OXFORD, a university and city, having separate jurisdiction, locally
in the hundred of Wootton, county of OXFORD, of which it is the
capital, 55 miles (W. N. W.) from London, containing 16,364 inhabitants.
This place, which, from a very remote period of antiquity, has been
celebrated as a seat of learning, is supposed by some
to have derived its Saxon name, Oxenford, from its ford
over the river for the passage of oxen. By others that
name is said to be a corruption of Ouseford, from the
river Ouse, now the Isis, from which source an island
in that river, whereon the wealthy abbey was erected,
was also named Ouseney, or Osney. To the establishment
of schools in this place, supposed to have been
originally by Alfred the Great, the origin.of the city is
by some historians attributed; but though Alfred unquestionably
restored, and more liberally endowed, the
university, its original foundation is demonstrated to
have been many years prior to the reign of that monarch,
in an act of confirmation by Pope Martin II., in
802, in which it is described as an ancient academy of
learning. .During the earlier times of the Saxons, a
monastery, dedicated to St. Mary and All Saints, was
founded here, about the year 730, by Didanus, one of
the Saxon princes, for twelve sisters of noble.birth, of
f which Frideswide, his daughter, was first abbess, who,
being canonized after her death, the abbey, in which
she was interred, was dedicated to St. Frideswide,
in honour of her memory: this monastery having
been plundered during the Danish wars, and the nuns
dispersing, was restored for Secular canons. In the
interval between the destruction of the abbey and its
restoration, Alfred, with his three sons, resided her.e,
where he founded three public schools, established a
royal mint, and contributed greatly to the rebuilding of
the city. In the reign of Ethelred, the Danes burnt the
city, in retaliation for the general massacre of their
countrymen by order of that monarch; and, in 1013,
another party of .those rapacious invaders, under the
command of King.Sweyn, landed in England, and having
laid waste the adjoining country, compelled the inhabitants
of Oxford to surrender, and to give hostages for
their fulfilmentof the terms of capitulation. The city
was again burnt by the Danes, in 1032; and, in 1036,
Harold Harefoot was crowned at Oxford, on which, in
revenge for the slaughter of some of his men, he inflicted
considerable injury. At the time of the Norman Conquest,
Oxford, refusing to submit to the Conqueror, was,
in 1067, taken by storm, and given to Robert D'Oily,
who erected a strong castle on the west side of it, for
the purpose of keeping the inhabitants in subjection,
and fortified it with strong earthworks, within which he
built a collegiate church, dedicated to St. George, and
settled in it Secular canons of the order of St. Augustine.
William Rufus held a council in the town, under Lanfranc,
Archbishop of Canterbury, at which several bishops
assisted, for the purpose of defeating a conspiracy formed
against him by Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, his uncle, in
favour of Robert, Duke of Normandy. Robert D'Oily,
nephew of the former, and chamberlain to Henry I.,
founded the abbey of Osney, which was situated a little
below the castle. Henry I. built a new hall, or palace,
at Oxford, called Beaumont, where he celebrated the festival
of Easter, in 1133, with great pomp, and in which
Richard I. was born. Stephen, in the early part of
his reign, assembled a council of. the principal nobility
here, to whom, in order to attach them to his interests,
and to strengthen his party in the kingdom, he promised
to .abolish the tax called Dane Gelt, and to restore
the laws of Edward the Confessor. Matilda, having
obtained possession of the castle, was besieged by Stephen,
but, previously to surrendering it, she contrived to
escape by night over the river, which was at that time
frozen. During this siege, the" inhabitants being excluded
from the church of St. George, within the castle,
the chapel of St. Thomas was erected for their accommodation,
and Stephen is reported to have repaired the
city .walls, which had fallen into decay: these walls
are supposed to have been built in the seventh century,
but by whom is uncertain.
During the contest between Henry II. and Thomas a
Becket, that monarch held a parliament at Oxford, for
the purpose of counteracting the authority of the pope,
who had threatened to lay the kingdom under an interdiet,
and in 1167, another parliament, in which the partitioning
of Ireland among those of his subjects who had
at different times achieved the conquest of it, was deliberated
upon. Richard I. invested Oxford, his native
city, with many privileges, in gratitude for which, the
citizens contributed largely to his ransom when detained
prisoner in Austria, on his return from the Holy Land.
King John held a parliament here in 1204, in order .
to raise supplies, which were liberally granted. In the
reign of Henry III., who kept the festival of Christmas
in this city, in 1222, Stephen Langton, Archbishop of
Canterbury, held here a synod for reforming abuses in
the ecclesiastical polity of the kingdom,, by a decree
of which two men were crucified, each pretending that
he was Christ, and two women starved to death, for
pretending to be the Virgin Mary, and Mary Magdalene.
The same king, in 122J, when he became of age,
assembled a parliament here, in which he assumed
the government, and revoked the grant of Magna
Charta, and the charter of Forests, alledging that they
were signed by him when a minor. Towards the end
of this reign, an adjourned parliament was held at
Oxford, in which all Poictevins and other foreigners
were ordered to leave the kingdom. In 1319, a man
named Pondras, son .of a tanner at Exeter, came to
Oxford, affirming that he was the rightful heir of
Edward I., and had been stolen from his cradle and exchanged
for Edward II., the reigning prince; but the
imposture was soon detected, and Pondras was executed
at Northampton. Queen Isabel, on her return from
France, remained for some time in this city, while prosecuting
the war against the two Spensers. In the reign
of Henry IV., a conspiracy was formed by the Earls
of Huntingdon, Kent, Salisbury, and Rutland, for assassinating
the king at a tournament to be held here,
and restoring the deposed monarch, Richard II., to the
throne; but their plot was discovered, and the Earls
of Kent and Salisbury, Sir Thomas Blount, and others,
were hung at Greenditch, near Oxford. Henry VIII.
erected Oxford into a see, separating it, with the county,
from the diocese of Lincoln, in which it had previously
been included. Soon after the accession of Mary, Cranmer,
Archbishop of Canterbury, Ridley, Bishop of London,
and Latimer, Bishop of Worcester, were conveyed from
the Tower, where they had been imprisoned, to hold a
disputation with the learned men-of the University, at a
convocation held in St. Mary's church; and in the following
year, the Bishops of London, Gloucester, and
Bristol, were sent commissioners to Oxford, to examine
Ridley and Latimer, whom they condemned to the stake.
This sentence was executed in a place called Canditch,
on the 16th of October, 1555 in [presence of the chief
magistrates of the university and city; and on the 21st
of the following March, Cranmer, who had witnessed
the spectacle from the prison Bocardo, in which he was
confined, suffered martyrdom in the same place. In
1625, the parliament having adjourned from London,
on account of the plague, assembled at Oxford; but,
on symptoms of the infection appearing in the city,
the king hastily dissolved it, after repeated and unavailing
attempts to procure supplies.
Oxford was intimately connected with many of the
principal events during the parliamentary war. In
the earlier part of it, Sir John Byron, with a party of
the royal forces, attempted to garrison the city for the
king; but Lord Say, then lieutenant of the county, advancing
against him with a superior force, the former
retired, leaving Oxford in possession of the latter. Sir
John Byron, on h}s retreat from Oxford, advanced to
Worcester, of which he gained possession, and garrisoned
it for the king, who, reinforced by numbers whom his victory
at Edgehill had drawn over to his party, marched to
Oxford, took possession of it, and there fixed his headquarters.
During the king's occupation of the town, a
treaty of negociation was opened, and the Earl of Northumberland,
and four members of the lower house, were
appointed commissioners by the parliament: the conferences
continued for several weeks, and after various
propositions for a mutual accommodation, terminated
without their differences being adjusted. A deputation
from the citizens of London afterwards waited upon the
king, who had resolved'to pass the winter at Oxford, with
proposals for peace,which, through the agency of the parliament,
were also rendered ineffectual. The king invited
the members who had either retired or had been expelled
from the Westminster parliament, to meet him at Oxford,
and assembled a parliament in the great hall of Christ
Church College. Sir Thomas Fairfax, advancing with
his army to besiege the city, was for a time diverted
from his purpose by Prince Rupert, who attacked his
castle at Leicester, but Fairfax returning to the. siege
and the garrison being reduced by famine, it surrendered
to the parliament, and the king escaping to Newcastle
placed himself under the protection of the Scottish
army. In 1665, the plague raging in London, the par-
liament adjourned to Oxford, and continued their deliberations
in the schools of the university. In. this
parliament, supplies were granted for carrying on the
war against the Dutch, and statutes were enacted
against the non-conforming clergy, who were prohibited
approaching within five miles of any corporate town.
During the continuance of the plague, the courts of law
at Michaelmas term, were held in this city; in which
also Charles II., having dissolved the parliament at
Westminster in 1681, assembled a new parliament, which,
after sitting only a few days, was dissolved by the king,
for the apparent purpose of preventing the differences
that threatened to arise between the lords and the commons,
the former having rejected a vote of impeachment
decreed by the latter.
Oxford, for the splendour of its public buildings,
among which the colleges and halls of, the university
are conspicuous, for the grandeur of their elevation, and,
in many instances, for the beauty of their architecture,
is not surpassed by any city in the kingdom; and, from
the antiquity and importance of its venerable institutions,
possesses an intense degree of interest. It is pleasantly
situated on a gentle acclivity, at the confluence'of
the rivers Cherwell and Isis, by which it is nearly surrounded;
over these rivers are several bridges, handsomely
built of stone, of which, Magdalene bridge
over the river Cherwell, and a new bridge over the Isis,
on the Abingdon road, lately erected at an expense of
£11,000, are the principal. The approaches are spacious,
and afford striking and finely varied prospects of
the city, and of its sumptuous edifices and stately towers-
The entrance from the London rpad, over Magdalene
bridge, is exquisitely beautiful; on the right is the
small but pleasing vale of the Cherwell, in which the
newly-erected church of St. Clement's forms an interesting
feature, together with the grounds, the waterwalk,
and the noble tower of Magdalene College; and
on the left are seen Christchurch meadows, watered by
the Isis and the Cherwell, with the spire of the Cathedral
Church, and the tower of Merton College in the
distance. The entrance from Woodstock is remarkably
fine, leading into the town through the broad street or
St. Giles', on each side of which is a row of stately trees,
and on the east side the college of St. John, and part
of Balliol College. The entrance from Abingdon, over
Folly, or the Newbridge, leads through St.Aldatesstreet,
on the east side of which is the magnificent front
of Christchurch College, and the town hall. The city,
which is more than a mile in length, from east to west,
and, including the suburbs, more than three miles in circumference,
is divided into four parts by two principal
streets, which intersect each other nearly at right angles
in the centre, where was formerly a handsome conduit,
erected in the seventeenth century, by Otho Nicholson,
one of the examiners in Chancery, but removed in
1787, and presented by the university to the late Earl
of Harcourt, who placed it in Nuneham - Courtney
park. The High-street is one of the noblest streets
in Europe, presenting in pleasing succession, from 
great length and easy and graceful curvature, many
of the stately and venerable public edifices for which
this city is so eminently distinguished: on the -north
side, after crossing Magdalene bridge, and passing the
college of St. Mary Magdalene on the right, and the
Physic Garden on the left, are Queen's and All Souls
colleges, beyond which are the churches of St. Mary
and All Saints, and at its upper extremity, that of St.
Martin, or Carfax; and on the south side are University
College, and some handsome private houses. Near
Magdalene bridge are the warm and cold baths, in St.
Clement's parish, a handsome establishment recently
constructed, comprising a saloon, reading-room, and
other appendages, and a very superior arrangement of
warm and cold baths, with dressing-rooms, and every
requisite accommodation. Races are annually held on
Port-meadow, near the city, and are well attended. The
city is well paved, lighted with gas, and amply supplied
with water. The gardens of the colleges afford delightful
promenades, and in the environs, which contain many
handsome residences, are varied rides and agreeable
walks, of which latter, that to Headington Hill, commanding
a fine view of the city and its vicinity, may be considered
the principal. The rivers Cherwell and Isis,
branching into several streams, and pursuing a winding
course, contribute greatly to adorn the city, and their
united streams afford the means of aquatic excursions.
The trade is principally in corn and other agricultural
produce of the surrounding district, which is extremely
fertile. Coal is brought from Staffordshire by
the Oxford canal, which communicates with those of Birmingham,
Warwick, and Coventry j and a considerable
traffic is carried on with the metropolis and the intermediate
towns, by the Thames, which is navigable to
London. Convenient wharfs and quays have been constructed
at considerable expense, and every facility has
been obtained for the promotion of the inland -trade.
Oxford has been long celebrated for the .superior quality
of its brawn, of which a considerable quantity
is forwarded to London. The market days are Wednesday
and Saturday, which are abundantly supplied,
the latter being also for corn, which is sold by .sample
at the upper extremity of the High-street, near a spot
called the Butter Bench, the .farmers preferring ,to
transact their business in the open air, though the
corporation have offered them the use of a convenient
area under the town hall. The market-place is a suitable
area, arranged into various sections for the different
kinds of produce, on the northern side of the Highstreet,
from which there are entrances by means of iron
gates, the houses in front being appropriated as shops.
The fairs are on May 3rd, on Gloucester Green; another
in St. Giles', on the Monday after the festival of St.
Giles, which is a pleasure fair; and the Thursday before
New Michaelmas-day, for cattle.
The city received a regular charter of incorporation
from Henry II., confirming all preceding grants, and
extending .to the inhabitants all the rights and privileges
enjoyed by the citizens of London, besides conferring
npon the mayor the distinction of assisting, with the
lord mayor of London, in the king's buttery at the
coronation festivals, upon which occasion he is attended
by the recorder, four aldermen, the town clerk, bailiffs,
and mace-bearer, and receives a silver cup and-cover
richly gilt, from the king. This charter was confirmed
by Henry HI., who vested the government of
the city in a mayor, four aldermen, eight assistants,
two bailiffs, and twenty-four common council-men.
Many other charters "were granted by succeeding sovereigns,
but that by which the city is at present more especially
governed was granted by James I., in 1605; by
this an -addition was made of the offices of high steward
(usually a nobleman of high rank), recorder, town clerk,
two chamberlains, mace bearer, and subordinate officers.
The mayor is chosen annually, from among the aldermen
or assistants,'by the freemen generally, and, previously
to entering upon his office, takes an oath to observe the
lawful customs and privileges of the university, as does
also the .sheriff for the county. The bailiffs must have
served the office of chamberlain. The mayor, recorder,
aldermen, and assistants, are justices of the peace within
the city, and liberties, which office they hold, not by their
charter of incorporation, but by commission under the
great seal, renewed from time to time, under which
authority also they hold a commission of gaol delivery.
The freedom of the city is inherited by birth, and'acquired
by apprenticeship to a freeman for seven years, by
gift of the corporation, or by purchase: among -the privileges
is the right bf depasturing cattle on Port-meadow, a
tract of about four hundred and forty acres near the city.
The corporation hold quarterly courts of session, which
take cognizance of all capital offences except high treason;
and two courts of record, for the trial of pleas and the
recovery-of debts to any amount, one called the mayor's
court (styled also.a Hustings' court), and in which actions
of ejectment -are tried, and the other the court of the
mayor' and bailiffs  -.the practice, which is similar in
both, is nearly the;same as in the common law courts at
Westminster;;the town clerk sits as judge, or assessor.
The town hall is a spacious stone building, one
hundred and thirty-five feet in length, and thirtytwo
feet broad, with .a basement story of rustic work,
forming an open corridor, and surmounted in the
centre by -.a handsome pediment. George IV., when
Prince Regent, the late Emperor of Russia, the King of
Prussia, the-late Duke of York, the Prince of Orange,
(thePrince.of .Mecklenburgh, Prince Metternich, General
Blucher, and other illustrious persons repaired to the
town hall, .and received the honorary freedom of the
rcity, in 1814, during their visit at the university; the
council-chamber is decorated with portraits of Queen
Anne, John the first Duke, and George the third Duke,
of Marlborough, and several distinguished members of
the corporation and benefactors to the city. The city
gaol was erected in 1789, prior to which delinquents
were confined in the prison of Bocardo, over one of the
city gates, which was taken down in 1,771; the door of
the cell in which Cranmer was confined has been preserved,
and fixed up in the .present gaol, with an appropriate
inscription: this prison contains four wards
for the classification of prisoners, and thirty-two cells,
and has a neat chapel. The city has regularly sent
two members to parliament from the earliest returns
extant of the reign of Edward I.: the right of election
is vested in the mayor and corporation, and in the freemen
generally, the number of whom is about one thousand
eight hundred; the mayor is the returning officer.
The assizes for the county and the election of knights
of the shire are held here, as the county town. The
county gaol and house of correction is an extensive
building,, erected on part of the site of the ancient cas-
tle, the remains of which consist of the original tower
and a vaulted magazine for the use of the garrison, the
principal entrance is through a large gateway, flanked hy
embattled towers; it comprises eleven wards, the same
number of day-rooms and airing-yards, for the classification
of prisoners, and two tread-mills, on which
they are employed in grinding corn and raising water
for the use of the prison; the prisoners receive a portion
of their earnings on their discharge.
The origin of the university is by different historians attributed
to various eras and to different founders; by some, Oxford is
supposed to have been selected as a place of resort for students
at a very early period of British history, and to have attained
considerable eminence as a seat of learning during the Saxon
Octarchy and it is stated that Alfred, during his residence in
the city, founded and endowed three halls, or additional colleges,
which, involved in its fate, were destroyed by the Danes,
whose frequent incursions and devastation of this
part of the country materially retarded the progress
of the university. Amidst a mass of conflicting testimony
its origin may, perhaps, be attributed to the
monastic institutions established in the city and neighbourhood,
which, by the encouragement they afforded to
the pursuit of literature, drew around them a number
of students, who, not being able to find admission as
residents in these establishments, may have taken, up
their residence in the city and suburbs with the view
of obtaining that assistance in their studies which the
learned members of those institutions were capable of
affording them. At the time of the Conquest, Robert
D'Oily, to whom the Conqueror gave the government of
the city, founded, within the precincts of the castle, the
collegiate church of St. George, for Secular canons,
which, being subsequently annexed to the abbey of
Osney, founded by his descendant, the buildings were
occupied by students, and the' society existed for some
time under the style of the Warden and Scholars of St.
George within the Castle. Soon after the foundation of
Osney abbey, Robert Pullein, a learned member of that
institution, first began to read lectures on the sacred
scriptures', at Oxford, which had been much neglected,
and revived the divinity lectures, which had fallen into
disuse, and, under the patronage of Henry I. and his
successors, greatly promoted the interests of literature.
