sketch like the present, it would be impossible to unravel their obscurity. Those who are desirous of tracing the rise and progress of these various changes must enter upon a field of investigation, which would be too wide for one who now merely professes to indicate slightly the points best worth consideration.

I have already quoted from original documents with a tedious diffuseness, because they not only serve to cast some fresh light on the internal arrangements and decorations of the palaces of the Plantagenets, but also because they relate to buildings wherein these important questions concerning the expanding liberties of the English nation, were either checked in their growth, or fostered by the wisdom of the Crown. It is impossible we should ever look coldly upon scenes hallowed by so many striking incidents! They solemnly remind us of the struggles or perilous achievements of our forefathers, of their deeds of valour, their patriotism, or their devotion; and they should serve to increase in the affections an admiration for their generous and lofty principles, mixed, though they may be, with much that is incompatible with modern notions of political justice or even humanity. We may knit together the noblest impulses of the past, with the refinement of the present age, and thus embody the fleeting shadows of antiquity with vitality and existence. Nor are they to be envied who would suffer such associations to remain inactive in the heart, who would teach us to deny the natural instinct of political sympathy, and by bidding us consign to oblivion the serious grandeur of historic recollections, efface all those marks of our progress which have been sheltered under the hallowed wings of time.

CHARLES HENRY HARTSHORNE.

THE LINES FORMED ROUND OXFORD, WITH NOTICES OF THE PART TAKEN BY THE UNIVERSITY IN BEHALF OF THE ROYALIST CAUSE, BETWEEN 1642 AND 1646.

THAT Oxford was encircled with a continuous and regular fortification, systematically disposed, appears to be undoubted; some slight traces are still remaining where they originally existed. The authority of Anthony à Wood is of itself sufficient to justify the assertion, and an old map of Oxford still remains, where "old fortifications" are delineated in many points, on the circuit of the place.

The exact nature of these fortifications it is difficult at once to state; the sketch which accompanies this notice is copied (nominally) from Anthony à Wood, but yet Wood's own words would appear to disprove the truth of this delineation, while the interpolations in the Latin translation of the "Historia et Antiquitates Universitatis Oxoniensis (where the original plate exists), puzzle the inquirer as to the facts therein related, whether as regards the engineer of the lines, or the entire authenticity of the plan that is given.

As, however, the English edition of "The History and Antiquities of the University of Oxford," by Anthony à Wood, published in 1796, by John Gutch, of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, appears to be that best worthy of belief, being printed from Wood's original manuscript, it will be better, probably, to extract (for want of more detailed information, which I had hoped to obtain at Queen's College) what is said in Wood's Annals, of the making of the lines round Oxford, and the siege of that place, and then to state what there may appear against such statement, and the reasons why, in spite of such objections, credit has not been refused to the Latin translation, although Gutch's edition of Wood has been preferred.

A letter was written by Charles I., at York, dated 7th July, 1642, directed to Dr. Prideaux, Bishop of Worcester, then Vice-Chancellor of the University, which was read in Convocation on Monday, July 11th, 1642. The tenor of which was, that Dr. Chaworth was authorised to receive and give receipts for money which the University might send;

to this application the Convocation assented, and agreed that whatever money the University was possessed of, whether in Saville's Mathematician's chest, Bodley's, or in the University chest, should be sent to the king. On this a large sum was given, for "after the Convocation was ended, the keepers of the University chest took thence 8601. and delivered it into the hands of the said Dr. Chaworth, who gave them an acquittance for the receipt of it." That this was the case is evident by an order from the Parliament, dated 12th July, 1642, stating that-" Whereas the Lords and Commons in Parliament are informed, that attempts had been made to stop the collection of money to be raised by the Parliament for defence of the kingdome, and that the authorities (enumerating them) had endeavoured against law to take away the plate and treasure of the Colleges and University, and to send the same to York, for maintaining wars against the Parliament and the whole kingdome, they therefore declare the said colleges not bound by the Act of Convocation, forbid the giving of the treasure, and promise to bear them harmless."

Upon this the king wrote more than one letter, the first dated from the court at Beverley, 18th July (afterwards published to Convocation), wherein he presents his thanks, through Dr. Prideaux, to the University, for the testimony of their hearts towards him, and promises them protection.

