XLVI. LONDON TO GLOUCESTER THROUGH MAIDENHEAD, FARINGDON,

Chalgrove Field, where 61 Bensington or Benson. 46 Stapleton, Bart.

To Cheltenham, 5 m. 4 Division of the road. 1024 Bowden Hall, J. H.

GLOUCESTER, see p. 130. 1074 ters, Esq.

XLVII. LONDON TO OXFORD THROUGH MAIDENHEAD AND HENLEY,

Oxford, the capital of the county to which it gives its name, and the seat of one of the most celebrated universities of Europe, is pleasantly situate upon a gentle eminence in a valley at the confluence of two small rivers, the Isis and Cherwell. It is a place of very remote antiquity, but the period of its origin is involved in obscurity. The first fact connected with it that is known with certainty is, that in the reign of Alfred, who at one time resided at Oxford with his three sons, the place was noted for a monastery which was founded in the year 727. Oxford was twice set on fire, and otherwise suffered severely from the Danes. Edmund Ironside was murdered there. Canute frequently resided at Oxford, and held the great council of the nation there several times. Harold Harefoot, his son and successor, was crowned and died there. In the year 1067, the town was stormed by William the Conqueror, and, in order to bridle any attempt at revolt, a castle was built on the site, now partly occupied by the county gaol and the house of correction. During her contest with Stephen, the Empress Maude was closely besieged in Oxford Castle by her rival, but escaped in the night with only three attendants; and the castle surrendered next morning. In the reign of Richard II. the lectures of Dr John Wicliffe, the warden of Canterbury College, occasioned a great excitement, and afterwards produced very important results. Henry II. resided at Oxford during the greater part of his reign, and here his valiant son Richard Cœur de Lion was born. In the reign of Edward III. the university and town suffered much from a pestilence which carried off a fourth part of the students. In the martyrdoms of Mary's reign, Latimer, Ridley, and Cranmer were burnt at Oxford in front of Baliol College. During the civil wars, Oxford, after once or twice changing masters, became the head-quarters of the King. After the battle of Naseby, it surrendered to the parliamentary army under Fairfax. During the reign of James II. the university firmly resisted an illegal command of that prince to elect a Roman Catholic to the presidency of Magdalen College. James proceeded thither in person and expelled the contuma

cious members, whom, however, when alarmed by the preparations of the Prince of Orange, he afterwards restored. Since the Revolution, no event of much interest has occurred in the history of the town or university.

The origin of the University of Oxford, like that of the town, is involved in obscurity. The first places of education here appear to have been schools for the instruction of youth. The earliest charter of privileges to the university as a corporate body is of the 28th Henry III. In 1603, the university obtained from James I. the privilege of sending two representatives to Parliament.

Oxford University contains twenty colleges and five halls.

MERTON COLLEGE was founded about the year 1264 by William de Merton Lord Chancellor, and afterwards Bishop of Rochester. Its chapel, rebuilt about the beginning of the fifteenth century, is a remarkably fine specimen of Gothic workmanship, and contains an altar-piece of the Crucifixion, supposed to be by Tintoretto, and monuments to Sir Thomas Bodley and Sir Henry Saville. The library is the oldest in the kingdom.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE is said to have been founded by Alfred, but this is believed on good grounds to be a mistake. The college, as such, was erected from funds bequeathed by William of Durham, Rector of Wearmouth, who died in 1249. The funds of this college have been augmented by different benefactors, one of the most considerable of whom in modern times was Dr Radcliffe. The chapel contains a fine monument, by Flaxman, to the memory of Sir W. Jones, the distinguished Orientalist, and a curious altar-piece after Carlo Dolce, burnt in wood. The common room contains Wilton's fine bust of King Alfred.

BALIOL COLLEGE received its foundation about the year 1263 from Sir John Baliol of Barnard Castle, the father of John Baliol, King of Scotland. The library was formerly considered one of the best in the university, and previously to the Reformation was particularly rich in manuscripts.

EXETER COLLEGE was founded in 1314 by Walter Stapledon, Bishop of Exeter, Lord Treasurer of England, and Secretary of State to Edward II. It has a handsome hall and chapel, and a good library.

ORIEL COLLEGE was founded about the year 1326 by Adam de Brome, almoner of Edward II. Among the plate are two cups, one given by Edward II. and the other by Bishop Carpenter.

QUEEN'S COLLEGE derived its name from Philippa, Queen of Edward III. by whose confessor, Robert Egglesfield, it was founded in 1340. This college has been particularly patronized by the Queens of England. The whole of the buildings, with the exception of the library, were erected during the last century. The chapel has a painted ceiling of the Ascension by Sir James Thornhill, and an altarpiece by Cranke of Correggio's Night-Piece. The library contains about 20,000 volumes, and, among other curiosities, a very ancient portrait on glass of Henry V. who received his education at this college, and another of Cardinal Beaufort. NEW COLLEGE owes its establishment in 1378, to William de Wykeham Bishop of Winchester and Lord High Chancellor, in the reign of Edward III. The buildings were completed in 1386, the same year in which Wykeham began his collegiate establishment at Winchester. This is one of wealthiest col