Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/468

 THE LINES FOEMED 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 un- doubted ; some slight traces are still remaining where they originally existed. The authority of Anthony a Wood is of itself suflScient 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 a Wood, but yet Wood's own words would appear to disprove the truth of this deli- neation, while the interpolations in the Latin translation of the '^ Historia et Antiquitaics Universitatis Oa?onicnsis" (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 a Wood, published in 1796, by John Gutch, of Corpus Christi College, OxTord, appears to be that best worthy of behef, being printed from Wood's original manuscript, it will be better, probably, to extract (for want of more detailed infor- mation, 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 L, 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 ;