In the reign of Stephen, Roger Vacarius introduced
the study of the Roman or civil law, which, being regarded
as an innovation, was vehemently opposed by
other professors. At this time the students are said to
have amounted to nearly thirty thousand, and to have
lived at their own expense in inns, or hostels, of which
not less than three hundred were rented by them for
their accommodation; for their supply, the' country for
twenty miles round Oxford was appropriated by the
king, whose purveyor was not permitted within that
distance to purchase provisions for the king's household;
exclusively of such as lived in these hostels, and
who were under the control of a governor, or principal,
who presided over the literary and moral discipline of the
seminaries, were several who were resident in St. Frides
wide's priory, and Osney abbey. In 1206 a scholar
having accidentally killed a woman of the city, while
amusing himself with athletic sports, made his escape
and the exasperated citizens seized upon three scholars
of the same hall, whom, upon receiving a mandate from
the king (then at Woodstock) to that effect, they hanged
which so exasperated the students, that three thousand
of them left the university for some time; but the citizens
having obtained pardon from the pope's legate, then
in England, and having done penance in the churches at
Oxford, the scholars returned. Repeated disturbances
arose between the citizens and the students, some of
which were attended with very serious consequences. In
1229, disputes having arisen in Paris, on account of the
high price of wine, Henry III. invited the students of
that city to Oxford, where more than one thousand of
them soon afterwards settled. Cardinal Otho, legate
from the pope in 1236, on his arrival in England, took
up his residence at Osney abbey, and the scholars
having sent him presents, in token of their respect,
waited upon him in great numbers to pay him their
congratulations, when a dispute arising, between the
scholars, who pressed for admission, and the legate's
servants, in which the legate's brother, who, from fear
of treachery by poison, officiated as principal cook, -was
killed, thirty of the scholars were put under confinement;
and, to compromise the affair, the principals of the
schools were compelled to implore pardon of the legate.
In 1248, Henry III. granted the university a charter,
to defend it more effectually against the attacks of the
citizens, who had wantonly assassinated a young nobleman,
a student in one of the schools. In 1274, Walter
de Merton founded Merton College, which appears to
have been the first regular establishment in the university,
and the foundation of that system by which,
under certain trifling modifications, it was afterwards
organized, and is still governed. About this time the
number of scholars in the various hostels was about
fifteen thousand, but by what regulations they were
controuled does not distinctly appear. The statutes
of Merton College, which with little alteration are still
observed, appear to be the result of experience, and to
have been adapted, in an extraordinary degree, to the
diffusion of learning and to the establishment of moral
discipline. Henry III., who visited the shrine of St.
Frideswide, and held a parliament in the city, to settle
his disputes with the barons, conferred many privileges
upon the university, renewing all previous charters;
and in 1286, Edward I. invested the chancellor witn
authority to take cognizance of offences committed by
the Jews resident at Oxford, and subsequently gave
him power to summon any of the burgesses before him,
to answer any plea originating in personal action Wtn
any of the scholars. Edward II. ratified all the rigms
and privileges of the university, and, by letters patent,
took that institution under his immediate protection.
Prior to this the pope had formally conferred upon uxford,
which was considered the next great school to wris,
the rank of university, a distinction then only eryoyeu
by Paris, Bologna, and Salamanca; and in t.reigoi
Edward II., schools for the Hebrew, Arabic, and Uiaic
languages were founded, by order of the council u
Vienna, in 1311. In the reign of Edward III., & aib
pute having arisen between a scholar and an inn-keeper,
the latter, by an appeal to the citizens, incited them to
an insurrection against the scholars, and both parties
having recourse to arms, a violent conflict ensued
for two days, when, after repeated skirmishes, a party
of two thousand rustics, whom the citizens had invited
to their assistance, entered the city, which the scholars
had barricadoed, and attacking the halls, to several of
which they set fire, killed sixty-three of the scholars,
and plundered their halls. After the suppression of this
tumult, the sheriff of the county, and the mayor of the
city, being called to a severe account, were compelled
to pay a very heavy fine, and to take an oath, on entering
upon their office, to protect the interests and privileges
of the university; the fine was afterwards commuted
for the payment of one penny each by the mayor and
principal citizens, annually in St. Mary's church, at the
festival of St. Scholastica 5 but in the year 1825 the
university relinquished all claim to the payment. On
the breaking out of the war with France, in 1369, all the
French students were ordered to quit the kingdom. The
privileges of the university appear to have been an object
of particular regard with all succeeding sovereigns;
Henry VI-., in 1444, gave power to the chancellor to
banish any refractory person to the distance of twelve
miles from the city, which, with all other privileges, was
confirmed by Edward IV., in the first year of his reign.
The wars between the houses of York and Lancaster appear
to have had an unfavourable influence upon its interests,
and, during their continuance, to have considerably
diminished the number of students. Richard III.
visited Oxford, and was met, on his way from Windsor,
by the whole body, by whom he was escorted to Magdalene
College, where he passed the night, and the following
day attended the public exercises and disputations;
and in 1501, Prince Arthur, son of Henry VII., came
hither, where he was sumptuously entertained, and lodged
in Magdalene College. In the reign of Henry VIII., the
public chest of the university was robbed, and the registers
stolen; and in 1518, the king and the queen,
attended by Cardinal Wolsey and a large retinue of the
nobility, having arrived at Abingdon, a deputation from
the university waited on them to offer their respects,
and escorted the queen to St. Frideswide's shrine, after
having visited which, her majesty returned to Merton
College, where she was sumptuously entertained. Queen
Elizabeth paid visits to the university in 1566, 1571,
and in 1592.
The members of the University of Oxford are a
body corporate, possessing important privileges, which
have been confirmed and extended by a long succession
of royal charters, from the earliest period to the reign
of Charles I.; and, under various munificent and royal
patrons, its ancient halls have been endowed, and new
colleges founded, which, taken collectively, form one of
the most comprehensive and magnificent seats of learning
in Europe. The university was incorporated in the 13th
year of the reign of Elizabeth, by the style and title of
the Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the University
of Oxford; it comprises nineteen colleges, the members
of which are all distinct corporate bodies, and five halls,
which are not incorporated, associated for the acquirement
of learning requisite to qualify their members for
the learned professions, and the bjgh offices of the state:
these several colleges and halls-tave their own statutes,
though subject to the paramount authority of the university.
Every member of the university must be matriculated,
and on appearing before the chancellor, or vicechancellor,
must declare his rank in life, whether the son
of a nobleman, baronet, gentleman, or plebeian, and pay a
matriculation fee accordingly, subscribe to the thirty-nine
articles of the church of England, and, if sixteen years
of age, take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and
swear to observe all the statutes, privileges, and customs
of the university, and neither to sue before the mayor or
bailiffs of the city, nor answer before them as justices,
so long as he continues to enjoy its privileges. The
laws by which the university is at present governed
were compiled by its members in the reign of James I.,
and, confirmed in the 14th of the reign of Charles I.,
since which they have been modified or ratified by subsequent
parliaments.
The principal officers are a chancellor, vice-chancellor,
high steward, two proctors, a public orator, a
keeper of the archives, a registrar of the university,
a registrar of the university courts, two curators
of the theatre, a librarian, keeper of the Ashmolean
museum, two-, clerks of the market, three esquire
bedels, three yeoman bedels, and other officers. The
Chancellor, who is the highest officer in the university,
and -is generally a distinguished nobleman, is
elected by the members of the house of convocation;
his office was anciently for one, two, or three years, but
was made perpetual in "1484, when Dr. John Russel,
Bishop of London, was first elected for life; he docs
not attend the meetings of the university, except at his
installation, and upon the occasion of royal visits. The
Vice-chancellor, who is the highest resident officer, is
always the head of a college, and is nominated by the
chancellor, but must be approved by the house of convocation;
he appoints four pro-vice-chancellors, also
heads of houses, to assist him in his office, which is
annual, though generally continued for four years, by
renewed nominations: to him is assigned the superintendence
of the university, he enforces the observance
of every regulation, convenes the houses of congregation
and convocation, and the courts; he is a magistrate for
the university, the county and city of Oxford, and the
county of Berks, and is preceded in all academic processions
by the esquire and yeoman bedels; he grants
wine licenses to taverns and vintners, and expels offenders
from the city; at all meetings of convocation, and at the
annual commemoration in the theatre, he remains covered
during the whole ceremony. The High Steward, who is
always a nobleman, is appointed by the chancellor, subject
to approval by the house of convocation, and holds his
office for life: his province is to assist the chancellor,
vice-chancellor, and proctors, in the execution of their respective
duties, and to defend the rights and privileges
of the university; to hear and determine on capital causes
in which either scholars or privileged persons are parties,
and either personally, or by deputy, to hold the
university court leet. The Proctors, who must be masters
of arts of four years' standing at least, and of not
more than ten, are appointed annually, and are taken
from the various colleges in rotation: they each nominate
two pro-proctors, also masters of arts, of any
college or hall, as their deputies; the office of proctor
is to inspect the conduct of all members of the university,
and to take cognizance of, and punish for, all
offences committed hy them without the walls of their
respective colleges, to see that the members of the several
colleges appear in public in their proper dresses,
that just weights and measures are used, and to preserve
the public peace. The Public Orator, who must be at
least master of arts, or bachelor of civil law, is chosen
by the members of the house of convocation; his office
is to write letters and addresses upon public occasions,
and to pronounce harangues to princes and other illustrious
persons visiting the university, to present the
honorary degrees conferred by the university, and, alternately
with the professor of poetry, to deliver the annual
Creweian oration. The Keeper of the Archives (an officer
established in 1634), who must be at least master of
arts, is appointed by convocation; his duty is to take
charge of, and to arrange, all charters, records, and documents,
relating to the rights, privileges, and possessions
of the university. The Registrar of the University,
who must be at least master of arts, or a bachelor in
civil law, and a notary public, is chosen by the house
of convocation; his office is to attend all meetings, to
register graces, dispensations, elections, and degrees; to
copy all letters, leases, indentures, and grants, that pass
the seal of the university, or the chancellor, and to receive
the rents. The Registrar of the University Court is
appointed by patent from the chancellor: his office is
to make probates of wills, and grant letters of administration
to the effects of persons dying intestate within
the university, as well as to record all the transactions
of the court. The Clerks of the Market, who must be
principals of halls, masters of arts, or bachelors of divinity,
law, or medicine, are appointed annually, one by
the chancellor, and the other by the vice-chancellor:
their office is to take cognizance of the quality of bread,
and of all provisions, and to inspect the weights and
measures.
The public business is transacted by two principal
assemblies, called respectively the houses of congregation
and convocation, in both which the chancellor, the
vice-chancellor, or, in his absence, one of his deputies,
and the proctors, or their deputies, preside. The
house of congregation consists exclusively of Regents,
who are either necessary regents, or regents ad placitum;
the former are doctors of every faculty, and masters of
arts during the first year of their regency; the latter
are doctors of every faculty, resident in the university,
heads of colleges and halls (and, in their absence, their
deputies), professors, and public lecturers, the masters
of the schools, the public examiners, the deans
and censors of colleges, and all other masters of arts
during the second year of their regency. The house
of convocation, or, as it is sometimes called, the great
congregation, consists both of regents and non-regents;
the right of voting in this house is, by the statutes,
restricted to the chancellor, vice-chancellor, the two
proctors and their deputies, doctors in divinity, medicine,
or civil law, who are necessary regents, masters
of arts during the first year of their necessary regency,
heads of colleges and halls, or their deputies; members
on the foundation or any college, who have at any time
been regents; doctors of divinity, medicine, or law,
living with their families within the precincts of the
university: professors, and public lecturers, who have
at any time been regents, and have performed the exercises
required by the statutes, and paid all fees due to
the university; and convictores, or persons not on the
foundation of any college or hall, who have at any time
been regents, and whose names have been constantly
on the books, from the time of their admission to the
degree of master of arts, or to that of doctor in either
of the three faculties. The business of the house of
congregation is principally confined to the passing of
graces and dispensations, and to the granting of degrees.
All suffrages in cases of graces and dispensations are
to be whispered in the ear of the proctors, by a majority
of which, given in the words "placet," or "nonplacet,"
the fate of the measure is decided. The busines
of the house of convocation embraces all subjects affecting
the credit, interest, or welfare of the university,
Nine regents, exclusively of the vice-chancellor and the
proctors, are necessary to form a congregation; the number
requisite for a convocation is not defined. In both
houses, the chancellor, or vice-chancellor singly, and the
two proctors jointly, have an absolute negative upon all
proceedings, except in elections. All elections, except for
members of parliament, are made in writing by private
scrutiny, at which the vice-chancellor presides, and the
proctors act as scrutators, and, previously to their proceeding
to elect, the act of the 31st of Elizabeth, and the
statute de Electionibus are read, and the vice-chancellor
administers an oath to the proctors that they will make
a faithful scrutiny, and to each of the electors that he
will vote only once, and for a person whom he firmly believes
to be duly qualified; the election, is decided by a
majority; should two candidates have an equal number
of votes, the senior is elected, if they are graduates, if
not, the chancellor, or vice-chancellor, decides by a
casting vote. For the better government of the university,
a meeting takes place every Monday, and at
other times when convened by the vice-chancellor; in
these the vice-chancellor, heads of houses, and the proctors,
deliberate upon all matters relating to the privileges
and liberties of the university, previously to their
being proposed in congregation, or decreed in convocation.
The chancellor holds a court of record every
week during term, at which his assessor presides, for
the recovery of debts to any amount, the jurisdiction of
which is confined to members of the university. The
university received the elective franchise by charter of
James I., in 1603, since which time it has regularly returned
two members to parliament: the right of election
is vested in the doctors and regent masters of arts in
convocation: the vice-chancellor is the returning officer.
There are seven Regius Professorships, namely, Divinity,
Civil Law, Medicine, Hebrew, Greek, Modern
Languages and History, and Botany; the first five were
founded by Henry VIII., who endowed each of them with
a yearly stipend of £40, payable, those of Divinity,Hebrew,
and Greek, by the Dean and Canons of Christ
Church; the others out of the Royal Exchequer. In?
Regius Professorship of Modern Languages and History was
founded by George I., in 1724, and confirmed by George
II., in 1728; and the Regius Professorship of Botany by
George III., in 1793. The original endowment Qi
these professorships has been subsequently augmented;
to that of Divinity have been annexed a canopy
in Christ Church and the rectory of Ewelme, m tnis
county; to that of Civil Law, a lay prebend in.tne
Cathedral Church of Salisbury; to that of Medicine,
the mastership of the hospital of Ewelme, with Tomlins
prelectorship of Anatomy, founded in 1623, by Richard
Tomlins, Esq., of Westminster, and to that of Hebrew,
a canonry in Christ Church. The Margaret Professorship
of Divinity was founded by Margaret, Countess of
Richmond, mother of Henry VII., who endowed it with
an annual stipend of twenty marks, to which Charles I.,
in 1627, added a prebend in the Cathedral Church of
Worcester: the election is vested in the graduates of
divinity; the appointment is for two years from the 8th
of September following the election, but the professor
is usually continued, by re-election, for life. The Professorship
of Natural Philosophy was founded, in 1618, by
Sir William Sedley, of Aylesford in Kent, who bequeathed
to the university & 2000 for its endowment,
which sum was invested in the purchase of an estate producing
£120 per annum: the appointment is vested in
the vice-chancellor, the president of Magdalene College,
and the warden of All Souls. The Savilian Professorships
of Geometry and Astronomy were founded and endowed, in
16 ] 9, by Sir Henry Savile, Knt; they are open to eminent
mathematicians of all countries,who, if Englishmen, must
have taken the degree of master of arts: the professors
are admitted in congregation on the nomination of the
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the
Chancellor of the university, the Bishop of London, the
principal secretary of state, the chief justices, the chief
baron of the Exchequer, and the dean of the Arches.
The Camden Professorship of indent History was founded,
in 1622, by William Camden, Clarencieux King at Arms,
the celebrated antiquary, who endowed it with the
manor of Bexley in Kent. The Professorship of Music,
the appointment to which is annual, and vested in the
proctors, was founded in 1626, by William Heather,
doctor in music, who also established a fund for the
payment of a Choragus, or Prosfectus Musicce Exercitationis,
who is nominated by the vice-chancellor, the
dean of Christ Church, the watden of New College, the
president of Magdalene, and the president of St. John's.
The Laudian Professorship of Arabic was founded, in
1636, by William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury,
who endowed it with lands in the parish of Bray, in
the county of Berks; the appointment is vested in the
presidents of St. John's and Magdalene Colleges, and
in the wardens of New College, All Souls', and Merton.
The Professorship of Botany was founded, in 1728, by
William Sherrard, D.C.L., &c., some time fellow of St.
John's, and afterwards consul at Smyrna, who bequeathed
to the university £3000 for its endowment,
and his valuable library and herbarium: the appointment
is in the gift of the Royal College of Physicians.
The Professorship of Poetry was founded and endowed
by Henry Birkhead, Esq., barrister of the Inner Temple,
and D.C.L., some time of Trinity, and afterwards fellow
of All Souls'; the appointment is in the members
of convocation, being tenable for five years, and may
be retained for five years more by re-election.
The Anglo-Saxon Professorship was founded, in 1750,
by Richard Rawlinson, Esq., D.C.L., of St. John's
College, who endowed it with rent-charges on lands in
Lancashire; the appointment, which is tenable for five
years, is in the members of convocation, and is open to
candidates from all the colleges in rotation, reserving
every fifth turn to St. John's: the candidate must be
unmarried, and remain so while he holds the professorship;
he must not be a member of the Royal or Antiquarian
Societies, nor a native of Scotland, Ireland,
the Colonies, or the son of any native of those places.
The Vinerian Professorship of Common Law was
founded, in 1755, by Charles Viner, Esq., who bequeathed
£12000 to the university for its endowment, and
also for the endowment of as many fellowships of
£ 50 per annum, and scholarships of £ 30 per annum,
of the common law, as those funds would permit; the
appointment is in the members of convocation. Sir
William Blackstone was the first professor on this
foundation, and the substance of his lectures forms the
subject of his celebrated Commentaries. The Clinical
Professorship for reading Clinical lectures to the students
in the Radcliffe Infirmary was founded, in 1772, by the
Earl of Lichfield, Chancellor of the university; the appointment,
which is vested in the members of convocation,
is tenable only by a person who has taken a doctor's
degree in medicine five years before the time of election.
