academics, politicians, nobility, research scientists, military officers, senior civil servants and school-masters.

History

The University developed out of the monastic school of the then Lendert Abbey in the 10th and 11th centuries. In 1256, Edmund IV granted a charter to establish a university in Lendert to the Lord Bishop of Chepingstow, who held ordinary jurisdiction over the city until the creation of the see of Lendert in 1284. Non-monastic scholars were prevented from living with the scholars of St. Peter (which formed the modern Coggeshall), and instead attached themselves to the parish church of St. Mary the Virgin, whose rector obtained a charter in 1264 to found Ladyhall. As the City and University grew, the latter soon formed a enclave in the expanding urban area, delineated by a physical boundary marking „the Aldesey”. Canonshall was founded by the Dominicans (Black Friars) in 1273.

In 1382, the metropolitan see becomes Lendert, moving from Sulthey, and the Cathedral and University gain importance as the centre of religious and political life. Clerical education increasingly is centred on the Aldesey and the „New Halls” are established in the early 15th century of Limmes Hall (1388), Tow Hall (1390), Alhallowhall (1405), Echester Hall (1421), Jesus-Hall (1422), Maudlynhall (1422) and Rhighton Hall (1432). The see of Sulthey refuses to send students to Lendert until the Reformation. Tow Hall and Echester Hall soon merge into Middlehall in 1460. Ladyhall is founded in 1487. West Hall is founded in 1493, Godchristhall is founded in 1500 and Andershall in 1511.

Reformation

The Reformation was a turbulent period for the University and Church. Shortly after the accession of Alexander I, in 1568, William Reed was appointed Rector of the University. He was ordered to instigate reforms and to preach against the errors of the Council of Trent which Alexander had rejected the previous year in the Proclamation of Manfarham. Reed himself was removed from the Rectorship in 1570 for continual refusal to publish the Statute of Supremacy or to assent to its provisions. Cainmare, then the Archbishop of Lendert and Chancellour of the University, caused the appointment of his deputy, George Miers, as Rector later in 1570. Miers took a strongly reformist approach to governing the University and began a reform of the curriculum to conform to the prevailing religious views of the Court establishment. Almost the entire Faculty of Divinity was slowly replaced by those aligned with Miers, while numerous fellows, chaplains, masters, deans and canons were expelled from their halls and colleges on account of their refusal to submit. Upon the death of Cainmare in 1590, Miers continued as Rector under Henry Frympell, who tasked scholars with the compiling and translation of the Frympell Bible, finally published in 1589.

Sampser Reforms

In the 19th century, it was increasingly recognised that the University was struggling to advance learning and science, especially in the arts. In particular, the lack of further formal courses of study in the arts resulted in the University's declining importance in the burgeoning fields of natural philosophy and history. Lord Sampser was appointed in 1878 by Parliament to undertake a wholesale reform of the University, leading to the publication of the Sampser Report which recommended the establishment of the degrees of Bachelor and Doctor of Science and of Letters within the Faculty of Arts which occured in 1883 with the passage of the University Act. Furthermore, the practice of termly written examinations was formalised, among other sundry reforms.

Lady students

Women had been permitted to attend lectures on an informal basis since the late 19th century, with earlier precedents including the mediaeval education of nuns and abbesses. However, being unable to take examinations or degrees, this arrangement was widely seen as insufficient for a formal education system. In 1923, in a plan to improve the standard of female education and schoolmistresses, the Crown enacted the Ladies’ University Halls Act which allowed for the establishment of houses of residence for lady students at the University. The next year, St. Elisabeth’s Hall was founded with a Governess and twenty ladies. Despite the admission of women, it was still thought that degrees and membership of the University ought to remain exclusively for men, and therefore the first woman to complete the Arts course received the title of Lady of Arts in 1927. The first Mistress of Arts was created in 1932.

Organisation

The new Physic School and Teaching Hospital at the University.

The governing body of the University is the Great Congregation, comprising all Masters of Arts and Doctors of the University. The Congregation votes on the University's statutes and exercises control over academic matters such as examinations, rustication, matriculation, curricula and teaching, as well as graces and degrees conferred gratiosi. Changes to statutes are deliberated upon by Congregation.

The University also consists of the four faculties, being those of Arts, Laws, Physic and Divinity. Within the Faculty of Arts are the sub-faculties of Letters and Science, the former consisting of the schools of Languages, Music, Philosophy and History, and the latter the schools of Mathematics, Astronomy, Natural Philosophy (Physics and Chemistry) and Natural History (Biology and Geology). Unusually, the Faculty of Laws includes the schools of Economics and Politics, as well as the schools of Civil Law and Canon Law. The faculties are responsible for the lecturing, research and examination of students.

