VSMary's Hall Lane 9 High Bridge Street Ship Lane ·St Thomas's Strt 16 Bear Lane.. HE PARKS Old Fortification 30 20 Coach&Horses Lane 21 Edmund HallLane 22 Exeter College Lane 23Lincoln College Lane 24 Rose Lane STRE Holywell THE NEW COMPANION Ο FOR OX FOR D. upon XFORD, as we read in our Chronicles was, even in the British Age, confecrated to the Mufes. It was called by the Romans Bellofitum. When the Place was firft fortified does not appear; but the walls, of which fome parts are now remaining, were raised former foundations, about the time of the Conqueft, by Robert D'Oilie, who erected the Caftle at the command of the Conqueror in 1071; a work of great ftrength, and confiderable extent, as appears by fome mafly ruins now extant. King Henry I. built a Royal Palace on a spot called Beaumont, on the weft fide of the City, remains of which are ftill feen. King Richard I, called Cœur de Lion, was born in this Palace. The origin of the Univerfity of Oxford has been perplexed with extravagant accounts of the number of Students. Archbishop Ufber indeed fpeaks of 30,000 in King Henry the Third's time; and that feveral years. afterwards, when the Civil Wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster had so much weakened the kingdom, and difturbed the peace of this Seat of Learning, there were then 15,000. In the City and its environs were feveral Monafteries, the principal of which were St. Fridefide's, and Ofeney A Abbey. Abbey. The Bishopric, which was heretofore part of Lincoln Diocefe, was erected by King Henry VIII, in 1542.. The fituation is on an eminence, rifing gradually from its extremities to the center. It is encompassed by meadows and corn fields. The meadows, which are chiefly to the fouth and weft, are about a mile in extent; beyond which are hills of a moderate height, bounding the prospect. The eastern profpect has likewife fome hills at a little diftance; the valley growing confiderably narrower towards the fouth: but the north is open to corn fields and enclosures for a confiderable extent, without any hill to intercept the air. It is washed by a number of streams: on the eaft, by the different branches of the Cherwell; on the south and weft, by thofe of the Thames all which meet, and join a little below the City, forming one beautiful river. The foil is dry, being on a fine gravel, which renders it not lefs healthful than pleasant. Before the Colleges were erected, the Students were inftructed in the houses of citizens, or in inns or halls, fupported by benefactions from rich persons, or their own patrimony. Each College hath a Head or Superior to govern it, chofen for the most part from the Fellows of the Society. The Dean and Canons of Chrift-Church are nominated by the King. In all the Colleges, not only fuch as are provided for by their Founders and Benefactors, and many others of all defcriptions, as Noblemen, Sons of Noblemen, Baronets, Gentlemen-Commoners, and the Sons of Clergymen, Gentlemen, and Tradefmen, who live at their own expense, but many deferving young men, whofe friends could not afford to fend them to the Univerfity, are fupported by the affiftance of |