This appears to be the first occasion on which the University had to declare so very decidedly between the Parliament and Charles; but on the 9th of August, the proclamation for the suppression of the rebellion came out, and immediately after the University began to put themselves in a posture of defence, and the "privileged mens' arms were called before Dr. Pinke, Deputy-Vice Chancellor, to be viewed, when not only privileged men of the University and their servants, but also many scholars appeared, bringing with them the furniture of every college that had arms."

They were divided then into four squadrons; two were musketeers, the third pikes, and the fourth halbards, and they were drilled.

"While these things were going on, the highway at the hither end of East bridge, just at the corner of the chaplain's quadrangle of Magdalen College, was blocked up with long timber logs, to keep out horsemen. A timber gate also was

set up at the end of the logs next towards the college, for common passage of carts and horses to bring provisions to the city, which gate was commonly kept shut at nights and chained up. There were three or four cart loads of stones also carried up to Magdalen College tower, to fling down upon the enemy at their entrance. Two posts were set up at South-gate, for a chain to run through them to block up that way against horsemen ; and a crooked trench, in form of a bow, made across the highway at the end of St. John's College Walks, next the New Park, to hinder the entrance of any forces that should come that way; at which place, as also at East Bridge, was a very strict centinell kept every night."

Wood then goes on to describe the raising of bodies of troops, and their drilling within the University, and ends by saying, that," August 29th, the court of guard was kept, and the watch solemnly appointed and kept that night by the scholars and certain troopers."

This is the first mention of the University, as connected with the actual defence of the place, and from this time for three or four years during the rebellion, they appear to have lost sight of their natural position as members of a scholastic community, and to have given themselves up to the defence of the place, and their ingenuity seems to have been somewhat primitive, since there is a notice that on "Sept. 2, barbed arrows were provided for one hundred scholars, to shoot against such soldiers that should come against them."

Nor was this the only instance in which archery, so long laid aside, was once more proposed to be introduced; for a plan was devised of raising a regiment of bowmen, as appears from the following letter to the University from King Charles the First :

"CHARLES R.

"Trustie and wellbeloved, wee greet you well. Whereas John Knightly, Esq. and Colonell, hath undertaken a very commendable and acceptable service for us, namely the raysing of a Regiment of twelve hundred Bowmen volunteers to be levied and furnished with suitable armes, for the furthering wheareof hee hath besought us to recommend his said undertaking to you; to the end that you may permit him to raise the said Regiment out of this our Universitie

and the priviledged men theareof, whoe will voluntarilie list themselves for this service, and that you would consider of a waye for the maintaining at youre common charge of soe many of the sayd bowmen and officers as shall bee levyed out of our sayd Universitie and priviledged men. This undertaking and proposition is represented to us as that which may bee of very greate use and availe to us in the expedition wee shall make against the Rebells; wee have, thearefore, given Commission to the sayd John Knightly to proceed in the levying of the said Regiment, and the same to command as Colonell. And wee heereby recommend him and the premises to your consideration and furtherance; and soe wee bid you farewell.

"Given at our Court at Oxford, the first daye of Octob. 1643."

On Sept. 9th, the University were informed that the fair pretences of the citizens of joining with the University and king's troops in the defence of the city, were good for nothing, that their minds were altered, that they had been communicating with the Parliament, and that it was reported that the Parliament had a purpose to send forces immediately against the king's troopers and the University for receiving them; in consequence of which information the troops marched to join the king on Sept. 10th, accompanied by a number of scholars as volunteers.

On the 12th, a considerable body of the Parliament troopers marched in, and were billeted in the place.

Sept. 14th, Lord Say, who had been appointed LordLieutenant of Oxfordshire by the Parliament's authority, entered Oxford, and lodged at the Star Inn. He immediately gave orders that the works and trenches which the scholars had made across the highways about the city should be demolished.

It was now discussed between Lord Say and the chief officers of the forces in Oxford, whether, in consequence of the nature of the place, the strength of the situation, the plenty of the country, the nearness of London, and the disaffection of the University to the Parliament cause, it were not probable that the king, who was coming to Shrewsbury (in the direction of Oxford), might not probably make this a principal quarter for his forces, and fortify the city. It was suggested that it should be fortified and garrisoned on