The Aldrichian Professorships of Anatomy, of the practice of
Medicine, and of Chemistry, were founded and endowed,
in 1803, by George Aldrich, of the county of Nottingham,
M.D.: the endowment of the professorship of
Chemistry, which, with that of Medicine, is in the nomination
of the members of convocation, has been augmented
by a grant from the crown: the professorship
of Anatomy is annexed to the prelectorship founded by
Richard Tomlins, Esq., and both held with the regius
professorship of medicine: one course of lectures in chemistry
is annually delivered at the museum. The Professorship
of Political Economy was founded, in 1825, by
Henry Drummond, Esq., of Albury park, in the county
of Surrey, who endowed it with a rent-charge of £ 100
on his estates in that county: the appointment is in
the members of convocation, and is tenable for five
years by a master of arts, or bachelor of civil law, who
has regularly graduated at Oxford. The Lord Almoner's
Reader in Arabic is appointed by the Lord Almoner, and
has an annual stipend out of the Almonry bounty. The
Readership in Experimental Philosophy was founded by
grant from the crown, in 1810; two courses of lectures
are read in the museum, comprising the principal experiments
in mechanics, hydrostatics, optics, electricity,
and magnetism. The Readership in Mineralogy, established
in 1813, and the Readership in Geology, in 1818,
were also founded by grants from the crown. The
Anatomical Lectureship was founded, in 1750, by the
late Matthew Lee, M.D., of Christ Church; two courses
of lectures are delivered in the Anatomical school at
Christ Church, one in Lent, and the other at Michaelmas
term. The Bampton Lectures were founded, about the
year 1780, by John Bampton, M.A., canon of Salisbury,
who bequeathed funds for the annual preaching of
eight divinity lecture sermons "on the leading articles
of the Christian faith; of which thirty copies are to be
printed for distribution among the heads of houses; the
preachers, who are appointed by the heads of colleges
only, must have taken the degree of master of arts in
either of the universities, and no person can be appointed
to preach the divinity lecture sermons twice. The
Whitehall Preacherships were founded by George I.,
in 1724: the preachers were appointed by the Bishop
of London, as Dean of His Majesty's chapel, and were
resident fellows of colleges during the time they held
the office; there were twenty-four preachers, of whom
twelve were chosen from each of the universities, but
in 1829 the establishment was broken up by the Bishop
of London. The University Sermons are, with certain
exceptions, preached in St. Mary's church every
Sunday morning during term, by the heads of colleges,
the dean and canons of Christ Church, the two professors
of divinity, and the professor of Hebrew: the
dean and canons of Christ Church, when it comes to
their turn, preach these sermons in their own cathedral
church. Ten select preachers, who must be doctors, or
bachelors in divinity, or in civil law, or masters of arts,
are nominated by the vice-chancellor and proctors, and
the Regius and Margaret professors of divinity; of
these, five go out of office annually, but may be re-appointed
after one year.
Dr. Radcliffe founded two fellowships in the university,
which he endowed with £600 per annum, for
the maintenance of two fellows for ten years, one-half
at least to be spent in travelling in foreign parts for
their improvement, and to whom, while in the tiniversity,
he assigned chambers in New College; the
Travelling Fellows are appointed by the electors of the
Radcliffe librarian. The Vinerian fellowships of £50
each, and scholarships of £30 each, per annum, tenable
for ten years only after the date of election, vary
in number, according to the state of the revenue of
the endowment: the election is made by the members
of convocation: the fellows must have taken the
degree of master of arts, or bachelor in civil law, at
the time of their appointment; and if the candidate be
not a barrister at the time, he must become one within
a year after his election; the fellowships are given in
preference to such as have been scholars on this foundation;
the scholars must have completed twenty-four
months from the time of their matriculation, and take
the degree of bachelor in civil law as soon as possible
after the appointment, and within one year after the
taking that degree become barristers. The Craven Scholarships
were founded, in 1647, by John, Lord Craven,
who bequeathed lands for the endowment of two
scholarships, tenable for fourteen years, in this university,
and two in the university of Cambridge:
the nomination is vested in the vice-chancellor, the regius
professors, and the public orator; three additional
scholarships, tenable for seven years only, supported
by the same funds, were established by a decree of the
Court of Chancery, in 1819; in the appointment to
these scholarships, preference is given to candidates
of the name or family of the founder, and no one is
eligible who is a graduate in the university, or a fellow
or scholar of any college, or whose parents are
able to maintain him otherwise. The Ireland Scholarships
were founded, in 1825, by John Ireland, D.D.,
Dean of Westminster, who transferred to the university
£4000 in the three per cent, consols., for the endowment
of four scholarships of £ 30 per annum each,
for undergraduates, who shall not have exceeded their
sixteenth term from the date of matriculation; the candidate
must produce in writing the consent of the head
of his college, and the certificate of his standing: the
election is made by three examiners appointed by the
trustees. A circular has recently been sent round to
the respective colleges by the managers of the " Eldonian
Testimonial Fund," stating that the Law scholarship,
-to be founded from that source, will be filled up in
May or June, 1831; candidates to be persons who have
gained distinguished honours at this university.
The four terms in the year are, Michaelmas, which
commences on the 10th of October, and ends on the
17th of December; Hilary term, which commences on the
14th of January, and ends on the Saturday before Palm-
Sunday, or, if that day be a festival, on the Monday after-
Easter term, which commences on the 10th day after
Easter-Sunday, and ends on the day before Whit-Sundayand
Trinity term, which commences on the Wednesday
after Whit-Sunday, and ends on the Saturday after the
first Tuesday in July; the full term begins on the first
day of the week after the first "congregation is held.
Michaelmas and Hilary terms are kept, by six weeks
residence, by such as have not taken any degree in arts,
and Easter and Trinity terms, by a residence of three
weeks each. Sixteen terms are requisite to qualify
for the degree of bachelor of arts, except the sons of.
English, Scotch, or Irish peers, matriculated as such,
and not on the foundation of any college, who are
admitted candidates for that degree after three years
residence. Twelve terms, exclusively of the term of matriculation,
are requisite for bachelors of arts keeping
terms for a master's degree, and for students in civil
law, who, having resided three weeks in each term, assume
the civilian's gown. For the degree of bachelor in
civil law, without proceeding through arts, twenty-eight
terms are requisite; but of these, two are considered as
being kept by matriculation in term, and by taking the
degree, and, as in the case of a master's degree, three
others are dispensed with by congregation, and six more
by the chancellor's letter. For the degree -of doctor in
civil law, five years are requisite, to be computed from
the time of taking the bachelor's degree; but, upon
making oath in convocation of intention to practise in
Doctors' Commons, one year is remitted. For the degree
of bachelor in medicine, one year is requisite from
the regency, and for that of doctor, four years' residence
from the time of matriculation. For the degree of
bachelor in divinity, seven years are required from the
time of matriculation, and for that of doctor, four years
more. Candidates for all degrees, who possess certain
property, must go out, according to the local phrase, as
grand compounders; the property requisite for this purpose
may arise either from civil or ecclesiastical property
if the former, it must amount to 300 per annum':
if the latter, the preferment must be rated m the
king's books at £40; candidates who do not pos;
sess property to that amount are termed petty compounders,
and must at least have ecclesiastical pro?
perty of the annual value of five shillings, or property
of any other description to the amount of £5 per annum.
The exercises for the degree of bachelor of arts
are, responsions held in Michaelmas, Hilary, and irir
nity terms, to which candidates who have entered op
their sixth term and not completed their ninth are aamitted,
on giving their names for that purpose to t&e
junior proctor, at least three days previously to .the commencement
of the exercises, which consist ol examination
in the classics, the rudiments of logic, and m
Euclid's elements of Geometry; and public examinations,
held twice a year, in Michaelmas and Easter terms, 19
which candidates who have entered on their
of matriculation, and have previously responded before
the masters of the schools, are admitted, by giving 617
names for that purpose three days before the examination
commences: the public examination comprehends
the rudiments of religion, under which is included a
sufficient knowledge of the Gospels in the original
Greek, of the thirty-nine articles of the church of Engiand,
and of the evidences of natural and revealed religion;
the literee humaniores, including a competent
knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages, rhetoric
and moral philosophy, as derived from the Greek and
Roman writers, logic, and Latin composition; and the
elements of the mathematical sciences and of physics.
In the literal humaniores, and in the elements of the
mathematical sciences and physics, the examiners have
a certain discretionary power, but they have none with
respect to the rudiments of religion, any failure in which
inevitably excludes the candidate from his degree,
without regard to his other attainments. The examinations,
both in the responsions and in the public examinations,
may be conducted either in the Latin or
English language. The public examiners, who are
nine in number, are chosen from those who have
taken the degree of master of arts, or doctor of civil
law; they are nominated by the vice-chancellor and
proctors, but must be approved by the houses of con-
gregation and convocation; six of them examine in
literis humanioribus, and four must be present at each
examination; the other four examine in Disciplinis
Mathematicis et Physicis, and three at least must be
present at each examination; there cannot be two examiners
of either class from the same college or hall,
neither can any of them examine a candidate belonging
to his own college or hall. Three masters, who have
been admitted regents in arts, preside over the schools,
of whom one is nominated by the vice-chancellor, and
one by each of the proctors,, annually on the first
day of Trinity term: two masters must always be
present at the  responsions, and when the proctors
are absent during the performance of the exercises, the
masters are invested with procuratorial power.
The exercises requisite for a bachelor's degree in divinity,
law, or medicine, are disputations on two distinct
days, before the professors of those respective faculties;
in divinity, the preaching of a Latin sermon at St.
Mary's, before the vice-chancellor, is also required. For
a doctor's degree in either of the faculties, three distinct
lectures are to be read in the schools, on three
several days, which, by a dispensation from the houses of
congregation or convocation, are permitted to be read
at three different hours on the same day. Three prizes
of .£20 each are given annually by the chancellor
for the best compositions in Latin verse, Latin prose,
and English prose; for the first, candidates only who
have not exceeded four years from their matriculation
can contend; for the other two, all such as have exceeded
four years, but not completed seven, and have
not taken the degree of M. A., or B. C. L,, may be
competitors. Sir Roger Newdigate, in 1806, bequeathed
to the university funds for an annual prize
for English verses on ancient sculpture, painting, or
architecture. Dr. Ellerton, fellow of Magdalene College,
gave a rent-charge of £21, on an estate at
Horspath, in the county of Oxford, for an annual
prize for the best English essay on some doctrine or
duty of the Christian religion, or on some subject in
theology. The subjects of all these compositions are
given out by the vice-chancellor, and the compositions
are sent, under a sealed cover, without the author's
name, but distinguished by a motto, a duplicate of which,
signed with the author's name, is also sent to the registrar
of the university, on a day fixed by the vice-chancellor,
who, with the two proctors, the public orator,
and the professor of poetry, decide on their merits in the
theatre, where the compositions are publicly recited at
the commemoration. The university enjoys the right
of presentation to the rectory of South Moreton, in the
county of Berks, held in trust for Magdalene Hall; the
vicarage of South Petherwin cum Trewen, in the county
of Cornwall; the vicarage of Holme-Cultram, in the
county of Cumberland; the rectory of Gatcomb, in
trust for the Principal of St. Edmund Hall, in the
county of Southampton; the vicarage of Syston, in
the county of Leicester; the rectory of Stutchbury, in
the county of Northampton; the lectureship of St.
Giles', in the city of Oxford; and the perpetual curacy
of Kirkdale, in the county of York.
University College is supposed by
some to have been founded so early
as 872, by Alfred the Great, and to
have constituted the largest of his
three halls, but, with far greater probability,
its foundation is ascribed
to William, Archdeacon of Durham,
who, in 1249, left three hundred and
ten marks to the chancellor and university,
in order to purchase certain annual rents for the
support of ten, twelve, or more masters, at that time
the highest academical title, the first purchase having
been made in 1253. The funds lei't by him were
appropriated to the support of a limited number of
individuals, chosen by the various halls of the university,
and who at first did not form an independent society,
but were subordinate to the several schools in which
they had been educated: in 1280, the institution of a
society was determined upon, and the statutes eventually
settled by the university bear the date 1292. The
situation of the original house, or hall, is generally
considered to be the site now occupied by Brasenose
College, and historians assert that the society removed to
the present college about 1343, under the style of " the
Master and Scholars of the Hall of the University of
Oxford," giving to their house the name of " University
Hall;" at what period it was first denominated a
college is unknown. The style at present in use, namely,
" the Master and Fellows of the College of the Great
Hall of the University, commonly called University
College in Oxford," was fixed by Queen Elizabeth, in
1572. A common seal was used so early as 1320, and
the statutes now in force were enacted in 1726. The
foundation consists of a master, twelve fellows, and
twenty-four scholars and exhibitioners; two of the fellowships
were founded by William of Durham, for that
county; three by Henry IV., for the dioceses of York
and Durham; three, in 1442, by the Earl of Northumberland,
for the dioceses of Durham, Carlisle, and York';
and four, in 1631, by Sir Simon Bennet, for any part
of England, except these three dioceses. The King became
visitor in the beginning of the reign of George II.,
in consequence of a decree in the court of King's Bench,
assigning the foundation to Alfred; the House of Convocation
had previously exercised that power, as trustees
under the will of William of Durham. The livings in the
patronage of the Master and Fellows are, the rectory of
Tarrant-Gunville, in the county of Dorset; the rectory
of North Cerney, in the county of Gloucester; the rectory
of Headhourn-Worthy, in the county of Southampton;
the perpetual curacy of Flamstead, in the county
of Hertford; the rectory of Elton, in the county
of Huntingdon; the rectory of Checkendon, in the
county of Oxford; the rectory of Kingsdon, in the
county of Somerset; the rectory of Beckley, in the
county of Sussex; the vicarage of Arncliffe, and the rectory
of Melsonby, in the county of York. The college,
which is on the south side of the High-street, is in
the ancient style of English architecture, with portions
in the Italian style, and comprises two parallel
quadrangles: one, built at various periods, with a chapel
and hall on the south side, is one hundred feet square;
the other, built principally by Dr. Radcliffe, has only
three sides, each being about eighty feet in length; on
the south is the master's garden: the two constitute
a front of about two hundred and forty feet in extent,
from the High-street, which it faces, presenting a magnificent
appearance; each quadrangle is entered by a
gateway surmounted by a tower; over one entrance, in
front, is the statue of Queen Anne, and within, that of
James II.; over the other, in front, that of Mary II.,
and within, that of Dr. Radcliffe. The chapel, built in
1665, displays a profusion of painted glass, and contains
a fine cenotaph, by Flaxman, to the memory of
Sir William Jones. In the library, which was completed
in 1660, is a very valuable collection of books
and manuscripts. Amongst the most eminent members
formerly belonging to this society may be enumerated
Ridley, Bishop of London, who was burnt at the stake
in this city; Bingham, author of Origines Ecclesiasticce
Sir William Jones; Dr. Radcliffe; Edward, Lord Herbert
of Cherbury; Dr. John Hudson, a learned critic;
Carte, the historian; Richard Jago, an ingenious poet;
Sir Robert Chambers, Vinerian Professor, afterwards a
Judge in India; two archbishops, and nine bishops.
The members on the books are two hundred and
eighteen, of whom one hundred and ten are members
of convocation.
Balliol College appears to have
been founded, about 1260, by John
Balliol, of Bernard Castle, father of
John Balliol, King of Scotland: he
gave to each of his scholars 8d. per
week for their commons, and settled
yearly exhibitions upon them, with
the intention of providing a house
and appropriate accommodation,
which was carried into effect after his decease, in 1269,
by his wife Devorguilla, who, in 1281, purchased a tenement
in Horsemonger-street, now called Broad-street,
and prescribed statutes for their government: in 1284,
she likewise purchased the adjoining hall of St. Mary
and having repaired it, established the society there by
charter of incorporation, which, being confirmed by the
king, her son, and Oliver, Bishop of Lincoln, the name of
New Balliol College was given to it: the code of statutes
at present in force was enacted in 1507. The number of
scholars has varied at different times, according to the
state of the finances: in 1610 the society included not
less than one hundred and twenty-seven persons; at
present it consists of a master, twelve fellows, and fourteen
scholars, of whom nine fellows and ten scholars are on
the old foundation. In 1620, Lady Eliz. Periam, widow
of the Lord Chief Baron, Sir William Periam, Knt.
added one fellowship, which, as well as those on the old
foundation, is open to candidates indiscriminately: in
1615, and 1676, the trustees of Mr. Peter Bluudell
founded two fellowships for persons to be elected from
his grammar school at Tiverton, in the county of Devon:
there are also thirty-three scholarships and exhibitions
and, in 1522, lands were given by Thomas Harrope to
increase the number of scholarships; among the exhibitions
are four founded by John Warner, Bishop of
Rochester, in 1666 or 1667, for natives of Scotland, to
support the cause of episcopacy in that country; they
are endowed with £20 per annum each, and are now
held by four of the exhibitioners of John Snell, Esq.
This college alone has the privilege of electing its own
visitor, who at present is the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The livings in the patronage of the Master and Fellows
are the rectory and vicarage of Duloe, in the county of
Cornwall; the vicarage of Beer-Regis, in the county of
Dorset; the rectories of All Saints', St. Leonard, St,
Nicholas, Holy Trinity, and the perpetual curacy of St.
Botolph's, in the town of Colchester; the vicarage of
Marks-Tey, and the rectory of Tendring, in the county
of Essex; the vicarage of Abbotsley, in the county of
Huntingdon; the rectories of Brattleby, Fillingham,
and Riseholme, in the county of Lincoln; the consolidated
vicarages of St. Lawrence Jewry and St. Mary
Magdalene, Milk-street, London; the vicarage of Long
Benton, in the county of Northumberland; and the
rectories of Kilve cum Stringston, Huntspill, and Timsbury,
in the county of Somerset. The buildings of this
college chiefly form a quadrangle of one hundred and
twenty feet by eighty, in addition to which is an area
on the north-west side: in the centre of the front is
a fine square embattled tower, surmounted by a turret)
and ornamented-with a highly enriched canopied niche,1
and the arms of the founder; on the west side of the
quadrangle are the hall and master's residence; on the
north the chapel and library, -which latter, originally
completed in 1477, was repaired and embellished under
the direction of Mr. James Wyatt, architect, and contains
a valuable collection of illuminated manuscripts;
several rare English Bibles, and other works: the other
sides consist of rooms for the fellows and scholars;
The buildings to the north-east of the quadrangle were
the gift of Archbishop Abbot; those to the south-west
of it, fronting the street, and containing twelve sets
of rooms, were erected at the expense of Mr. Fisher
formerly a fellow of this college; to which was added,
in 1827, a building on the north, fronting the church ot
St. Mary Magdalene, containing twenty-two sets of
rooms. Among the more eminent members may oe
enumerated John Wickliff, the Reformer, who was master;
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester; Tiptoft, Bar of
Worcester; John Ross and Robert Parsons; Sir Jonn
Popham, Chief Justice of the King's Bench;
Atkyns, Chief Baron of the Exchequer; Sir
lyn; Dr. Bradley, Astronomer Royal; Rev.
chins, author of the History of Dorsetshire; th£ee/lIT"
bishops, and eight bishops. The members on the DOO«.
are two hundred and forty-eight, of whom one huuore
are members of convocation.
