IV - His Theological Studies and his Lucubrations.

Summary

The death of Grossetete's patron the Bishop of Hereford seems to have been the date of his passing to the study of Theology which he either began or perfected at Paris, the most renowned School of Arts and Sciences then in the Church, especially for Theology, to which Grossetete now aspired. As a necessary preliminary for arriving at the perfection of the sublime and extensive science, he began by making himself master, not only of the Latin usually spoken in the Schools, but also of the Greek and Hebrew, in which are written the Divine books, the first source of all true Theology. But whether he learned the sacred languages at home or abroad is not very certain. Certain however it seems, that he studied Theology in the University of Paris, whose method in assigning the first hours of the day to the Scripture lectures he strongly recommends to the Masters Regent of that faculty in Oxford. And he recommends it as the excellent and exemplar practice of our, ‘ancient Masters Regent in Theology of the University of Paris.’ He saith elsewhere in his dying speecha that he had seen and heard, as his masters and teachers, those eminent doctors and preachers, in France, Eustachius Abbot of Flays a Cistercian, Magister Robertus de Cutcun, James de Vitry, since Archbishop of Plotemais and Cardinal, Stephen the banished Archbishop of Canterbury and a celebrated professor in the University of Paris. And the learned and holy Robert de Curzon, who all flourished in France in the beginning of the 13th age, who had preached the Caursini usurers out of France, and he calls them ‘Sancti Patres et Doctores Nostri.’ Master Grossetete was not only a student, but according to Du Boulay, an Eminent Professor in the University of Paris. Nevertheless he took his degree of DD in that of Oxford, as he himself signifieth, in his sermon on the Levites.

Grossetete was the first chancellor of Oxford whether at this time or during his professorship doth not appear. Our illustrious Doctor, and Professor Grossetete studied the Theology of the heart as much, if not more, than that of the mind. And we may judge of his great proficiency in both not only by his works and actions but by the most judicious, and excellent method with which he pursued his sacred studies.