XFORD appears from ancient Records to Time of the Romans; and to have been called Bellofitum. We learn alfo, that before their Conquefts, the Britains confecrated it to the MuIfes, whom they tranfplanted hither, as to a more fertile Nursery, from Creeklade in Wiltshire. Before King Alfred's Time, whofe Reign began A. D. 872. Thomas Rudburn, Bishop of Chester, calls it an Univerfity in his Chronicon Hydenfe: So that Alfred was only the Reftorer of Learning. Before the Conqueft, there was a College built, where Robert D'Oylie afterwards built the Castle in 1071. in which was a Prior or Dean, and fome Secular, who became afterwards Regular, Canons. In rr29, the faid College was tranflated to Ofney Abby, by Robert D'Oylie, Nephew to the former, 'till Henry VIII. erected it into a Bifhop's See, called the Bifhoprick of Oxford, tranflated A. D. 1546, to St. Fridefwide's Monaftery, now called Chrift-Church. King Henry I. built a Royal Palace in Beaumont, near Gloucester-Green; the Ruins of which are still vifible. King Richard I. furnamed Cœur de Lion, was born here. Archbishop Uber affirms, that in King Henry the Third's Time, 30,000 Students refided here; and Rifhanger (who lived in the fame Reign) fays, that notwithstanding the Civil Wars had fo much difturbed the Peace and Quiet of this venerable Seat of Learning, yet, in his Time, there were remaining 15,000 Students, whofe Names were entered in the Matriculation Book. About which Time, John Balliol (Father of Balliol, King of Scots) built a College, now called by his Name, A. D. 1263: And Walter de Merton Bishop of Rochester, that which is now called Merton College; both of them beautified with Buildings, and enriched with Lands, which were the firft endowed Colleges in Chriftendom. King Alfred built three Colleges in it; one for Divinity, another for Philofophy, and a third for Grammar. Soon afterwards the Danes burnt it, and Harold Harefoot, who reign'd in 1036, to revenge the Death of fome of his Followers flain here, fo violently treated the Inhabitants of the Place, that the Scholars left it, and it lay wafte till about the Norman Conqueft. In the Time of King John the Students being badly ufed by the Townfmen, went part to Reading and part to Cambridge. After thefe Matters were again fettled, the Students divided into two Factions, the North and the South; in Difcontent the latter left Oxford, and went to Stamford in Lincolnshire, where they began to erect an Univerfity; but when this Quarrel was adjufted, they returned, and have continued here ever fince. Oxford is fituated on a fmall Eminence, rifing gradually from its Extremities to the Center. It is encompaffed by Meadows and Corn Fields. The Meadows, which are chiefly to the South and Weft, are about a Mile over; beyond which are Hills of a moderate Height, bounding the Prospect. The Eastern Profpect is likewife bounded by Hills at a moderate Distance; the Valley growing confiderably narrower towards the South: But the North is open to Corn-fields and Enclofures for many |