Merton College was founded by
Walter de Merton, Bishop of Rochester,
and Lord High Chancellor
of England, who having previously
founded one at Merton, in. the
county of Surrey, removed the
society hither in 1274, under the
name of Domus Scholarum de Merton,
and the statutes bear that
date: this college, in point of legal establishment, is
the oldest in the university, and was so well endowed,
that in the 26th of Henry VIII. its revenue was valued
at £354. The society consists of a warden, twentyfour
fellows, fourteen postmasters, four scholars, two
chaplains, and two clerks. The natives of the following
dioceses are ineligible to fellowships, viz., St. Asaph,
Bangor, St. David's, Llandaff, Hereford, Chichester,
Exeter, Rochester, Lichfield and Coventry, Chester, and
Carlisle. Exhibitions for the twelve portionists, called
postmasters, were given in 1380, by John Willyott, D.D.,
Chancellor of Exeter; these were increased to.fourteen
by John Chamber, fellow of Eton, and canon of Windsor,
who directed his exhibitioners to be elected from
Eton College: the four scholarships were founded, in
1753, by Henry Jackson, M.A., of this college, and
afterwards a minor canon of St. Paul's, London: the
sum of £20 per annum is vested in the Warden and
Fellows, for general distribution among poor scholars.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is visitor. The livings
in the patronage of the Warden and Fellows are, the
rectory of Gamlingay, in the county of Cambridge;
the vicarage of Diddington, in the county of Huntingdon;
the vicarage of Elham, in the county of Kent,
on the nomination of the Archbishop of Canterbury;
the rectory of Kibworth-Beauchamp, in the county of
Leicester; the vicarages of Embleton and Ponteland,
in the county of Northumberland; the rectories of
Cuxham and Ibstone, with the perpetual curacies of
Holywell and Wolvercott, in the county of Oxford;
the perpetual curacies of St. John the Baptist, and
St. Peter in the East, in the city of Oxford; the rectory
of Farley, and the vicarage of Maiden, with the
perpetual curacy of Chessington, in the county of Surrey;
the rectory of Lapworth, and the vicarage of Great
Wolford, in the county of Warwick; arid the vicarage
of Stratton St. Margaret, in the county of Wilts t the
Archbishop of Canterbury must also collate one of the
fellows, or one who has been a fellow, of this college, to
the rectory of Denton, in the county of Norfolk. The
college is situated on the south side of the city, in St.
John's street, and its buildings form three quadrangles;
the first, which opens by a noble arch into the inner
quadrangle, is one hundred and ten feet by one hundred
feet, and was rebuilt in 1589, with the exception of the
tower and gatehouse, which were constructed in the
early part of the fifteenth century, during the wardenship
of the celebrated mathematician, Thomas Redburn,
Bishop of St David's; it contains the warden's apartments,
some portions of which are supposed to be coeval
with the original edifice. The second, or grand
court, is of modern date, and exhibits a mixed style of
architecture, the centre elevation is adorned with tiers
of columns of the Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian
orders. The third, or small court, is ancient, and supposed
to have been built, as it now stands, about the
same time as the library, which forms its south and
west sides, and was founded in 1376, by Rede, Bishop
of Chichester: this is thought to be the most ancient
structure of the kind in existence. At the western end
of the outer court is the chapel, which is considered
one of the finest in the university, and consists of a
choir in the decorated style, and transepts, with a low
massive tower at the intersection, in the later style
of English architecture; the windows are of painted
glass, and the east window of seven lights is ornamented
with a rich wheel, crocketed canopies and pinnacles,
being considered a remarkable specimen of fine taste,
and is called the Catharine Wheel window; the tower is
embattled and pinnacled. It is the parish church of St.
John the Baptist, being used only as the college chapel,
and the parochial duties are discharged by one of the
chaplains of the college, a small portion of the interior
being allotted as a burial-place for the inhabitants.
Among the eminent members of this society may be
classed Dr. Harvey, who discovered the circulation of
the blood, warden of the college; the celebrated Duns
Scotus; Archbishop Bradwardyn; John Wickliff; Sir
Henry Savile; John Greaves; John Hales; Francis
Cheynell; Hugh Cressy; Samuel Clarke; Anthony a
Wood; the Oxford historian; Sir Richard Steele; the
Earl of Essex; the parliamentary general; Thomas
Farnaby, a learned critic; Dr. Edmund Dickenson;
Thomas Tyrwhitt, editor of Chaucer's Tales; thirteen
bishops, and five archbishops: Savile and Wood were
buried here. The members on the books are one hun-
dredand twenty seven, of whom sixty-four are members
of convocation.
Exeter College was founded, in
1314, by Walter de Stapledon, Bishop
of Exeter, and called Stapledon
Hall: on the removal of his
scholars to this spot from Hart Hall
the foundation comprised a rector
and twelve fellows, eight of the thirteen
to be elected from the archdea-
Arms. conries of Exeter,Totness, and Barnstaple,
four from the archdeaconry of Cornwall, and one,
to be nominated by the Dean and Chapter of Exeter,
from any other place, provided the candidate should be
in priest's orders. Two additional fellowships were founded,
in 1404, by Edmund Stafford, Bishop of Exeter (who
obtained leave to bestow on the college its present name),
to be chosen from the diocese of Salisbury; eight, in
1565, by Sir William Petre, Knt., for natives of the
counties of Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Oxford, and Essex,
and any others in which his descendants might have
lands of inheritance, or other possessions, who also procured
a new body of statutes, and a regular deed of incorporation
for this college; one by Charles I., in 1636,
for a native of Jersey or Guernsey; and two, about
1700, by Lady Elizabeth Shiers, for natives of the
counties of Hertford and Surrey, which are exclusively
in the gift of the rector and five senior fellows; the society
at present includes a rector and twenty-five fellows;
there are also sixteen scholarships and exhibitions. The
Bishop of Exeter is visitor. The livings in the patronage
of the Rector and Fellows are, the vicarage of Long
Wittenham, in the county of Berks; the vicarage of
Menheniot, in the county of Cornwall, on the nomination,
by the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, of one who is
or has been, a fellow of the college; the rectory of
Bushey, in the county of Hertford; the rectory of
Wootton, in the county of Northampton; the vicarages
of Merton and South Newington, in the county of
Oxford; the rectories of Ripe and Waldron, in the
county of Sussex; and the rectories of Baverstock and
Somerford Magna, in the county of Wilts; the vicarage
of Kidlington, in the county of Oxford, is annexed,
without institution, to the rectorship. The front of
this college is on the eastern side of the Turle, and is
two hundred and twenty feet in length; a gate-way of
rustic work, surmounted by a tower, with Ionic pilasters,
which support a semicircular pediment, ornamented
with the arms of the founder, leads into the
first quadrangle, in which are the hall, a handsome
building in the later style of English architecture,
erected about 1610, by Sir John Ackland; the chapel,
in similar style, towards the erection of which, about
1623, Dr. George Hakewill contributed £1200, and
which possesses the peculiarity of having two aisles;
and the rector's lodgings: there is an inner court, of similar
construction, one hundred and thirty-five feet
square; behind it is a garden laid out with great taste.
The library was erected, about 1778, and contains,
with other valuable works, a fine collection of the Aldine
classics, also a portrait of Mr. Sandford, a learned
but eccentric divine, who included in his valuable be*
quest to this college, the extremely rare and valuable
Hebrew Bible, printed at Soncino in Italy, in 1488.
Among the eminent members may be enumerated the
following writers: Trevisa; Grocyn; Sir John Dodderidge;
Digory Whear; George Hakewil 1; Joseph
Gary 11; Browne, the poet; the celebrated lawyer, Sir John
Fortescue; and Anthony Astley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury;
Mauudrell, the oriental traveller; Dr. William
Borlase, the Cornish antiquary; Jonathan Toup, an
eminent critic; Nicholas Tindal, the continuator of
Rapin; Sir Michael Foster, a learned lawyer; Dr. Benjamin
Kennicott; also two archbishops, and eleven
bishops. The members on the books are two handre'd
and eighty-eight, of whom pne hundred and twentythree
are members of convocation.
Oriel College was founded, in 1326,
by license of Edward II. to his
almoner, Adam de Brome, to build
and endow a college to the honour
of the Virgin Mary, towards which
project that sovereign had, in 1325,
given the advowson of St. Mary's,
and the parsonage-house of that
rectory; of this institution Brome
became the first provost. In 1333, the parsonagehouse
was converted into an academical hall, called
St. Mary's Hiill, and Edward III. gave to the society
a tenement, called L'Oriele, on which this college was
founded, and whence its name is derived. The original
foundation included a provost and ten fellows; four
fellowships were added about 1441, by John Frank,
Master of the Rolls, for the counties of Somerset, Dorset,
Wilts, and Devon; one by John Carpenter, Bishop of
Worcester, about 1476; one'by William Smyth, Bishop
of Lincoln, in 1507; and two by Richard Dudley, chancellor
of the church of Salisbury, in 1529. A prebend in
Rochester cathedral was annexed to the office of provost
for ever, by Queen Anne. There are fifteen exhibitions.
The King is visitor. The livings in the patronage of
the Provost and Fellows are, the rectory of Ufton in
the county of Berks; the rectory of Purleigh, in the
county of Essex; the rectories of Abbot's Cromhall and
Tortworth, in the county of Gloucester; the vicarage of
Coleby, in the county of Lincoln; the perpetual curacy of
Morton-Pinkney, in the county of Northampton; the
vicarage of St. Mary the Virgin, in the city of Oxford
the rectory of Swains wick, and the vicarage of Twiverton
in the county of Somerset; the rectory of Choldertoi/
in the county of Wilts; and the vicarage of Aberford
in the county of York; the rectory of Plymptree in
the county of Devon; and the rectory of Saltfleet by
St.Peter's, in the county of Lincoln; are in the gift
of the Provost The buildings consist of a spacious
and handsome quadrangle, and two lateral ranges
of chambers on the east and west sides of the. garden;
the eastern wing, erected by Robinson, Bishop
of London, in 1719; the western, by Dr. George-Garter,
provost, in 1729; and in 1817 a modern stone building,
comprising fifteen sets of rooms, was erected to the
southward of Bishop Robinson's wing. The entrance
to the quadrangle from the street is through a tower
gateway, the roof of which is decorated with the royal
arms of Charles L, and the tower with a bay window,
or oriel. The hall, immediately opposite, is approached
by a flight of steps, under a portico, surmounted by
statues of Edward II. and Edward III., in niches, and
above these, in another niche, are sculptured representations
of the Virgin and Child. The Provost's house is
on the north side of the quadrangle; the south and
west sides are occupied by the members' apartments:
on the east side is the entrance to the chapel, which
edifice was completed in 1642, and, with the hall, presents
specimens of the later style of English architecture;
the library was designed and constructed under
the direction of Mr. James Wyatt. Among the eminent
members are Dr. Joseph Butler, the learned Bishop of
Durham; Sir Walter Raleigh; William Prynne; Sir
John Holt, an eminent lawyer; and Dr. Joseph Warton,
The members on the books are two hundred and ninetyeight,
of whom one hundred and fifty-nine 2re members
of convocation.
Queen's College was founded, in
1340, by Robert de Egglesfield,
rector of Brough, in the county
of Westmorland, and Confessor to
Philippa, Queen of Edward III.,
and it has, in consequence, received
the especial patronage of the Queens
of England. The original founda-
tion consisted of a provost aridtwelve
fellows, afterwards increased to sixteen, to be elected
exclusively from the counties of Cumberland ana
Westmorland; to these, eight fellowships were added,
on the foundation of John Michel, Esq., of Richmond
in Surrey, for natives of any county; there are also
forty-eight scholarships and exhibitions: the Archbisiiqp
of York is visitor. The livings in the patronage of tne
Provost and Fellows are, the vicarage of Sparsholt, ana
the rectories of Sulhampstead-Abbas, and Sulhampsteaa
Bannister, in the county of Berks; the rectory of HOIwell,
in the county of Somerset; the vicarage of Olieaworth,
in the county of Gloucester; the vicarages of
Bramley, Carisbrooke, Godshill with the rectory
Milford with the perpetual curacy of Hordle, Monies
Sherborne, Holy Rood (Southampton), the rectories of
Bramshot, Knight's Enham, Headley, Newnham with the
perpetual curacy of Maplederwell, Church-Oakley, and
Weyhill, and the chapels of Pamber and Upton-Grey, in
the county of Southampton; the rectories of Blechingdon,
Charlton upon Otmore, Hampton-Poyle, and South Weston,
in the county of Oxford; the vicarage of Newbold-
Pacey, in the county of Warwick; and the vicarage of
Brough, in the county of Westmorland. The livings on
Mr. Michel's, or the New, foundation are, the vicarage of
Wendron with Helston, in the county of Cornwall; the
rectory of English-Bicknor, in the county of Gloucester;
the second portion of the rectory of Pontesbury, in the
county of Salop; and the rectory of Upton-Scudamore,
in the county of Wilts. The whole of this magnificent
edifice was erected in the last century: the entire area
forms an oblong square of three hundred feet by two
hundred and twenty, and is divided into two spacious
courts by the chapel and hall; the principal front is
on the north side of the High-street, and the grand
entrance is under a large central gateway, which is
surmounted by an open cupola, supported on pillars,
and containing a statue of Queen Caroline, consort of
George II., by whose munificence it was erected:
this gateway leads into the first quadrangle, which
was erected in 1710, by Hawksmore, at the expense
of Provost Lancaster, and is one hundred and forty
feet by one hundred and thirty, being thought to bear
a resemblance to the Luxembourgh palace in Paris:
on three of its sides are lofty cloisters, supported by
square pillars, leading to the lodgings of the provost, and
the rooms of the different members of the society; the
north side, at the extremities of which are the chapel
and hall, consists of a grand Doric elevation, with an
enriched central pediment, supported on four lofty
columns, terminating in a circle, with intervening pilasters;
and crowned with a balustrade and fine Ionic
cupola; the south front is ornamented with six figures,
of which, the two placed on pediments are Jupiter and
Apollo: the chapel windows contain several exquisite
specimens of ancient stained glass, and the ceiling is
decorated with a painting of the Ascension by Sir
James Thornhill. The inner court is one hundred
and thirty feet by ninety: on its western side is the
library, which .was completed in 1600; it is one of
the largest in the university, and contains, besides
a valuable collection of books amounting to more
than eighteen thousand volumes, some fine busts
and paintings, two very ancient paintings in glass of
Henry V., who was educated at this college, and a
most magnificent cast of a Florentine boar. In the
buttery is an ancient and curious drinking horn,
capable of containing two quarts, and presented to the
college by Queen Philippa; the ornamental engravings
are rich and curious, and it bears several inscriptions
of the Saxon word Wacceyl. Among the more eminent
members may be enumerated, Dr. Holyoake, Wycheley,
Halley, Addison, Tickell, and Burn, author of the " Justice
of the Peace;" Henry V., said to have been a
student here; Bernard Gilpin, called "the Apostle of
the North;" Dr. John Mill, the learned editor of the
New Testament; Sir John Davies, a learned lawyer
and poet; Dr. Thomas Hyde, Professor of Arabic; Sir
John Floyer, a learned physician; Dr. Thomas Shaw,
the traveller; Collins, the poet; as clerical dignitaries,
one archbishop, and fourteen bishops, including
Cardinal Beaufort, and Bishops Gibson, Nicholson,
and Tanner. The members on the books are three
hundred and fifty-one, of whom one hundred and sixtyfour
are members of convocation.
New College was founded, in
1386, by William of Wykeham,
Bishop of Winchester, and Lord
High Chancellor of England, for
a warden, seventy fellows and scholars,
ten chaplains, an organist, three
clerks, and sixteen choristers. In
the original charter it is called the
College of St.Mary of Winchester:
the present popular appellation was acquired at the time
of its erection, and has continued to the present time.
Wykeham's school, at Winchester, was instituted as a
nursery to supply scholars by election to this college,
and is annually subject to the visitation of the warden;
for which reason the fellows enjoy the privilege of admission
to degrees, without obtaining a grace from the
house of congregation, or being examined in the public
schools, provided they have undergone examinations in
their own college, according to the forms of the university;
the fellows and scholars must be elected from the
college, or school, at Winchester, at a regular meeting
held annually for that purpose, and attended by the
wardens of both colleges, two fellows of New College,
and the subwarden and head master of that at Winchester.
The founder's kin are fellows on admission;
others are probationary scholars until the expiration of
two years. The statutes of the founder, the counterpart
of those at Winchester, were deemed so complete
that they have served as a model in framing regulations
for most of the succeeding colleges. The Bishop of
Winchester is visitor. The livings in the patronage of
the Warden and Fellows are, the rectories of Akely,
Hardwick, Great Horwood, Newton-Longville, Radclive,
and Tingewick, and the vicarage of Whaddon, in
the county of Buckingham; the vicarage of Steeple-
Morden, in the county of Cambridge; the rectory of
Abbot's Stoke, in the county of Dorset; the rectories
of Birchanger and Little Sampford, the vicarages of
Hornchurch, and Writtle with Roxwell chapel, and the
perpetual curacy of Romford, in the county of Essex; the.
vicarage of Marshfield, in the county of Gloucester; the
vicarage of Heckfield with Mattingley chapel, in the county
of Southampton; the rectories of Saham-Toney, Stratton
St. Michael, St. John Madder-Market (in the city of
Norwich), Weston, and Witchingham St. Faith consolidated
with the vicarage of Witchingham St. Mary, in
the county of Norfolk; the rectory of Paulers-Pury,
in the county of Northampton; the vicarages of East
Adderbury, Chesterton, and Swalclifle with the chapelry
of Epwell, and the rectories of Bucknell, Heyford-Warren,
Stanton St. John, and Wootton, in the county of
Oxford; the rectory of Worthen, in the county of Salop;
the rectory of Long Ditton, in the county of Surrey;
the rectory of Stockton, in the county of Warwick;
the rectories of Alton-Barnes, Berwick St. John, and
Donhead St. Mary, in the county of Wilts; the sinecure
rectory of Colerne, in the county of Wilts, is
annexed to the Wardenship, and the Warden is patron of
the vicarage. This college is situated in New College
lane, and consists of a principal quadrangle, measuring
one hundred and sixty-eight feet by one hundred and
twenty-nine, which includes the chapel, hall, and library;
and a smaller quadrangle, called the Cloisters, adjacent
to which is a lofty and substantial square tower . the
other buildings, which form the garden-court, are an
addition to the original design, and were built in
imitation of the palace of Versailles, or, according to
some, of the king's house at Winchester, but with
battlements to correspond with the old quadrangle
and city wall, by which the more ancient part of the
buildings is surrounded: this part of the college was
finished in 1684, and is separated from the garden,
which is spacious and tastefully arranged, by an iron
palisade; the approach to the great quadrangle is by a
portal, surmounted by a tower, the front of which still
retains, in one of its ornamented niches, the sculptured
effigy of the founder. The chapel and hall, on the
north side of the great court, present a magnificent elevation;
the former was remarkable for its splendour
prior to the Reformation, and still retains a primary
rank among the sacred structures of the university: it
is in the later style of English architecture, with a very
rich interior, and consists of an ante-chapel, eighty feet
by thirty-six, leading at right angles into a choir of
one hundred feet by thirty-five; in the former division
is a splendid display of painted glass, in four different
styles of execution, but these are surpassed by the
great west window, which is divided into two parts, the
higher representing the Nativity, and the lower seven
figures emblematical of the Christian and cardinal virtues,
executed by Jarvis, from the designs of Sir Joshua
Reynolds: on the north and south sides of the choir
are other paintings; those on the south side were originally
Flemish, and are said to have been done from
designs by some of the scholars of Rubens; they
were purchased by the college, and repaired in 1740;
over the altar are some beautiful specimens of sculpture,
by Westmacott. The costly and beautiful crosier
of the founder, seven feet in height, of silver gilt, and
richly decorated, is preserved in the chapel. Among
the eminent literary persons educated here were Somerville,
the poet; and Wood, author of the " Institutes;"
amongst its clerical dignitaries, two archbishops, and
twenty-nine bishops, including Archbishop Warham, and
Dr. Lowth. The members on the books are one hundred
and fifty-three, of whom sixty-six are members of
convocation.