Parallel to the faculties are the twenty four halls of scholars which are collegiate institutions independent of the University and responsible for the lodging, tutelage and nourishment of their students. The student body are also divided into three nations, although these are of little importance. Students are admitted to a hall through the process of matriculation and thereby become members of the University in statu pupillari. Henceforth, they are bound by the University's statutes which are enforced by the University's proctors, constables and beadles, who have the power to fine and confine, and in extreme cases, to rusticate or ban (expel).

Location

The University is located to the west of Lendert-with-Cadell The main University sites form a generally cohesive district centred on the two Upper and Lower Eyotes on the Wessert, known as the Aldesey, marked by physical boundary walls and gates. The Church of St. Peter is the main church on Upper Eyote and serves as the site of most smaller University ceremonies. Coggeshall, Ladyhall, Canonshall, Gosthall and Middlehall have their main house on the Eyotes, as well as the Old Arts School, the Old Laws School and the Divinity School. The rest of the Eyotes are made up of sundry housing and shops and the church The rest of the halls, colleges and University buildings are located on the outer banks of the Wessert. Along the Lither, where rowing is practised, is a large swathe of open pasture, meadow and parkland owned by the various academical and religious houses. The precincts of the University, within which University statutes, proctors and constables have jurisdiction and which form the Aldesey, are the parishes of St. Mary the Virgin, St. Peter ad Vincula, All Hallows and All Souls, Holy Ghost and St. Andrew.

Academic profile

Admission

Prospective students apply to matriculate by application to the halls of scholars, generally on the basis of good results in the Exhibition Examinations. These are public examinations taken at the end of the Sixth Form to prove scholastic competence and potential entitlement to a Crown Exhibition. However, as passing the Exhibitiones is not a prerequisite to admission, houses may admit students at their discretion. Several houses restrict admission either partially or fully to students from particular schools. Furthermore, many matriculate international students, although not all, on the basis of a separate Matriculation Examination. This examination may also be taken by state school pupils, and older candidates, in theory, but it is quite rare.

Arts degrees

View inside St. Michael’s Chapel, at Middlehall.

An degree in the Arts is the only initial, or undergraduate, degree offered by the University of Aldesey. The curriculum for the Arts involves attendance at school lectures, along with repetitions in college. Collections are college examinations taken at the beginning of a term to assess previous term learning. They do not contribute to one’s final degree. Lectures typically involve exposition and instruction of the subject matter, as well as questions and discussion. „Ordinary” lectures are given in the schools in the morning and involve formal presentation of a lecture on a paper. Cursories are given in school in the afternoons as less formal, class-room style seminars with opportunity for questions and discussion. Extraordinary lectures do not correspond to a particular paper. Repetitions are weekly tutorials or supervisions undertaken in groups of two or three, usually with a college fellow or regent master, for which students are usually expected to write a short disputation and discuss questions. A disputation was originally a kind of formal debate. It is nowadays often delivered in written form, either short or long, although a viva voce element remains in the defence of one's disputation. A short disputation is akin to an ordinary academic essay, while a long disputation is similar to an academic thesis. For both, students are required to write an abstract in Latin. For both Responsions and Moderations, students are required to „hear” ordinary lectures, which are said to be given on certain books or „papers”. However, while attendance is still taken, the main academic exercise has long since become the examination of students by disputation.

After Matriculation, a student is known as a Freshman in his first year and a Sophister in his second. At the end of his first and second years, he „responds” by undertaking his First and Second Responsions (also known as the „Little” and „Great” Responsions), in which he disputes on eight compulsory papers on „Science” and „Letters”, the former grouping covering Logic, Philosophy and Mathematics and the latter Literature, Theology and History. At the end of the second year, the Sophister supplicates to be admitted to “answer the question” (ad respondendum questioni). In his third and fourth years, the student (known respectively as a Questionist and Determiner) takes his First and Second Moderations and disputes on eight moderation papers of his choice offered in any of the various moderation schools of the University. Some moderation papers may allow the option of producing a long disputation in lieu of timed examination.

In his final, determining year, the Determiner supplicates again for final admission to his Bachelor of Arts degree. Although students must pass Responsions, degrees are classed solely based on results in the Moderations — satis, bene, melius or optime — having moderated satisfactorily, well, better or best, the equivalent of honours. The best student in the year of each moderation is titled the Senior Optimas. Bachelors wishing to incept later as Master of Arts must keep a further four years and then supplicate for inception. At the end of Easter term, the Bachelor is licensed to incept as Master of Arts at Commencement (Comitia) during Whitsun term. Alternatively, the Bachelor may wish to read for a higher degree.

