ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL. Vide Walk through Magdalen College.

The AUGUSTINIAN FRIARS EREMITES first obtained here a permanent establishment in 1268, chiefly through the beneficence of Sir John de Handlow of B restall in Bucks. The site of their Friary was that now occupied by Wadham College. Here they had extensive and very splendid buildings, and held divinity and philosophy Schools of such reputation, that previously to the founding of the Divinity School the University Acts and the exercises in arts were performed in them. Hence the University phrase of doing Austins. The church of the Friary was a superb edifice, 120 paces long, and 140 paces broad.

The first House of the DOMINICAN or Black FRIARS was founded, in 1221, by Isabel or Ela de Bolebec, widow of Robert, Earl of Oxon. was situated in the parish of St. Edward; but the Friars afterwards removed to an island near the Water Gate, in the parish of St. Ebbe, where they continued till the Dissolution. The Schools taught by these Friars were of considerable celebrity, and are said to have produced several eminent men.

The FRANCISCAN Minor or Grey FRIARS came to Oxford in 1224 and settled themselves in St. Ebbe's parish, in a house which, with a little ground near it, was first let to them, and afterwards, by R. Milner, conveyed to the City, for their use. Hence they removed to a situation just without the walls, a little west of the island occupied by the Dominican Friary. Their possessions were confirmed to them, and greatly augmented by King Henry III. who is in consc

An island in the river lying on the west of that belonging to

quence regarded as their chief founder. The buildings of this Friary, of which no traces whatever are now visible, were extensive and stately. The church especially was a grand edifice, measuring 158 paces in length, graced by a lofty tower, and containing within it no fewer than ten chapels. Two libraries appertained to the establishment.

The CARMELITE or White FRIARS had their first house at Oxford, given them in 1251, by Nicholas de Meules, of North Cadbury, in Somersetshire. This House was situated where Worcester College now stands; but about sixty years afterwards, twenty-four of the Friars received from King Edward II. a grant of the royal palace of Beaumont, where, having in the intervening period acquired great wealth, they continued till the Dissolution. Their church, in magnitude and elegance, was fully correspondent to the dignity and opulence of the establishment.

The CRUTCHED, Crouched, or Crossed FRIARS, obtained their first settlement here, in the reign of Edward II. Its situation was in Grandpont; but, in the year 1348, having received from Richard Cary, Mayor of Oxon, a gift of land and of money sufficient for their purpose of building a House and Chapel, they removed to a site very near the southern side of the church of St. Peter in the East. How long they continued there is unknown.

The FRIARS DE SACCO, or de Poenitentia Jesu, were placed by Henry III. just without the west gate, on a site formerly occupied in part by the

the Dominicans, and south of their own house, from which it is separated by the Trill mill-stream, was soon afterwards granted to them by the King.

church of St. Benedict. Here the Friars continued till the year 1307, when they were suppressed, and their House was granted to the Franciscans.

Opposite to Magdalen Hall were a House and Chapel, founded in 1291 by Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, for TRINITARIAN FRIARS OF THE REDEMPTION OF CAPTIVES. These Religious did not however continue very long in their original situation; for in the reign of Edward II. we find them permitted to remove to a spot of ground just within the east gate, and on the northern side of the street, where stood another Chapel, dedicated to the Holy Trinity. This Chapel was appropriated to the use of the Friars; and in this situation the Trinitarian establishment continued to flourish till about the year 1351, when an epidemical distemper swept them nearly all off; and, though a single Friar continued for a considerable time to do duty first in this chapel, and afterwards in the old one without the walls, the order never reestablished themselves at Oxford. The Chapel within the City was purchased, along with several contiguous Halls, by William of Wykeham, when preparing to found New College.

The ORIGINAL foundation of the CASTLE, had always been ascribed to Robert D'Oiley, (a Norman chieftain already mentioned, as one of the most favoured followers of William the Conqueror,) till the late celebrated antiquary, Mr. King, in his "Vestiges of Oxford Castle," shewed it to be highly probable, nay, almost certain, that there existed on the same site, long previously to the Norman invasion, a Saxon Castle, containing within it such a tower as was deemed, in those days, fit for royal residence. The existence of