Lincoln College was founded, in
1427, by Richard Fleming, Bishop
of Lincolu, from which see it takes
its name, under permission, obtained
from Henry VI., to make
the church of All Saints collegiate,
and establish a college for a rector
and seven scholars; it was completed
by Rotheram, Archbishop
of York, who added five fellowships, and, by a new body
of statutes, enacted in 1479, limited the election of all
the fellows to the old dioceses of York and Lincoln,
with one exception to the diocese of Wells; there are
thirteen exhibitions, eight scholarships, and one bible
derkship. The Bishop of Lincoln is visitor. The livings
in the patronage of the Rector and Fellows are, the rectory
of Cublington, in the county of Buckingham; the rectory
of Winterborne-Abbas united with that of Winterborne
Steepleton, in the county of Dorset; the rectories of Had"
leigh and Great Leighs, in the county of Essex; the rectory
of Waddington, in the county of Lincoln; the perpetual
curacies of All Saints' and St. Michael's, in the
city, and Long Combe, and Forest-Hill, in the county
of Oxford; the rectory of Twyford, in the county of
Buckingham, is annexed to the Rectorship. The college,
which is situated between All Saints' church and
Exeter College, consists of two quadrangles, one eighty
feet, and the other seventy feet square; the larger, begun
soon after the founder's death, and finished by Bishop
Rotheram, is entered by a tower gateway, and contains,
the hall, library, rector's lodgings, and rooms for members;
the inner quadrangle was erected about 1612, and
six sets of rooms were added, in 1759, from the funds
of the college: the chief ornament of this court is the
chapel, on its south side, erected by Bishop Williams;
the windows, which present splendid specimens of
painted glass and emblazonry, were procured from Italy,
by that prelate, in 1629; the large east window is
divided into six compartments, and exhibits a variety of
scriptural subjects; in the twelve side windows are representations
of the Prophets and Apostles: on the south
side of the college is a handsome garden. Among
the eminent members may be enumerated Sir William
D'Avenant; James Hervey, author of the "Meditations;"
John Wesley, the celebrated founder of Methodism,
who, though a student of Christchurch, was elected a
fellow of this college; Dr. Robert Sanderson, Bishop
of Lincoln, a learned divine and casuist; Sir William
Davenant; Dr. George Hickes; Sir George Wheler;
Dr. Matthew Tindal; Archbishop Potter, and nine bishops.
The members on the books are one hundred
and forty-two, of whom sixty-seven are members of
convocation.
All Souls' College was founded,
in 1437, by Henry Chichele, Archbishop
of Canterbury, who induced
Henry VI. to assume the title of cofounder;
it was chiefly endowed with
the lands of Alien priories dissolved
by that monarch. A code of statutes,
on the model of Wykeham's,
were drawn up by the archbishop,
by which, in conformity with the charter, the society
consists of a warden, forty fellows, two chaplains, and
clerks; the fellowships are open to the descendants ot
the founder's family, or to others born within the province
of Canterbury: there are also six scholarships, ihe
Archbishop of Canterbury is visitor. The livings m the
patronage of the Warden and Fellows are, the rectory
of Weston-Turville, in the county of Buckingham; the
vicarage of Barking, in the county of Essex; the perpetual
curacy of Walton-Cardiff, in the county of Woucester;
the rectory of Welwyn, in the county ot Hertford;
the rectories of Chelsfield with Farnborougn,
Elmly, and Harrietsham, and the vicarages ot JNew
Romney and Upchurch, in the county of Kent; tne
rectory of Harpsden, and the vicarage of Lewknor, in
the county of Oxford; the vicarage of Alberbury, 01
Abberbury, in the county of Salop; the rectory oi
Buckland, in the county of Surrey; the rectory ot J*-
ford St. Martin, in the county of Wilts; and the yiccuages
of Llangennith and Pen-arth, in the county
Glamorgan; the rectory of East Locking*, in the county
of Berks, is annexed to the Wardenship. The college
buildings consist of two quadrangles; that erected by the
founder is about one hundred and twenty-four feet by
seventy-two, and still retains many of its ancient features;
it is entered from the High-street, through two
gateways, the western surmounted by a tower beautifullyornamented
with large and well-sculptured effigies of
Henry VI. and Chichele; it contains a curious dial,
designed by Sir Christopher Wren; the whole line of
building is adorned with battlements. The other quadrangle
is comparatively modern, and measures, with the
court, one hundred and seventy-three feet by one hundred
and fifty - five; it contains the grand entrance from
RadclifFe square, and the cloister, on the west; the
common and other rooms, with two magnificent towers,
on the east; the chapel and hall on the south; and the
library on the north; the whole of this square is in
the later style of English architecture, with some admixtures.
The chapel is very generally admired, and
is separated from the ante-chapel by an elegant screen,
constructed by Sir Christopher Wren; the windows are
in chiaro oscuro, and among the interior decorations,
immediately over the altar, is the beautiful Noli me tangere
of Raphaello Mengs, purchased of the artist for
£315; above it is a remarkably fine al fresco painting,
intended to represent the assumption of the founder,
by Sir James Thornhill: the respective dimensions of
the chapel and ante-chapel are seventy feet by thirty.
The hall contains a fine marble bust of Chichele, and
paintings. The splendid library, consisting of about
forty thousand volumes, was the gift of Colonel Codrington,
a member of the college, who, in addition to
his own library, bequeathed £4000 for the purchase of
books, and £ 6000 to defray the expense of the building;
it was completed in 1756, and its principal room, exclusively
of a central recess, containing a statue of the
colonel, is one hundred and ninety-eight feet by thirtythree
and a half; the foundation stone was laid by Dr.
Young, author of the " Night Thoughts." Among the
eminent members are, Leland, the antiquary; Linacre;
Caius; Sir Christopher Wren, who removed hither from
Wadham College; Sir William Blackstone; Dr. Thomas
Sydenham; Robert Heyrick, the poet; and Marchmont
Nedham, a political writer in the reign of Charles I.;
with one archbishop, and twelve bishops. The members
on the books are one hundred, of whom sixtyeight
are members of convocation.
Magdalene College was founded,
in 1456, by William of Waynfleet,
Bishop of Winchester, and Lord
High Chancellor of England, on or
near the site of the ancient hospital
of St. John the Baptist, which, with
all the estates belonging to it, was
given to him by Henry VI., for a
president, forty fellows, thirty scholars
(called demies, because formerly they were entitled
only to half-commons), a schoolmaster, usher, four
chaplains, an organist, eight clerks, and sixteen choristers.
The fellows are eligible alone from the following
dioceses and counties:-five from the diocese of
Winchester, four from Norwich, two from York and
Durham, two from Chichester, seven from the county of
Lincoln, four from Oxford, three from Berk$, one from
York, two from Gloucester, two from Warwick, one
each from the counties of Buckingham, Kent, Nottingham,
Essex, Somerset, Northampton, and Wilts, and
one from the city of London. Demies are eligible from
any of the above-mentioned dioceses or counties, excepting
those of York and Durham. There are nine exhibitions,
exclusively of some foundedby John Hygden, D.D.
The Bishop of Winchester is visitor. The livings in the
patronage of the President and Fellows are, the rectories
of Appleton, Aston-Tirrold, East-Ilsley and Tubney, and
the vicarage of Ashbury, in the county of Berks; the
rectories of Beaconsfield and Saunderton, in the county
of Buckingham; the rectory of Stanway, in the county
of Essex; the rectory of Slimbridge, in the county of
Gloucester; the vicarages of Basingstoke, Selborne, and
East Worldham, and the perpetual curacy of West Tisted,
in the county of Southampton; the rectories of Candlesby,
Horsington, Saltfleet by All Saints, and Swaby, in
the county of Lincoln; the rectory of Brandistone, in
the county of Norfolk; the vicarage of Evenley and the
rectory of Great Houghton,  in the county of Northampton;
the rectory of East Bridgford, in the county
of Nottingham; the rectories of Ducklington, Standlake,
Swerford with the chapel of Showell, and the
perpetual curacy of Horsepath, in the county of Oxford;
the rectories of Ashurst and Bramber, and the
vicarages of Findon, Seeding, New Shoreham, Old
Shoreham, and Washington, in the county of Sussex;
the vicarage of Willoughby, in the county of Warwick;
and the rectories of Boyton, Fittleton, Winterbourne-
Bassett, and the vicarage of Dinton, in the county of
Wilts. The college is situated at the bottom of the Highstreet,
on the western bank of the river Cherwell, near
the bridge to which it gives name, and from the unaltered
state of the buildings, it presents the most venerable appearance;
it consists chiefly of two ancient quadrangles
built by Waynfleet, one side of a third, called the New
Buildings, a lofty tower, and the chaplain's court. The
principal entrance is from the gravel walk, through a
modern Doric gateway, ornamented with a statue of the
founder, which leads into the first quadrangle, on the
north side of which are the president's lodgings, and
near them an ancient gateway, now disused, surmounted
by a tower (in which is an apartment called the founder's
chamber), with battlements and pinnacles, and adorned
with small statues of the founder, Henry VI., St. Mary
Magdalene, and St. John the Baptist, under canopies of
exquisite workmanship; in the south-east angle of this
court is a stone pulpit, from which an annual sermon
was formerly preached on the festival of St. John the
Baptist: a passage leads from this court into the second
quadrangle, which is surrounded by covered cloisters,
and from which are the entrances to the chapel, library,
hall, common rooms, and apartments for the fellows
and demies; the interior of this court is adorned
by a series of hieroglyphics, the solution of which
has been given by William Reeks, fellow of the college,
in a manuscript preserved in the library. The chapel,
which occupies its south-western angle, was erected by
the founder, but has undergone several modern alterations,
and is now under a course of-considerable embellishment;
near the west door, which opens into the first
quadrangle, is a light detached stone arch: this elegant
structure is adorned with beautiful stained windows,
and the ante-chapel contains several interesting monu-
ments; the western window, painted in chiaro oscuro,
and executed after a design by Christopher Swartz, exhibits
a representation of the Last Judgment; underneath
the altar-piece, by Isaac Fuller, which was placed
here about 1680, is the celebrated picture of Christ
bearing his Cross, now generally attributed to Moralez,
a Spanish artist of the sixteenth century, and presented
to the college by William Freeman,Esq., of Hamels, in the
county of Hereford: the inner chapel is paved with black
and white marble, and separated from the ante-chapel by
a handsome screen, over which is a fine organ. The library,
which occupies the western side of the cloisters, is
spacious. The hall, at the south-eastern angle, is decorated
with various devices in wainscot, principally from
scripture history, and with portraits of different dimensions;
the windows exhibit some curious specimens of
old painting in glass -. the remainder of the qxiadrangle
is occupied by the fellows' and demies' common rooms,
the kitchen, and the rooms of members of the society;
a passage on the north side leads to the New Buildings,
the first stone of which was laid in 1?33: the structure
is three hundred feet in length, and consists of three stories,
divided into their respective ranges of apartments;
in front is a handsome covered cloister. Eastward of
this quadrangle are the water walks, which, bordered
with trees, and extending along the side of a branch of
the Cherwell, surrounding a spacious meadow, afford a
delightful and retired promenade: part of these is
called Addison's Walk, from having been the favourite
retreat of the poet, whilst a student at this college;
on the north is the College Grove, adorned with more
private walks, and enlivened by a number of deer.
In the centre of a range of buildings, on the south side
of the chaplain's court, is the lofty and elegant tower,
crowned with eight rich pinnacles, which was completed
in 1498; in the belfry story are two fine windows,
and a rich open battlement, and it contains a
ring of ten musical bells. On the summit of this tower,
mass was performed every May-day, previously to the Reformation,
for the repose of the soul of Henry VII., and
some pieces of choral music are now annually performed
there, by the choristers, at five o'clock in the morning of
that day. Magdalene college is required by its statutes
to maintain the Kings of England, and their eldest sons,
on the occasions of their visiting the university of Oxford;
the hall has, in consequence, been honoured at
various times with the presence of several royal guests,
amongst whom were Edward IV., Richard III., Prince
Arthur, in 14Q6, James I., and Prince Henry, who was
admitted a member in 1605. During the parliamentary
war, Generals Cromwell and Fairfax, with their
officers, were also entertained here in 1647, and after
dinner amused themselves at bowls on the college
green. Among the former eminent members were Lilly,
the grammarian and astrologer; Fox, themartyrologist;
Harnpden, the patriot; Heylin, the controverial writer;
the poets Addison, Collins, and Holdsworth; Cardinals
Wolsey and Pole; Dean Colet, founder of St. Paul's
school; Theophilus Gale, author of "The Court of the Gentiles
;" Dr. Henry Hammond; Dr. Sacheverell; Gibbon,
the historian, who took no degree; Dr. Richard Chandler,
a learned traveller and antiquary; one archbishop, and
twenty-seven bishops. The members on the books are
one hundred and sixty-seven, of whom one hundred and
thirty-one are members of convocation.
Brasenose College was founded in
1509, by WHliam Smyth, Bishl'f
Lincoln, and Sir Richard Sutton of
Prestbury, in Cheshire, the latter' of
whom revised its statutes. The
society originally consisted of »
principal and twelve fellows, who
must be natives of the old diocese
of Lichfield and Coventry, with preference
to persons born in the county of Chester and
in those parts of Lancashire which were then in'that
diocese, especially in the parishes of Prescot and Prestbury;
in default of eligible candidates, the society may
elect from the diocese of Lincoln, or, if none be there
found, from the university itself: eight additional
fellowships have been founded, viz., two by the will of
J.Williamson, rector of St. George's, Canterbury, in 1533
confined to his kindred, or those of John Port, Serjeant
at law, who are natives of the city, or county palatine, of
Chester 5 one by John Elton, alias Baiter, canon of Salisbury,
in 1528, with preference to his kindred, born in the
diocese of Hereford, or in that of Worcester, or, in default
thereof, from the diocese of Salisbury, or elsewhere; one
by William Porter, clerk, in 1531, for the county, or diocese,
of Hereford, or, in default of a qualified person, then
for a native of any diocese next adjacent to Oxford;
one by Edward Darbie, Archdeacon of Stow, in the
county of Lincoln, in 1538, for a graduate born in the
said archdeaconry, or, in case of successive defects of
graduates from the counties of Leicester, Nprthampton,
Oxford, and Lincoln, then an under-graduate, to be
elected under similar restrictions; one by William
Clyfton, subdean of York, in 1538, for a priest and
graduate of the counties of York and Lincoln alternately,
or else of the county of Nottingham, or university
of Oxford; one by Brian Higden, Dean of York,
in 1549, alternately for the counties of York and Lincoln;
and one, in 1586, by Joyce Frankland, of London,
widow, for her kindred, especially those of the Trapps
and Saxies, or, in defect of such, then for any county
in England. There are also thirty-two scholarships, and
fifteen exhibitions. The Bishop of Lincoln is visitor.
The livings in the patronage of the Principal and Fellows
are, the rectories of Dudcote and West Shefford, in
the county of Berks; the lectureship of Rodborough, in
the parish of Minchinhampton, county of Gloucester;
the rectory of Tedstone-Delamere, in the county of Hereford;
the rectory of Great Catworth, in the county of
Huntingdon; the vicarage of Gillingham, in the county
of Kent; the vicarage of Preston, and the perpetual
curacies of Downham, Longridge, Newchurch in Pendle,
Church Kirk inWhalley, in the county of Lancaster;
the vicarage of Osburnby, in the county of Lincoln;
the rectories of St. Matthew, Bethnal-Green, Stratford
le Bow, St. Anne Limehouse, Christ Church Spitalfields,
Stepney, St. George in the East, St. JohnWapping,
Poplar, St. Mary Whitechapel, and the perpetual
curacies of St. John Bethnal Green, and Stepney
chapel, in the county of Middlesex; the rectories of
Great Billing, Cottingham, Middleton-Cheney, Old or
Wold, and Stoke-Bruerne, in the county of Northampton;
the rectories of Great Rollright, and Steeple-Aston,
in the county of Oxford; the rectories of Clayton
and Selham, in the county of Sussex; and the rectory
of Wootton-Rivers, in the county of Wilts, alternately
with the President and Fellows of St. John's College;
the rectory of Begbrooke, in the county of Oxford, is in
the patronage of Sir George Dashwood, Bart., for three
turns, and of the Principal of this college for the fourth.
The college is situated on the west side of Radcliffesquare;
the buildings consist of a spacious quadrangle,
which contains the hall and rooms for members, and,
in the centre, statues called " Cain and Abel," which
were presented by Dr. Clarke; and a small court towards
the south, in which are the chapel and library,
and an elegant house for the principal, which fronts
the High - street: over the gateway entrance to the
great quadrangle is a square tower, ornamented with
architectural designs; the small court was built in the
seventeenth century, from the plan, as is believed, of
Sir Christopher Wren; its style is of the mixed kind,
windows with pointed arches being occasionally opposed
by Grecian pilasters and capitals. Amongst the eminent
members of this college may be reckoned, John
Fox, the martyrologist, prior to his removal to Magdalene
College; Prince, author of the "Worthies of Devon;"
Sampson Erdeswick; John Gwillim, author of "the
Heraldry;" James, Lord Ley; William and Robert Burton,
of Leicester; Sir Elias Ashmole, founder of the
museum called after his name; Sir Peter Leicester;
John Watson, author of " the History of the Earls of
Warren and Surrey;" Dr. Whitaker, the late learned
Manchester historian, Reginald Heber, late bishop of
Calcutta, and nine other bishops. The members on the
books are four hundred and three, of whom two hundred
and twenty-five are members of convocation.