Moderations

Each school offers a set of moderation papers, called Moderations, examined by moderators. These form the basis for study and examination by questionists in their third and fourth years. The following Moderations were offered in the 2023/24 academic year :—

Faculty of Arts

• Classics
• Philosophy
• History
• Literature
• Music
• Mathematics
• Astronomy
• Natural Philosophy
• Natural History

Faculty of Physic

• Medicine

Faculty of Laws

• Civil Law
• Canon Law
• Politics
• Economics

Faculty of Divinity

• Divinity

An undergraduate may theoretically be allowed to take multiple Moderations, either in sequence or at the same time, with the consent of his prelector. It is also common to take one or two additional papers from another Moderation as only three out of four papers in each of First and Second Moderations are necessary to pass.

Non-moderated degrees

Taking moderations is not necessary to obtain a pass degree. Students may also choose to not take Moderations, and obtain a non-moderated degree. Such a degree is the direct historical ancestor of the mediaeval B.A. degree, which had no specialised courses, and lasted only three years, although the mediaeval course of study is now contained in the Classics Moderation. A „non-mod” student need only complete Responsions and Determinations. Non-moderated degrees are common for less-academic noblemen and heirs for whom university life is a mere rite of passage, rather than a relevant academic qualification. A student who fails his Moderations but passes his Responsions also will obtain a non-moderated degree.

Higher degrees

The higher faculties are those of Laws, Physic and Divinity, in which the University admits students to bachelor's degrees and doctorates. Furthermore, higher study in the Faculty of Arts is possible in either Science or Letters. By ancient statute all students in higher faculties must have incepted as Master of Arts first before graduating with their higher degree. Study for a taught higher bachelor's degree involves attending lectures and taking the Generales and Particulares examinations at the end of the second and fourth years respectively, while a degree by research involves a Quodlibetica thesis and dissertation.

After attaining bachelorhood, the bachelor may seek to obtain a doctorate after up to another period of study or research. Like for a Master of Arts' Quodlibetica, the Bachelor produces a formal thesis and dissertation known as the Sollempnes. Thereafter he may incept as a Doctor.

University Press

The University is one of the oldest publishers in Great Nortend, having held the right to produce and print books and publications since the 16th century. As the official printer of the Church of Nortend, it has the sole right to print (as opposed to engross) copies of the Holy Bible in the country in Cardinal Frympell’s translation and other liturgical and books such as the Book of Hours and the Book of Masses according to the use of the Church of Nortend, and official catechisms, sermons, homilies, commentaries, patristic works and the like. In addition to its ecclesiastical publications, the University publishes academic and scholarly works including dictionaries of English, Latin and Greek, and histories, companions, compendia, textbooks and academic books for the University and broader use. A highly comprehensive set of classical and mediaeval texts are published by the University, both in original language and in facing translation.

Student life

Houses

Punts on the Lither at Jesus Bridge.

Outside of lectures, students generally spend the majority of their time in their houses, of which the University has twenty four. House traditions form the distinct university culture at the University as each student is a member of a hall and is required to live within the University precincts during the academical terms of residence, most usually in rooms in halls. Furthermore, students attend weekly repetitions and disputations in their houses, in addition to eating communally in hall. Attending daily prayers in each house’s chapel or church is a requirement under Statute, and a requirement in order to „keep term” in residence for the purpose of qualifying for degrees.

Each house has its own hall colours, songs, celebrations and sporting teams. The main sports are academic fencing and boating (rowing), although school games such as stinning, fives and cricket continue to be popular recreations. Punting is also a popular pastime on the Lither. Each hall also has its own Officer Cadet company, for students completing muster service.

House name	Date of founding	Affiliation	Founded by
Coggeshall	1256	Benedictines	Edward de Groive
Ladyhall	1264		Bernard de Aldesey
Canonshall	1273	Dominicans	Henry de Ledden
Gosthall	1280	Dominicans	Hartmold III
Middlehall	1371
Old Hall	1390		Prior of Chepingstow Minor
Jesus Hall	1422	Cistercians	Abbot of Sulthey
Maudlyn Hall	1422	Franciscans
Rhighton Hall	1432	Benedictines	Walther, Lord Abbot of Rhighton
Allhallowhall	1405	Allord College	Charles I
Westhall	1493	Benedictines
Godchristhall	1500	Cistercians
Andershall	1511
Trinity Hall	1533		Elisabeth, Duchess of Caune
Mancourt Hall	1533		Elisabeth, Duchess of Caune
Clairiddel Hall	1573		Sir William de Clare
Lucy Hall	1487	Siel School	John, Count of Siel
Wistfin Hall	1610	Limmes School	Henry de Wistfin, Lord Bishop of Scode
Polchard Hall	1623	Chepingstow School	John de Polchard, Lord Mayor of Chepingstow
Cardey Hall	1629	Echester School	Richard de Cardey, Lord Bishop of Echester
New Hall	1685	Dominicans
Flemey Hall	1793	Rhise School	Nicholas, Duke of Flemey
Prince's Hall	1827		Prince Henry of Anthord
King's Hall	1945		Edmund IX

