sequent part of the volume, we pass to the year immediately after the Conquest. The determined resistance opposed to the Conqueror's authority by the citizens of Oxford, operated most injuriously to the interests of the University. Exasperated by the contumacy of the former, William, although himself friendly to learning, and a liberal patron of scholars, not only treated the City with the utmost severity, but left the University to languish in neglect. However, from the ancient Statutes of the Collegiate Church or Chapel, which Robert D'Oiley, the Norman governor delegated by William, and Roger de Iveri, a friend of the governor, jointly founded in the Castle built by the former, it appears, that "there were even at that time some scholars in "Oxford; frequent mention being made in "the said Statutes, of Fellows and Tutors, "Commoners, and others, residing in the buildings attached to the church"."

About this time, the Jews are said to have

• Peshall's edition of Wood's Oxford.

become very numerous in Oxford, and, being also wealthy, to have "purchased as many "houses in the contiguous parishes of St. "Martin, St. Edward, and St. Aldate, as gave them the names of the Old and New

Jewry." In one of these they built a school or synagogue, in which certain learned masters of that nation taught Hebrew, and explained the Rabbinical dogmas, to the advantage of the students in the Universityd.

During the inglorious reign of WILLIAM RUFUS, the University may be presumed to have been gradually gaining ground, since we find, that, in the reign of his successor, HENRY I. surnamed Beauclerc, the learned languages were cultivated with great assiduity. A single master is reported to have had under his care, about this time, from 60 to 100 students. And one great motive of Henry's building here the palace of Beaumont, appears to have been a

d Ayliffe. After being long obnoxious to the students and citizens, the Jews quitted Oxford in obedience to the decree, by which, in the reign of Edward I. they were all banished the kingdom.

wish for more frequent opportunities of conversing with men of learning, of whom he was a steady and liberal patron.

In

In 1139 King STEPHEN held a council at Oxford; and, in 1141, having previously obtained possession of the City, he invested the Castle, the walls of which at that time inclosed the Empress Maud, Stephen's celebrated female competitor for the crown. three months the Castle was surrendered, but the Empress had made her escape the night before; a circumstance at which the King was so much enraged, that, on his departure, he set fire to the City, and reduced it in a great measure to ashes. The Scholars were dispersed by this siege; but in about three years they returned; and, there being at that time

e The circumstances of her escape are curious. It was about Christmas, and the snow lay thick on the ground. The Empress put on a white dress, and, attended by three soldiers, stole out of the fortress in the dead of night, passed unobserved through the enemy's outposts, and, although the night was severely frosty, proceeded on foot to Wallingford, a distance of ten miles.

in Oxford many eminent teachers, particularly in the department of Law, the reputation of the University began rapidly to increase. In 1154, another Council was held here; in which it was agreed that Stephen should retain possession of the crown during his life, and that Henry, son of the Empress Maud, should succeed him in the regal dignity.

The latter, afterwards HENRY II. held several Councils at Oxford, where, in his palace of Beaumont, he also resided much. During his reign, in the year 1190, a fire destroyed St. Frideswide's church, several Halls, and great part of the City. Till this period, the Halls and houses were of wood, and thatched; but now the citizens, profiting by the calamity, built chiefly with stone, using lead or tiles as a roofing. Many of the Halls

! During the twelfth century, the study of Law came into great repute, "to the discouragement," says Wood," of other sciences."

Till this reign, the degree of Doctor was unknown in England. The degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts were of older standing.

were enlarged during this reign, a proof of the increasing number of scholars.

RICHARD I. was born in the palace of Beaumont; and, although his military propensities rendered his reign not happy for his people, he appears to have ever retained a warm regard for the place of his nativity. Under his fostering auspices the University became so celebrated, as to be considered a rival to that of Paris.

So flourishing was the state of the University during the early part of the reign of King JOHN, that the number of students is said to have reached 3000". But this prosperity was soon clouded, the progress of science arrested, and the University itself threatened with annihilation, through the following unfortunate occurrence. A clerk, engaged in amusement, accidentally killed a woman, and, through fear of punishment, immediately fled. Search was

About the year 1203, the custom of preaching from a text began; postillizing, that is, expounding in succession all the texts of a chapter, having previously been the mode of dispensing instruction from the pulpit.