Corpus Christi College was founded,
in 1516, by Richard Fox, Bishop
of Winchester, and Lord Privy Seal
to Henry VII. and Henry VIII.,
for a president, twenty fellows,
twenty scholars, two chaplains, two
clerks, and two choristers: Hugh
Oldham, Bishop of Exeter, gave
gjx thousand marks towards the
building, and land towards the endowment. The fellows
are elected from the scholars, and these from the following
dioceses and counties; four from the diocese
of Winchester, of which two must be of the county of
Southampton, and two of Surrey; two from the diocese
of Bath and Wells, two from the diocese of Exeter, two
from the county of Gloucester, two from the county of
Lincoln, one from the county of Wilts, two from the
county of Kent, one from the county of Lancaster, one
each from the counties of Bedford and Oxford, one from
the diocese of Durham, and one founded by William Frost,
of Yavington, Hants, in 1529, for his kindred; in failure
of which, election to be made from that county. The
Bishop of Winchester is visitor. The livings in the patronage
of the President and Fellows are, the rectory of Little
Staughton, in the county of Bedford; the rectories of
Childrey and Letcomb-Bassett, and the vicarage of West
Hendred, in the county of Berks; the rectory of Ruan-
Lanyhorne, in the county of Cornwall; the rectory of
Skelton, in the county of Cumberland; the rectory of Great
Holland, in the county of Essex; the rectories of Duntsbourn-
Rouse and Maisey-Hampton, in the county of
Gloucester; the rectory of Stoke-Charity, in the county
of Southampton; the rectory of Pembridge, in the county
of Hereford; the rectory of Bassingham, in the county of
Lincoln; the rectories of Church-Brampton, Byfield, and
Helmdon, in. the county of Northampton; the rectories
of Goddington and Lower Heyford, and the perpetual
curacy of Warborough, in the county of Oxford; the
rectory of Trent, in the county of Somerset; the rectory
of Fenny-Compton, in the county of Warwick; and the
rectories of Steeple-Langford and Stratford St. Anthony,
in the county of Wilts. The entrance to this college
is opposite to the south wall of Oriel college, through a
gateway, above which is a square tower, ornamented in
front with three vacant canopied niches; it leads to the
quadrangle, which is one hundred and one feet by eighty,
and contains in the centre a curious cylindrical dial, constructed
by Charles Turnbull, fellow of the college, and
described in a manuscript in the library, written by
Robert Pegge; on the eastern side of the college are
apartments for the gentlemen commoners; and in 1700,
the fellows' building was erected, at the expense of Dr.
Turner, president,' on the site of the old cloisters, facing
the broad walk in'Christ Church meadow. In the chapel,
which was built by the founder, is a very fine altarpiece
of the Adoration, by Rubens, presented to the college,
in 1804, by the late Sir R. Worsley, Bart.; there
are also monuments to the memory of distinguished
members. In the hall are three full-length portraits, admirably
painted by Owen, of the Rt. Hon. Lord Tenterden,
Lord Chief Justice of England; the Rt. Rev. Dr.
Burgess, Bishop of Salisbury; and the Rt. Rev. Dr. Copieston,
Bishop of Llandaff; formerly fellows on this foundation;
in the college are still preserved the crosier of
the founder, which is upwards of three hundred years
old, of silver gilt, richly ornamented, and about six feet
in length; his gold sacramental plate, salt cellar of silver
gilt, rings, and other valuable relics. On the visit
of the sovereigns to the university, the King of Prussia
resided in the president's lodgings. Amongst its
eminent members have been, Basil Kennett, author of
the "Antiquities of Rome," and president of the college;
Hooker, the celebrated author of ".Ecclesiastical Polity;"
Hales, commonly called the ever-memorable;' and
Fiddes, the biographer of Cardinal Wolsey. The members
on the books are one hundred and thirty-two, of
whom eighty-one are members of convocation.
Christ Church Colleger/as founded,
about 1525, by Cardinal Wolsey, 011
the site of the monastery of St.
Frideswide, and intended to comprise
a dean, subdean, one hundred
canons, ten public readers, thirteen
chaplains, an organist, twelve clerks,
and sixteen choristers; but, on the
disgrace of that dignitary, the establishment
was suspended for a short time: in 1532 it was
completed, under the name of Henry the Eighth's college,
for a dean and twelve canons, again suppressed in 1545,
and in the following year, on the removal of the episcopal
see from Osney to this college, the church of
St. Frideswide was constituted a cathedral, under the
name of Christ's Church; the society to consist of a
dean, eight canons, and one hundred students, eight
chaplains, a schoolmaster, an organist, eight clerks, and
eight choristers; an addition of one student was made,
in I664,oii the foundation of William Thurstone, Esq.:
many of the stiidentships are filled up from Westminster
school, the rest open to all parts of the kingdom.
The deanery and canonries are in the gift of the Crown;
one is annexed to the Regius Professorship of Divinity,
and one to the Regius Professorship of Hebrew; there
are thirty scholarships and exhibitions. The King is
visitor. The livings in the patronage of the Dean and
Canons are, the vicarages of Cople, and Flitton with the
curacy of Silsoe, in the county of Bedford; the vicarages
of Ardington, East Garston, and Marcham, and
the rectory of East Hampstead, in the county of Berks;
the perpetual curacies of Ashendon, Dorton, Hillersdon,
Lathbury, the rectory of Slapton, and the vicarage of
Willen, in the county of Buckingham; the vicarages
of Great Budworth, Frodsham, Runcorn, and the perpetual
curacy of Daresbury, in the county of Chester;
the rectory of St. Tudy, in the county of Cornwall; the
vicarage of Great Torrington, in the county of Devon;
the vicarage of Tolpuddle, in the county of Dorset;
the rectory of Sheering, in the county of Essex; the
rectory of Batsford and Iron-Acton, the vicarages of
Bledington, Ampney-Downe, Lower Swell, Thornbury,
Turkdean, Twining, Wotton under Edge, and the perpetual
curacies of Little Compton, North Nibley, and Temple
Guyting, in the county of Gloucester; the rectory
of Staunton upon Wye, in the county of Hereford; the
perpetual curacies of Tring and Wigginton, in the county
of Hertford; the vicarage of Hawkhurst, in the county
of Kent; the vicarage of Kirkham, in the county of
Lancaster -} the perpetual curacies of Great Bowden
and Market-Harborough, in the county of Leicester;
the united rectories of Swanton-N overs and Wood-
Norton, in the county of Norfolk; the vicarages of
Badbey with that of Newnham, Easton-Maudit, Floore,
Harringworth, Ravensthorpe, Staverton, and the perpetual
curacy of Daventry, in the county of Northampton;
the perpetual curacies of Bensington, alias Benson,
Binsey, Caversham, Cowley, Drayton, and Stratton-
Audley, the vicarages of Black-Bourton, Brize-Norton,
Cassington, Chalgrove with the chapel of Berrick-Salome,
Pirton, South Stoke, and Spelsbury, and the rectories
of Wendlebury andWestwell, in the county of Oxford;
the vicarage of St. Mary Magdalene, and the perpetual
curacy of St. Thomas, in the city of Oxford; the rectory
of Wentnor, in the county of Salop; the vicarages of
Bath-Easton, Midsummer-Norton, and the rectory'of
Odcombe, in the county of Somerset; the vicarages of
Charlton, Chippenham, East Lavington, the perpetual curacy
of Maiden-Bradley, and the rectory of Semley, in the
county of Wilts; the perpetual curacies of Badsey, Great
Hampton, South Littleton with that of North Littleton,
Offenham, and Wickhamford, in the county of Worcester;
the vicarages of Bramham, Broughton, Carleton, Featherstone,
Kildwick, North Otterington, Long Preston, Skipton,
Thornton le Street, and Wath upon Dearn, in the
county of York. The extensive buildings of this college
occupy the site of the ancient monastery, and form three
quadrangles: the grand front is in St. Aldate's-street
and extends to a length of four hundred feet, presenting
a very grand elevation, though its effect is much
weakened by the declivity of the ground on which it
stands, the narrowness of the approach to it, and the
proximity of other buildings. The principal entrance
is through a gateway, begun by Wolsey, and finished by
Sir Christopher Wren, over which is a most magnificent
circular tower, surmounted by an ogee dome, and containing
the huge bell, called " Great Tom of Oxford,"
which weighs nearly seventeen thousand pounds, is
seven feet one inch in diameter, and five feet nine
inches from the crown to the brim; the weight of the
clapper is three hundred and forty-two pounds: it
formerly belonged to Oseney abbey, and was recast in
1680; this bell tolls every night at a quarter after nine
o'clock, as a signal for students to repair to their respective
colleges, before the gates are closed, agreeably
to the statutes of the university. The court to which
this gateway leads is called the Great quadrangle, and
measures two hundred and sixty-four feet by two hundred
and sixty; it contains the hall, the dean's lodgings,
those of some of the canons, and rooms for members of
the society; in the centre is a small fountain, supplied
with water from the Isis and from the spring at Hincksey;
over the passage at the north-east corner is a
statue of Bishop Fell, and over the opposite one leading
to the hall and chapel is one of Cardinal Wolsey: the
ascent to the hall, which is in the south-eastern angle,
is by a stately staircase, with a vaulted roof supported
by a single central pillar: the interior of this magnificent
refectory, which was erected by Wolsey, is one
hundred and fifteen feet by forty, and fifty feet in
height; the roof, which is lofty, presents a fine specimen
of open work in wood highly ornamented, and at
the upper end of the south side is a large window, having
a fine carved canopy in the ancient style of English
architecture: in this hall many of the kings and
queens of England have been entertained. The second
quadrangle, called Peckwater square, derives its name
from an ancient hall which stood at the south-west
corner, and was the property of Richard Peckwater;
but having been given to the ancient monastery, in the
reign of Henry III., and having received, in that of Henry
VIII., the addition of another, called Vine-hall, eventually
formed the present quadrangle, which was rebuilt
in 1705, and towards defraying the expense £3000 were
bequeathed by Anthony Radcliife, canon, an inscription
on the north side of the court, which was built with his
money, recording the munificence of the benefactor: the
south side is formed by the library, which contains an
ample collection of books, manuscripts, prints, and coins,
also several paintings, statues, and busts; the upper
room is one hundred and forty-one feet by thirty, and
thirty-seven feet in height, having a richly-decorated
ceiling, with wainscot and pillars of the best Norway oak.
Eastward of Peckwater is Canterbury quadrangle, the
smallest of the three, which consists of modern buildings;
its principal ornament is a magnificent Doric gateway,
erected, in 1778, under the superintendence of Mr.
James Wyatt: the chapel is also the cathedral of the diocese,
in the account of which it is described. Attached to
this college, and situated southward of the great quadrangle,
are a grammar school for choristers and other
boys, and a theatre, which contains many anatomical preparations,
and some very elegant and beautiful wax models;
lectures are delivered here by Dr. Lees, Reader m
Anatomy, who is appointed by the Dean and Canons. Here
also are the chapter-house, common room, chaplains
quadrangle, Fell's buildings, and east cloisters, with a
portal and passage leading to Christ Church meadow,
which is bounded on the south and west by the Isis, on
the east by the Cherwell, and on the north by a wide
walk overshadowed by lofty elms, and leading to narrower
walks on the margin of the rivers, forming a cir-
cumference of one mile and a quarter, and, being kept
in excellent order,, they constitute the most frequented
promenade in the city. Some of the most illustrious
names of which this or any other country can boast
have been enrolled on the books of this college, amongst
which are those of Littleton, Bolingbroke, Ben Jonson,
Philip Sydney, Otway, Colman, Locke, Browne Willis,
and Canning. The members at present on the books
are nine hundred and twenty-two, of whom four hundred
and forty-two are members of convocation.
Trinity College was originally
founded and endowed by Edward
III., Richard II., and the Priors and
Bishops of Durham, and dedicated
to the Holy Trinity, St. Mary, and
St. Cuthbert; it was also called
Durham College; at the dissolution
the site and buildings were purchased
by Sir Thomas Pope, Rnt., of
Tittenhanger, in the county of Hereford, and the present
college was refounded by him, in 1554, for a president,
twelve fellows, and twelve scholars; only two natives of
the same county can be fellows at one time, excepting
those from the county of Oxford, from which five are
admissible as cotemporaries; the scholars to be chosen
from the founder's manors, or, in default of candidates
on Trinity Monday, which is the day of election, from
any county in England: four scholarships and exhibitions
have since been added. The Bishop of Winchester
is visitor. The livings in the patronage of the President
and Fellows are, the lectureship of St. Nicholas', Abingdon,
in the county of Berks; the rectory of Farnham,
and the vicarages of Navestock and Great Waltham,
in the county of Essex; the rectories of Oddington
and Rotherfield- Grays, in the county of Oxford; the
perpetual curacy of Hill - Farrance, in the county of
Somerset; and the rectory of Barton on the Heath, in
the county of Warwick; the rectory of Garsington, in
the county of Oxford, is annexed to the Presidentship.
The college is situated opposite the Turl, in
Broad-street, from which it is separated by an iron
palisade, enclosing a spacious area. The chapel, as
seen from the street, is a light and elegant edifice,
with columns supporting a rich cornice, and surmounted
by a balustrade, and is terminated at its western
end by a tower of similar construction, beneath which
is the principal entrance to the first quadrangle, which
contains the hall, library, and lodgings of the president;
in the chapel, which opens into this court, is
a monument to the memory of the founder and his
lady, whose remains were removed hither, in 1567,
from the church of St. Stephen, Walbrook, London:
the effigy in marble represents him in complete
armour, with a helmet and crest at the head, and a
griffin at the feet. The second court consists of three
sides, with an opening on the east into a spacious
garden, which is partly enclosed by yew hedges, in
the formal Dutch style, and partly arranged in devious
walks, interspersed with shrubs and evergreens.
Among the more eminent names of former members
enrolled here are those of Archbishop Sheldon, Chillingworth,
Sir John Denham, Merrick, and Warton.
The members at present on the books are two hundred
and sixty, of whom one hundred and five are
members of convocation.
St. John's College was founded,
in 1557, by Sir Thomas White,
a citizen and merchant of London,
on the site of a college dedicated
to St. Bernard, for student
monks of the Cistercian order:
the society comprises a president,
fifty fellows, or scholars, one chaplain,
an organist, six singing men,
six choristers, and two sextons; six of the fellows are
elected from the founder's kin, two from Coventry, two
from Bristol, two from Reading, and one from Tunbridge
grammar schools, and the rest from Merchant Taylors
school. Twelve of the fellows must enter on the law,
and one may proceed in medicine, retaining his fellowship
under the title of College Physician. The founder's
kin are actual fellows on admission, others are
scholars, or probationary fellows, until the expiration
of three years: there are also eighteen scholarships and
exhibitions? The Bishop of Winchester is visitor. The
livings in the patronage of the President and Fellows
are, the rectory of Sutton, in the county of Bedford;
the rectory of Kingston-Bagpuze, and the vicarages of
Fyfield and Reading St. Lawrence, in the county of
Berks; the vicarage of Chalfont St. Peter, in the county
of Buckingham; the rectory of Cranham, in the county
of Essex; the rectory of Winterbourne, in the county
of Gloucester; the sinecure rectory of Leckford, and
the rectory of South Warnborough, in the county of
Southampton; the vicarage of Linton, in the county of
Hereford; the vicarage of Great Staughton, in the county
of Huntingdon; the rectory of Barfreston, in the county
of Kent; the vicarage of St. Sepulchre's, London; the
rectories of Aston le Walls, Crick (to one from Merchant
Taylors' school), and East Farndon, in the county of
Northampton; the vicarages of Charlbury and Kirtlington,
the rectories of Handborough and Tackley, and the
perpetual curacy of Northmoor, in the county of Oxford $
the vicarage of St. Giles', in the city of Oxford; the
rectory of Bardwell, in the county of Suffolk; the rectory
of Cheam, in the county of Surrey; the rectory of
Codford St. Mary, in the county of Wilts; the rectory of
Belbroughton, in the county of Worcester; and the rectory
of Bainton, in the county of York. The buildings
contain an outer and an inner quadrangle; in the former
are the hall, chapel, and president's lodgings; a passage
leads from this to the inner quadrangle, on the east and
west sides of which are cloisters, supported by eight
pillars, over which are busts, representing the four cardinal
virtues, the three Christian graces, and the arts
and sciences, with emblematical cornices; each cloister
is divided by a Doric gateway, surmounted by a semicircular
pediment of the Ionic and Corinthian orders.
This quadrangle leads to the spacious and picturesque
gardens of the college; a range of buildings to the
north-east includes two very handsome common rooms,
and other apartments. The chapel belonged to the
original monastery of St. Bernard; the altar is ornamented
with a representation in tapestry of our Saviour
and his two disciples at Emmaus, and on the north
wall is a black marble urn, containing the heart of Dr.
Richard Rawlinson, a distinguished benefactor to the
college; the remains of the founder, of Archbishop Laud
(once president), of Archbishop Juxon, and of Dr.
Bailie, repose in vaults beneath the altar: in a small
inner chapel, called Bailie's chapel, are various monuments
to subsequent presidents. The library is on the
south and east sides of the inner quadrangle, and. consists
of two spacious and handsome rooms: amongst
its many curious and valuable contents are, a picture of
Charles I., comprising the whole book of Psalms written
in the lines of the face and on the hairs of the head; and
an ancient crosier of dark wood beaded with silver, recently
discovered in a garret of the president's lodgings;
also many old missals, manuscripts, and coins. Amongst
eminent members were, Archbishops Laud, Juxon, and
Dawes; Bishops Meaux and Buckeridge; Shirley, the
dramatic poet; William Louth and Charles Wheatley,
learned divines and commentators; and Sherard, the
botanist. The members on the books are two hundred
and nineteen, of whom one hundred and twenty-nine
are members of convocation.
Jesus' College was ftranded, in
1571, by Queen Elizabeth, on petition
of Hugh ap Price,'D. C.L., a
i native of Brecknock, and Treasurer
of St. David's, for a principal, eight
fellows, and eight scholars: in consequence
of various benefactions, the
society now consists of a principal,
and nineteen fellows (among whom
is one from Jersey or Guernsey, on the foundation of
Charles I., in 1636), and there are eighteen scholarships
and several exhibitions. The Earl of Pembroke is visitor.