Clubs

There are also a number of private social and sporting clubs associated with the University. Most have secretive admissions criteria and provide a clubhouse for the use of students.

Academical dress

The academic dress of a Master of Arts.

Students in residence and within the precincts of the University are required to wear academical dress whenever in public, as well as at lectures, in hall and at chapel. For most students, this means wearing the academical square cap and the academical gown. Academical dress is not required when on hall premises. At formal university ceremonies such as examinations, ceremonies and graduation, academical dress is worn with subfuscus dress, meaning a black tailcoat, white waistcoat and white tie (with bands). Hoods are worn on certain occasions, such as in chapel with the surplice and at some ceremonies. The hood of a Bachelor of Arts is in winter black stuff lined in white budge (lambswool) or rabbit and in summer black stuff lined in white stuff. The hood of a Master of Arts is in winter black corded silk lined in white miniver, lettice or ermine and in summer black corded silk lined in white corded silk. Higher bachelors and doctors have festal and ordinary hoods (and gowns) winter lined as for the Master of Arts except that Bachelors and Doctors of Divinity have hoods lined in black budge, grys or sable respectively. In summer, the silks are deep violet, deep grey, crimson, cherry-pink and black respectively for Science, Letters, Physic, Laws and Divinity.

Ceremonies

The major university ceremonies are that of Matriculation, Admission and Commencement. Matriculation occurs at the beginning of one's studies, and involves signing one’s name „on the register” of the University. The ceremony confers membership of the University on students admitted to halls. A matriculated undergraduate is bound to the University statutes by virtue of his matriculation.

Admission is a Congregation whereat a Sophister is admitted ad respondendum questioni and thus becomes a member of the University. Each Sophister is first required to swear an Oath and subscribe to the confession of the Church of Nortend. Students who refuse to take the oath and subscribe cannot be admitted, although in special cases, such as foreign students, they can still be „admitted to read”, similar to lady students. Admission nowadays usually occurs in absentia.

Admission is the ceremony at which a graduand is admitted to the degree supplicated for. At the beginning of his last Lent term, a Determiner supplicates for his B.A. degree in the form :—

Supplicat reverentiis vestris A. B. ut gradus assequatur Baccalaurei in Artibus. C. D. Praelector.
A.B. prayeth your reverences that he may proceed to the degree of Bachelor in Arts. C. D. Praelector.

In the end of the Easter term after passing his final Second Moderations, Congregations are held whereat a graduand is presented to the Vice-Chancellour. After taking an Oath, the graduand kneels and gives his clasped hands to the Vice-Chancellour, who says :—

Authoritate mea ego admitto te ad gradum Baccalaurei in Artibus; in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

At Congregations, names of those to become Master of Arts or doctors are read out in order to receive licence to incept. Commencement then is an annual ceremony at which all Masters of Arts and higher doctors actually incept and obtain their degrees. It is a festive occasion held in Whitsun term at Lendert Priory in the presence of the Lord Chancellour as Lord Bishop of Chepingstow, the ex officio Chancellour of the University. It begins with Vespers on the Saturday evening beforehand, whereat a Sermon is preached. On Monday, after Mattins and several ceremonies, the Chancellour says to the kneeling inceptor :—

Authoritate mea admitto te ad gradum Magistris in Artibus; in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

Subsequently, he is required to give his Principium during the next Michaelmas term. However, for non-regent masters, this is dispensed with by grace.

Alumni

The alumni of the University include a significant number of major Nortish politicians, judges, senior officials, bankers, gentlemen, noblemen and other men of note. Particular alumni include :— (year of matriculation given in brackets)

• King Alexander II (Allhallowhall, 2001)
• Miles Spenser-White, noted stinning player (Prince’s, 1999)
• George Drachington, Foreign Clerk (Wistfin, 1980)
• Sebastian Williams, Lord Bishop of Sulthey (Allhallowhall, 1964)
• Henry de Foide, Lord High Treasurer (Polchard, 1917)
• Frederic de Clercy, Lord High Treasurer (Wistfin, 1879)

See also

• Education in Great Nortend