The livings in the patronage of the Principal and Fellows
are, the rectories of Longworth and Remenham, in the
county of Berks; the rectory of Aston-Clinton, in the
county of Buckingham; the sinecure rectory of Badgeworth,
the rectory of Badgington, and the perpetual
curacy of King's Charlton, in the county of Gloucester;
the rectory of Scartho, in the county of Lincoln; the
perpetual curacy of Llanthewy-Vach, in the county of
Monmouth; the rectories of Braunston and Purtho, in
the county of Northampton; the rectories of Rotherfield-
Peppard and Wigginton, in the county of Oxford;
the rectory of Nutfield, in the county of Surrey; the
vicarage of Shipston upon Stour cum Tidmington, and
the rectory of Tredington, in the county of Worcester;
the perpetual curacy of Holyhead, in the Isle of Anglesea;
the vicarage of Holywell, in the county of Flint;
and the rectory of Llandow, in the county of Glamorgan:
the rectory of Llandyssul, hi the cotuity of Cardigan,
and the rectory of Clynnog and the vicarage of Llanwnda,
in the county of Carnarvon, are annexed to the
Headship. The buildings consist chiefly of two quadrangles;
the first contains the chapel and hall, and the
second the library; the altar-piece in the chapel is a
fine copy of Guido's painting of St. Michael overcoming
the Devil: in the library are many scarce and curious
books and manuscripts; the statutes of the society,
written on vellum, beautifully illuminated; a curious
metal watch, given by Charles I.; one of Queen Elizabeth's
stirrups; and a capacious silver gilt bowl, containing
ten gallons, and weighing two hundred and
seventy-eight ounces, the gift of Sir Watkin Williams
Wynn, in 1732. Amongst its eminent members were,
David Powell, the celebrated antiquary; and John Davis,
lexicographer and antiquary. The members on the
books are one hundred and eighty-one, of whom fiftyseven
are members of convocation.
Wadham College was founded, in
1613, on the site of an ancient and
magnificent priory of Augustine
friars, by Nicholas Wadham, Esq.,
of Edge and Merrifield, and Doror
thy his wife, for a warden, fifteen
fellows, fifteen scholars, two chaplains,
and two clerks. The fellows
are superannuated on the completion
of eighteen years from the expiration of their
regency; they are elected from the scholars, of
whom, three are chosen from the county of Somerset,
three from that of Essex, and the remainder
from any county in Great Britain. There are also several
other scholarships and exhibitions, among which
are four for the study of Hebrew, six for Greek, and one
for botany; the most eminent benefactor was the Rev.
John Wills, D.D., Warden of the College, who died in
1806, and bequeathed, subject to legacy duty, £400 per
annum to the office of warden, £1000 to improve the
warden's lodgings, £100 a year for a law exhibition to
a fellow, £20 a year for a law exhibition to a scholar,
£ 100 for a medical exhibition to a fellow, and £20 for
a medical exhibition to a scholar; also £31. 10. per
annum to a divinity lecturer and preacher, £75 a year
to one superannuated fellow, and £50 a year .to a
second; he also appointed the society his residuary
legatees. The'Bishop of Bath and Wells is visitor.
The livings in the patronage of the Warden and Fellows
are, the rectory of Fryerning, and the vicarage of
Hockley, in the county of Essex; the vicarage of
Southrop, in the county of Gloucester; the rectories
of Maperton and Limington, in the county of Somerset;
the rectory of Esher, in the county of Surrey; and
the vicarage of Wadhurst, in the county of Sussex.
The buildings form an extensive quadrangle of one hundred
and thirty feet square; in the centre of the eastern
side is a portico, ornamented with statues of James I.,
in his robes, and of Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham,
with a Latin inscription commemorative of the foundation;
in an adjoining court are two buildings of three
stories, one erected in 1694, the other in 1829, and
inhabited by members. The front of this college was
greatly improved in 1822, by the removal of some heavy
iron and stone work, and substituting light iron palisades.
The chapel contains a fine east window, the
work of Bernard Van Linge, exhibiting typical paintings
and historical subjects, and presented by Sir John
Strangeways; the subject of the altar-piece is the Lord's
Supper, in brown and white crayons, on cloth, by Isaac
Fuller, accompanied with other subjects. At right angles
with the choir is a noble ante-chapel, containing monuments
of several distinguished members of the society;
on the north side of the chancel is a handsome marble
monument to the memory of Sir John Portman, Bart.,
who died in 1624; there is also a well-executed brass
eagle. The hall is one of the largest in the university, and
adorned with handsome modern painted windows; the
gardens are extremely neat. The Royal Society of London
originated in this college. Amongst its eminent
and scientific members may be classed, Walsh, the poet;
Sir E. Sedley; Admiral Blake; Sir Christopher Wren;
and Lord Chief Justice Pratt. The members on the
books are two hundred and fourteen, of whom eightythree
are members of convocation.
Pembroke College, formerly Broadgate
Hall, was founded, in 1624,
by means of a bequest from Thomas
Tesdale, Esq., of Glympton,
in the county of Oxford, aided
by a donation of Richard Wightwick,
B. D., rector of East Ilsley,
in the county of Berks, under
letters patent of James I., and
during the chancellorship of the Earl of Pembroke,
from whom it received its name; the original
foundation included a master, ten fellows, and ten
scholars, now extended to fourteen fellows, and thirtyone
scholars and exhibitioners; four fellows to be
chosen from the kindred of Thomas Tesdale, Esq., and
two from those of Richard Wightwick; the rest from
the free school at Abingdon. In 1636, a fellowship was
founded by Charles I., for a native of Guernsey or
Jersey; and, about 1672, two fellowships were added by
Sir John Bennet, afterwards Lord Ossulstone; also one,
in 1749, by Sir John Phillips, Bart. The Chancellor of
the university is visitor. The livings in the patronage
of the Master and Fellows are, the rectory of Coin St.
Denis, in the county of Gloucester; the rectory of Sibson,
in the county of Leicester; the rectory of St. Aldate's,
in the city of Oxford; the perpetual curacies of
West Harroldston and- Lambston, in the county of
Pembroke; the rectory of Ringshall, in the county of
Suffolk; the rectories of Brinkworth, Codford St. Peter,
and Liddiard-Millicent, in the county of Wilts; the perpetual
curacy of Colnbrook, in the county of Buckingham;
and the perpetual curacy of Uxbridge, in the
county of Middlesex; the two last intended for the exhibitioners
on Townshend's foundation. This college,
which is situated nearly opposite to the grand front of
Christ Church College, consists chiefly of a quadrangle,
erected at different periods, and regularly built. The
interior has within the last two years been newly faced
with Bath stone, and altered from the Palladian to a
later style of English architecture, the whole presenting
a neat appearance. The northern front and the master's
lodgings have been very neatly decorated (these buildings
likewise being originally Palladian) after a design
by Mr. Daniel Evans of Oxford, in the later style of
English architecture. The oriel windows may be men-
tioned as well worthy of attention, particularly that
over the gateway, constructed on the model of the remains
of one in John of Gaunt's palace at Lincoln. The
battlement of the tower and the chimnies is executed in
a style corresponding with the other parts of the building.
The hall, which has been considerably enlarged
and improved, contains a bust of Dr. Johnson, by Bacon,
presented to the college by the late Samuel Whitbread,
Esq. The chapel is a small building of the Ionic order;
the altar-piece is a copy from a picture of Rubens, at
Antwerp, of our Saviour after his Resurrection, presented
by Archdeacon Corbett. Among the eminent residents
may be enumerated, the laborious Camden, who studied
at the original hall, after he left Magdalene College;
Judge Blackstone, previously to his removal to All
Souls'; Dr. Johnson, whose rooms were upon, the second
floor, over the gateway; George Whitefield, founder of
the Calvinistic Methodists; Shenstone, the poet; Sir
Thomas Brown, author of the "Medici;" Richard
Graves, author of the " Spiritual Quixote " and Dr.
Newman, Primate of Ireland, and author of the " Harmony
of the Gospels." The members on the books are
one hundred and ninety-five, of whom eighty-four are
members of convocation.
Worcester College was founded, in
1714, by the trustees of Sir Thomas
Cookes, Bart., of Bently Pauncefort,
in the county of Worcester, by
{°l elevating Gloucester Hall, also
named St. John the Baptist's Hall,
to the rank of a college: the original
foundation was for a provost, six
fellows, and six scholars, the last
eligible only from the grammar schools of Bromsgrove,
Feckenham, Worcester, Hartlebury, and Kidderminster,
or, in default of candidates, from any endowed school
in the county of Worcester, such schools to have a
priority of claim in the order in which they stand, and
the candidates to have been at the schools for at least
two -years previously to the election, the founder's kin
always to be preferred: the right of election is vested
in the provost and three senior fellows of the foundation.
In 1727, two fellowships and two scholarships
were added, by James Finney, D.D., prebendary of Durham,
for natives of Staffordshire; six fellowships and
three scholarships were founded, in 1734, by George
Clark, D. C. "L., the scholars to be of English parents,
born in the provinces of Canterbury and York, with
preference to the orphans of clergymen; the election Js
vested in the provost and six senior fellows on this and
Sir Thomas Cookes' foundation. In 1731, seven fellowships
and five scholarships were founded by Sarah Eaton:
candidates for the latter must produce testimonials
that they are sons of clergymen, requiring assistance to
support them at the university: the election is in the
provost and five senior fellows of this foundation and
that of Sir T. Cookes. The fellows are invariably elected
from the scholars,  and must take holy orders, except
in cases specifically provided for. The society at present
includes a provost, twenty-one fellows, sixteen
scholars, and three exhibitioners. The Bishops of Oxford
and Worcester, and the Vice-Chancellor of the
university, are visitors. The livings in the patronage
of the Provost and Fellows are, the vicarage of Denchworth,
hi the county of Berks; the rectory of Hogston,
in the county of Buckingham; the rectory of Dhiedor,
in the county of Hereford; the rectory of Whitfield, in
the county of Northampton; the rectory of Tadmarton,
in the county of Oxford; the rectory of Neen-Sollars,
in the county of Salop; and the rectories of High-Ham
and Windford, in the county of Somerset. The college
is pleasantly situated on an eminence, at the western,
extremity of the university, near the Isis; the buildings
form three sides of a quadrangle, the eastern elevation
being occupied by the library, hall, and chapel; on the
north is an elegant pile, containing the provost's lodgings,
and rooms for fellows and scholars, and on the south,
the old buildings of Gloucester Hall. The chapel has a
richly-ornamented stucco roof; the altar-piece is a fine
old painting of a Magdalene. In the library is the large
and curious collection of books bequeathed by Dr. Clarke,
who also left £1000 towards the building; the room is
one hundred and twenty feet in length, with an extensive
gallery. The gardens, which are laid out -with great -
taste, occupy three acres of ground, and are ornamented
with a "fine sheet of water. Thomas Allen, the mathematician,
and Sir Kenelm Digby, studied here, previously
to the conversion of Gloucester Hall into a college. The
members on the books are two hundred and twenty-two,
of whom ninety-one are members of convocation.
Besides the above colleges are five halls, enjoying the
same privileges, and requiring the same terms and exercises
for taking degrees in them as the colleges, but not
incorporated, the estates and other property belonging
to them being held in trust by the university. The
Chancellor of the university is visitor, and appoints the
principals, with the exception of St. Edmund Hall, the
headship of which is vested in the Provost and Fellows
of Queen's College. St. Allan Hall derives its name and
foundation from Robert de Sancto Albano, a burgess
of Oxford, who lived in the time of John: it now belongs
to the Warden and Fellows of Merton College, to
which it -was united June 15th, 1549; the buildings are
situated eastward of Merton College. The members on
the books, including the principal and vice-principal,
are forty-three, of whom eight are members of convocation.
St. Edmund Hall is situated in Queen's-lane, and
derives its name from St. Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury
in the reign of Henry III.: it is the most ancient
of the halls now remaining, having been devoted
to the purposes of academical instruction so early as the
thirteenth century; in 1537 it had come into the possession
of Queen's College, which society soon afterwards
obtained from the university the right of nominating
the principal. Sir William Jones, the celebrated
lawyer , Oldham, the poet; and Hearne, the indefatigable
antiquary, were educated here. The members on the
books are one hundred and five, of whom fifty-two are
members of convocation. St. Mary Hall, formerly the
parsonage-house of the rectors of St. Mary's, was given
to the Provost and Fellows of Oriel College, in 1325,
and made academical in 1333. Four scholarships, for
natives of the county of Somerset, were founded by
Thomas Dyke, M.D., in 1677 The buildings, which are
near Oriel College, are comprised in a quadrangle, in
which are the hall, the chapel, the principal's lodgings,
and rooms for members. Sir Thomas More, and Sandys,
the poet, were educated here. The members on the
books are eighty-six, of whom forty-one are members
of convocation. New Inn Hall, formerly Trilleck's Inn,
was originally inhabited by Bernardine monks, and subsequently
by students of canon and civil law: it came
into the possession of the Warden and Fellows of New
College in 1392. During the civil war, from 1642 to
1646, it was used as a mint by Charles I., where the
plate, sent by different colleges for his Majesty's use
was melted: after the Restoration it again became a
place of study, but of late years has had no members;
the only part of its buildings now remaining is a house
for the principal, who is a member of convocation. The
celebrated Blackstone was one of its principals. Magdalene
Hall, originally erected by Waynfleet, for students
previously to admission into his college, became an independent
hall in 1602. The society was removed by
act of parliament from its former house, adjoining Magdalene
College, to Hertford College, in 1822, which,
having lapsed to the crown and become decayed, was
repaired and fitted up for their reception: there are
twenty-three scholarships and exhibitions. The rectory
of South Moreton, in the county of Berks, is in the patronage
of the society. Among eminent persons educated
here were, Warner the poet, Lord Clarendon, Sir
Matthew Hale, and Dr. Plot. The members on the books
are one hundred and eighty-four, of whom fifty-nine are
members of convocation.
The principal public buildings connected with $h"e
university are, the Theatre, Schools (comprising the
Bodleian Library and Picture Gallery), Clarendon Printing-
House, New Printing-House, Ashmolean Museum,
Radcliffe Library, Physic Garden, Astronomical Observatory,
and Music Room. The Theatre is situated
northward of Radcliffe-square, on the south side of
Broad-street, and is appropriated to holding the acts
denominated Comitia et Encania, Lord Crewe's annual
commemoration of benefactors, the recitation of prize
compositions, the ceremony of conferring degrees on
illustrious personages, and other public meetings of the
university; it was constructed in 1664, by Sir Christopher
Wren, at an expense of £ 12,470, which was defrayed
by Archbishop Sheldon, who also gave £2000
towards keeping it in repair, directing the surplus to be
applied in the erection of a printing-house: the plan of
the building is that of the Theatre of Marcellus, at
Rome, and it is capable of containing nearly four thousand
persons; the first stone was laid in 1664; a new
roof was constructed in 1802, the ceiling exhibiting a magnificent
allegorical painting, by Streater, Serjeant painter
to Charles II., divided into compartments; the room
is adorned with portraits of the founder, of George IV.,
by Sir Thomas Lawrence, and of the late Emperor of
Russia, and the King of Prussia, presented by those respective
sovereigns j the latter of whom, with other illustrious
personages, received honorary degrees in this noble
edifice, on their visit to the university in 1814. The
Schools form a handsome quadrangle on the north side
of Radcliffe-square, and were founded early in the
fifteenth century, by Thomas Huskenorton, abbot of
Oseney, and completed in the commencement of the
seventeenth century: this range of building comprises
schools for divinity, logic, moral philosophy, music,
sculpture, &c., in which lectures are read by the professors
of the different sciences, and candidates for degrees
pass their respective examinations; the Bodleian
Library is on the western side, and the Picture Gallery
in the upper story of the other three sides: on the
north is the Clarendon printing-office. The principal
front, in Cat-street, is one hundred and seventyfive
feet in length, and is divided by a tower gateway,
adorned with pinnacles and mullioned windows, arid exhibiting
all the five orders of architecture; this part of
the building is the repository for the muniments and
registers of the university, and is surmounted by a statue
of James I., enthroned, and presenting a copy of
his works, with his right hand, to Fame, and with the
left, to the university; over the throne are the emblems
of Justice, Peace, and Plenty; these devices were once
doubly gilt, and presented a magnificent appearance.
In the logic and moral philosophy school, at the southeast
angle of the court, are the Pomfret statues, given
to the university, in 1755, by the Countess Dowager
of Pomfret. The Divinity school, which is opposite the
principal gateway, and devoted to the exercises .for the
degrees of Bachelor and Doctor in Divinity, exhibits a
beautiful specimen of later English architecture, with
a roof consisting of bold four-centered arches, with
fan tracery, in delicate workmanship of elegant design.
The Bodleian Library was founded by Sir Thomas Bodley,
of Dunscombe,near Crediton, in the county of Devon,
Knt, on the remains of one by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester,
and opened to the public, November 8th, 1602; it
is entered at the south-west angle of the court, and consists
of three principal, and several smaller rooms; one is
devoted to topographical works and manuscripts, bequeathed
to the university by Mr. Gough, the antiquary,
in 1799; a second to foreign, and a third to domestic,
literature: on the entrance staircase is the Auctarium, for
the reception of the choicest and most valuable books
and manuscripts; the several rooms are decorated with
many valuable portraits. In addition to the continual increase
of books by donations and purchase, this institution
claims, as a matter of right, in common with the
British Museum and other national establishments, a copy
of every book printed in this country. The library is
open from nine o'clock till four in the afternoon, between
Lady-day and Michaelmas, and from ten till three during
the other half year, and, next to that of the Vatican, is
considered to have the richest collection of books and
manuscripts in Europe: the officers are a librarian, two
sub-librarians, and two assistants. The Picture Gallery
contains, in addition to numerous portraits, landscapes,
and historical pieces, some fine busts, especially one near
the entrance of John, Duke of Marlborough; casts of
Apollo and Venus de Medicis; a superb brass statue of
William, Earl of Pembroke, Chancellor of the university
from 1616 to 1630, designed by Rubens, and executed
by Hubert le Sceur; and many elegant models of ancient
buildings. In an apartment on the north side of the
quadrangle are the famous Arundelian marbles, collected
by the Earl of Arundel, and presented to the university
by his grandson, the Duke of Norfolk; here
also are the antique marbles, presented by the executors
of the learned Selden. The Clarendon printingoffice
was erected, in 1711, by Sir John Vanburgh,
out of the profits arising from the sale of Lord Clarendon's
History of the Rebellion, the copyright of which
was presented by his son to the university; over the
south entrance is a fine statue of Lord Clarendon, and
the north entrance is by a flight of steps from Broadstreet;
the summit is ornamented with the statues of
the nine Muses. A New Printing-House has been recently
erected westward of the Observatory, at the expense
of the university, and under the direction of Mr. Daniel
Robertson, architect, with a press-room of two hundred
and one feet by twenty-eight, and other apartments and
conveniences, which render it the most complete, and,
with the exception of the royal printing-house at Paris,
the largest, establishment of the kind in Europe; the
buildings occupy an area of two acres and a half, and
form a square, two sides of which are devoted to the
Bible department, and the other two are appropriated
to that of the classics, with their respective accommodations.
This edifice is constructed of stone,
procured in the neighbourhood, and faced with Bath
stone; the principal front is decorated with a splendid
entrance gateway into the quadrangle, designed after
the model of the arch of Constantine at Rome. Nearly
adjoining the theatre, on the western side, is the Askmolean
Museum, which was founded, in 1682, by Elias
Ashmole, from whom it is named, and who gave to the
university his own collection of coins, medals, and
manuscripts, together with a valuable and curious collection
made by the Tradescants, two eminent gardeners
and botanists at Lambeth, on condition that the university
should erect a building for their reception: at
his death the museum was enlarged, by the addition of
his valuable antiquarian library, and has been since
greatly increased by various donations. On the .first
floor of this building the lectures on experimental philosophy
and mineralogy are delivered, and in the lower
one, those on chemistry, for which the apparatus is
kept here.
The Radcliffe'Library, esteemed one of the most
splendid architectural ornaments of the university, and
situated in the centre of Radcliffe-square, was completed
by Gibbs, in 1749, at the expense of the celebrated
and eccentric Dr. Radcliffe, who bequeathed £40,000
for the building, £150 per annum for the librarian,
£ 100 per annum for the purchase of books, and legacies,
to a great amount, for other purposes connected with
this public establishment: this superb structure is circular
in form, and consists of a rustic basement, in
which are several arched entrances into an area, from
which a flight of stepsaffords an ascent to the principal
room, which contains a variety of casts and busts, and,
by a recent determination of the trustees, is to become
the repository of books in natural history and medicine;
above the basement rises a series of duplicated columns
of the Corinthian order, supporting an enriched frieze,
entablature, and cornice, and surmounted by an open
balustrade ornamented with urns; the building is crowned
with a spacious and well-proportioned dome, which
rises to the height of eighty feet from the floor. Over
the door of the entrance from the principal staircase is
a portrait of the founder, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, and
within the library is his statue finely sculptured by
Rysbrach. On the visit of the allied sovereigns, a magnificent
dinner was provided by the university for the
imperial, royal, and illustrious guests, of which they
partook in this library, on the 14th of June, 1814.
The Botanic Garden, said to be the site of an ancient
burial-ground belonging to the Jews, is situated opposite
to the tower of Magdalene College, near the bridge, and
was founded, in 1622, by Henry, Lord D'Anvers, Earl
of Danby; it consists of about five acres of ground,
divided into four parts, and containing a great variety
of plants, arranged according to their respective classes
on the right and left of the entrance are green-houses,
and eastward of the garden, without the walls, is an
excellent hot-house; the entrance is by an elegant arched
gateway, said to have been designed by Inigo Jones, the
centre of which is ornamented by a bust of the founder,
and the sides by statues of Charles I. and II.: it is fronted
by a broad area next the High-street, and encompassed by
a parapet surmounted with iron pallisades; the library
attached to it was built, and furnished with a valuable collection
of botanical works, by Dr. Sherard, Fellow of St.
John's College; there is a handsome residence for the
professor at a small distance from the garden. The
Astronomical Observatory is situated at the northern extremity
of Oxford, on the road to Woodstock, and was
erected by trustees under the will of Dr. Radcliffe,
who bequeathed £7000 for this object, the Duke of
Marlborough having given ten acres of ground for the
site: this beautiful pile of building comprises an excellent
library, apartments for observation and lectures,
a valuable apparatus of astronomical instruments, and
a residence for the professor; the tower, which exhibits
a general representation of the Temple of the Winds, at
Athens, is surmounted by figures of Hercules and Atlas
supporting the globe. In Holywell-street is the Musicroom,
built at an expense of £1263, and opened in 1748,
the funds having been principally raised by means of
subscription oratorios; concerts, under the direction of
stewards from different colleges, are performed during
term.
Oxford, on the removal
of the see of Dorchester to
Lincoln, was included within
that diocese, from which
it was separated in 1542,
and erected into a see, by
Henry VIII., who appointed
the conventual chapel of the
abbey of Osney the cathedral
church, which distinction
was subsequently transferred
to the monastery of
St. Frideswide, on the site of
which Cardinal Wolsey had commenced the foundation
of a splendid college, afterwards completed, but upon
a scale of less magnificence, by the king; who having
dedicated the chapel of the college to Christ, assigned
it as the cathedral church of the diocese. The jurisdiction
of the see comprehends the whole of the county,
except seven parishes; the ecclesiastical establishment
consists of a bishop, dean, archdeacon,eight canons, eight
chaplains, one hundred and one students, eight clerks,
eight choristers, and twenty-four almsmen. The cathedral
is a spacious cruciform structure, in the Norman
style of architecture, and of singular character,
with a central tower surmounted by a spire of
early English architecture . the exterior is concealed
by the college buildings, with which it is sxirrounded;
the interior contains many interesting portions of
singular and beautiful design; the arches of the
nave, part of which has been demolished, are in a
double series, the tower springing from corbels on the
piers; the roof of the choir is richly groined, and decorated
with pendants: on the north of the choir are some
chapels of later character than the rest of the building,
and the Latin chapel has several windows in the decorated
style; in the Dean's chapel are altar-tombs of considerable
antiquity, a monument in the decorated style,
with three canopied niches of great beauty, and the
shrine of St. Frideswide, an elaborate and magnificent
design, in the later style of English architecture, consisting
of three tiers of- tabernacle work, the upper tier
of which is richly ornamented with canopied niches.
Many of the windows were destroyed during the parliamentary
war; in those that remain are several devices
in painted glass; in the east window is a painting of the
Nativity, from a design by Sir James Thornhill: the
central west window is embellished with ancient painted
glass, representing St. Frideswide, St. Catherine, and
other saints; in the central part of the great window
in the north transept is a representation of the murder
of Becket, which appears to be of great antiquity; the
pulpit is very antique and richly carved. There are
numerous ancient and interesting monuments, among
which are those of Lady Elizabeth Montacute; of
Robert Burton, author of the Anatomy of Melancholy
and of several distinguished members of the university
and of other eminent persons who died at Oxford while
Charles I. held his court at Christ Church; also a very fine
statue of Dr. Cyril Jackson, by Chantrey, from his portrait
in the hall. Part of the cloisters, in the later style
of English architecture, is remaining; and the chapterhouse
is a beautiful and valuable specimen of the early
English style.
The city comprises the parishes of St. Aldate, All
Saints, Holywell,'or St. Cross, St.Ebbe, St. Giles, St. John
the Baptist, St. Martin,' St. Mary Magdalene, St. Mary the
Virgin, St. Michael, St. Peter le Bailey, St. Peter in the
East, and St.Thomas. The living of St. Aldate's is a discharged
rectory, rated in the king's books at £8. 13.4.,
endowed with £200 private benefaction, and in thepatronage
of the Master and Fellows of Pembroke College; the
church is a very ancient structure, with a tower, surmounted
by an octagonal spire, and is said to have been
restored in 1004. The living of All Saints' is a discharged
perpetual curacy, rated in the king's books at
£5. 6. 8., and in the patronage of the Rector and Fellows
of Lincoln College; the church is a handsome
modern structure, in the Grecian style of architecture,
with a tower, crowned with a circlet of Corinthian pillai-
s, from within which rises an elegant spire: it was
erected by subscription, in 1708, on the site of the former
edifice: the walls are ornamented by a handsome balustrade,
thefloors laid with variegated marble, and the ceiling
adorned with curious fret-work, and with the arms
of benefactors, painted in compartments. The living of
the parish of St. Cross, or Holywell, is a perpetual curacy,
endowed with £200 private benefaction, and £400
royal bounty, and in the patronage of the Warden and
Fellows of Merton College; the church is an ancient edifice,
in the early style of English architecture, with some
later insertions, having a tower, which was added to it
in 1664. The living of St.Ebbe's is a discharged rectory,
rated in the king's books at £3. 5., endowed with £400
private benefaction, £600 royal bounty, and £1200
parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the Crown:
the church is said to have been founded by Athelmer,
Earl of Cornwall, and annexed to the monastery of
Eynesham, on the destruction of which by the Danes it
was given to the monastery of Stow, which grant was
confirmed by Henry I.; the ancient edifice was taken
down in 1814, and the present, a plain neat building
of English architecture, was erected in 1816. The
living of St. Giles' is a discharged vicarage, rated in
the king's books at £14. 12. 3., endowed with £600
private benefaction, £400 royal bounty, and £800 parliamentary
grant, and in the patronage of the President
and Fellows of St. John's College: the church, an ancient
structure in the early style of English architecture,
with lancet-shaped windows, and having a square
embattled tower, is said to have been built in 1120.
The living of St. John's the Baptist is a perpetual curacy,
in the patronage of the Warden and Fellows of Merton
College. The living of St. Martin's is a discharged
rectory, rated in the king's books at £8.1. 5., endowed
with £800 royal bounty, and in the patronage of the
Crown; the church is an ancient structure, with a
tower, which, in the reign of Edward III., was considerably
lowered, on complaint of the scholars that tje
townsmen used to retire into it and annoy them witn
arrows, stones, and other missiles. The living of St.
Mary Magdalene's is a discharged vicarage, rated in
the King's books at £6, endowed with £ 600 private
benefaction, & 600 royal bounty, and £200 parliamentary
grant, and in the patronage of the Dean and Canons
of Christ Church: the church, an ancient structure,
founded long prior to the Conquest, was given, by
Robert D'Oilly, and annexed, to the college of St.
George, within the castle, and, after the annexation
of that college to Osney abbey, was, with that monastery,
given to Christ Church by Henry VIII. The liviag
of St. Mary's the Virgin is a discharged vicarage,
rated in the king's books at £5.4.2., endowed with
£200 private benefaction, and £200 royal bounty, and
in the patronage of the Provost and Fellows of Oriel
College; the church, which is the University, church,
though used by the parishioners at other times, is a spacious
and elegant structure, in the later style of English
architecture, with a tower on the north side, surmounted
by a beautiful spire, rising to the height of one hundred
and eighty feet, in the decorated style; the front of
the church is in the best style of the period of Henry VII.,
but is rather disfigured by a porch of heavy twisted
pillars, over which is a statue of the Virgin; the interior
is very beautiful; the piers and arches are richly
moulded, and above each pier are elegant niches, from
which spring corbels, carrying the wooden arches of the
finely-carved ceiling} the windows are enriched with
good tracery: on the north of the chancel is the sepulchral
chapel of Adam de Brome, founder of Oriel College;
there are several ancient and interesting monuments.
The living of St. Michael's is a perpetual curacy,
in the patronage of the Rector and Fellows of Lincoln
College: the church is an ancient edifice, in the early
style of English architecture, with a square embattled
tower, and a handsome porch in the later style; the
windows are in general of large dimensions and finely
pointed. The living of St. Peter's le Bailey is a discharged
rectory, rated in the king's books at £3. 14. 2.,
endowed with £800 royal bounty, and £1600 parliamentary
grant, and in the patronage of the Crown: the
church is a neat modern edifice, erected in 1740, on
the site of the old structure, which fell down in 1726.
The living of St. Peter's in the East is a discharged
vicarage, rated in the king's books at £13. 2. 1.,
endowed with £200 private benefaction, £400 royal
bounty, and £600 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage
of the Warden and Fellows of Merton College;
the church is a very ancient structure, said to have been
originally built in the ninth century; the prevailing
character, however, is decidedly Norman, and the
details are very rich and elaborately wrought: it has
undergone many alterations and repairs, and received
several additions, in the later style of English architecture,
which have materially altered its external appearance;
at the west end of the north aisle is a
square tower, which has vestiges of great antiquity;
underneath the chancel is a fine Norman crypt, of
which the roof is vaulted, and supported on four ranges
of low massive pillars; several of the windows have
remains of ancient painted glass, and there are. many
ancient monuments. Hearn, the antiquary, was interred
in the churchyard, and, in 1754, Dr. Rawlinson
repaired the monument erected to his memory.
This was formerly the university church, and
the university sermons preached there on the Sunday
afternoons during Lent, and on Easter-Sunday, were
discontinued about two years ago. The living of St.
Thomas' is a perpetual curacy, endowed with £600 private
benefaction, £600 royal bounty, and £1200 parliamentary
grant, and in the patronage of the Dean and
Canons of Christ Church: the church was founded by
the canons of Osney priory, in 1141; it is a neat and
ancient structure, with a square embattled tower, and
has recently undergone an extensive repair; the churchyard
is tastefully laid out, and planted with trees,
flowering shrubs, and evergreens. There are places of
worship for Baptists, and Wesleyan Methodists, and a
Roman Catholic chapel.
A charity school was founded, in 1658, by John
Nixon, alderman, who bequeathed £ 600 for its endowment;
and, in 1685, Mrs. Joan Nixon left eighteen acres
of land, producing £35 per annum, for apprenticing two
boys every year from the school; which funds have
been consolidated. Christian Smith, in 17IB, gave a
rent-charge of £2 for teaching poor girls of the parish
of St. Mary Magdalene. The Blue-coat school, supported
by subscription, was instituted in 1710; thirtyfive
boys are clothed and educated in it, and a certain
number of them apprenticed, with a premium of £ 10
each, and £2 for clothing: there are also thirty-five
other boys, who are educated only. Mrs. Ann Alworth,
in 1721, gave £400, to be laid out in lands, for the education
of twenty children belonging to St. Michael's
parish. Mr. John Coombe, in 1702, gave a house for
a schoolmaster to teach ten boys gratuitously, in St.
Thomas' parish. Mrs. Elizabeth Rowney gave the interest
of £ 50 for teaching poor children of the parish
of St. Giles. A school for thirty-six girls, who are instructed,
clothed, and placed out to service, is supported
by subscription among the ladies. A National school
is supported by the university, in which three hundred
and thirty boys are educated, including forty, called the
Grey-coat boys, who are also clothed, and eight of them
apprenticed annually, with a premium of £20 each. A
Lancasterian school, for one hundred boys and fifty
girls, is supported by voluntary contributions; and a
charity school for two hundred girls, wholly by the lady
of J.D.Macbride, D.C.L., Principal of Magdalene Hall.
Considerable sums have been left by several individuals
for apprenticing poor children, for distribution in loans
without interest to young tradesmen, and for clothing and
annual payments to aged and indigent persons; others
have also been appropriated, by will, for the repair of
the several churches, with the remainder for distribution
among the poor, and for various other charitable
uses. Edmund Boulter, Jun., of Hasely-Court, Esq.,
built and endowed an almshouse for an aged man from
each of the parishes of Wimple in Cambridgeshire,
Harwood in the county of York, Wherwell in Humpshire,
Hasely in the county of Oxford, Barlings in Lincolnshire,
and Deptford with Brockley, in Kent; the inmates
receive an allowance of eight shillings each per
week. The infirmary, an elegant and commodious building
of stone, was erected and completely furnished by
the ti-ustees of Dr. Radcliffe, and was opened for the reception
of patients in 1770; the buildings, to which
are attached five acres of land given by Thomas Rowney,
Esq., comprise a chapel, to which the late'Duke of
Marlborough presented a communion service of gilt
plate; the institution is under the direction of a president
and a committee of governors, and is attended by
four physicians, who divide between them the interest
of £2000, bequeathed to them by the late Dr. Frewin,
of Christ Church; four surgeons, who officiate gratuitously;
a chaplain, resident apothecary, secretary, matron,
and assistants. The lunatic asylum at Headington,
in the vicinity of the city, a spacious and handsome
building of stone, was erected in 1813, at an expense
of £20,000 raised by subscription, towards which the
trustees of the Radcliffe Infirmary, with whom the design
originated, contributed £2700; the institution, the
interest of which was greatly promoted by the Rev.
John Cooke, D.D., President of Corpus Christi College,
is adapted to the reception of various classes of
patients, who are admitted on terms varying according
to their accommodations, from 12s. to £2. 2. per
week and upwards, according to the rank and circumstances
of the patient. The house of industry, a neat
stone building, two hundred and thirty-seven feet in
length, and two stories in height, was erected for the
accommodation of eleven of the parishes, incorporated
by act of parliament, in 1771, for the maintenance of
their poor; it is under the direction of a governor, two
deputy governors, weekly visitors, and a committee, who
afford their services gratuitously: the parishes of St.
Giles and St. John separately maintain their own poor.
Of the numerous monastic establishments which formerly
flourished here, some have been incorporated in
the buildings of the various colleges, in which only a few
small memorials have been preserved, and of others
there are still some remains in various parts of the
city and neighbourhood. About a quarter of a mile
from the church of St. Thomas are some trifling remains
of Osney abbey, already noticed, consisting chiefly
of an arched window and a small portion of a wall now
belonging to a corn-mill, which occupies the site; the
bells are now in the steeple of Christ Church. About
half a mile to the east of the city was the hospital of
St. Bartholomew, founded by Henry I., when he built
the palace of Beaumont, and which was annexed to
Oriel College by Edward III., in 1328. There are
some slight remains of the convent for Benedictine
nuns, founded at Godstow, in 1138, by Editha, and dedicated
to the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist, in
which Rosamond Clifford was interred, and to which
Henry II. was a great benefactor; the revenue at the
dissolution was £319. 18. 8. The hospital of St. John
the Baptist, without the east gate, was founded previously
to the reign of John, who was a great benefactor
to the institution, and was rebuilt by Henry III.: in the
reign of Henry VI, it was given to Waynfleet, Bishop
of Winchester, who founded on its site his magnificent
college of Magdalene, in the walls of which some
vestiges of the ancient building may be traced. The
house of Dominican friars was founded, in 1221, by
Isabel de Bulbec, widow of Robert, Earl of Oxford, and
subsequently removed to a small island near the Watergate,
in the parish of St. Ebbe, given to that fraternity
by Henry III., where if continued till the dissolution.
The Franciscan priory was originally founded, in 1224,
by Richard Le Mercier and others, and was afterwards
refounded by Henry III.; the fine chapel and extensive
enclosures of this establishment were alienated in
the reign of Henry VI. The priory of Carmelite or
White friars was founded in 1254, to whom King1
Edward II. assigned the palace of Beaumont, built by
Henry I.; there are scarcely any vestiges of the buildings.
The monastery of Augustine friars was founded
by Henry III., in 1268, and continued till the foundation
of Wadham College, which was built on part of
the site. Rewley abbey, for monks of the Cistercian
order, was founded in 1280, by Edmund, Earl of Cornwall,
in pursuance of the will of his father, Richard;
King of the Romans, on an island called North Osney,
and dedicated to the Virgin Mary; at the dissolution,
the revenue was estimated at £174. 3.: some arched
windows and door-ways in an out-building remain, and
some stones on which are inscriptions and armorial
bearings. Oxford confers the title of earl on the family
of Harley.