Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/472

 370 THE LINES FOEMED ROCXD OXFORD behalf of the Parhament, and the governorship given to one Bulstrode Whitelocke, an Oxford man and officer of the Par- hament, to which it is said the city wilhngl}^ agreed. Lord Say, however, decided that it vrould not be advisable, imagining that Oxford would not be a place that Charles would settle in. Lord Say, however, called the heads of houses together ; told them they had forfeited their privileges by taking up arms against the Parliament, and threatened to leave a gar- rison to overawe them. The parliamentary troops, however, having quitted Oxford before the battle of Edgehill (23rd Oct.), the University, too, having been disarmed, the citizens began to fortify their city, setting up posts and chains at every gate and postern, to the end, as it was reported, to keep out Prince Rupert and the king's forces. Wood says, " Whether this (meaning the intention of the city) be true, I know not." If it were so, they were shortly frightened into inconsistency, for on Oct. 29th, the king, with his army of footmen, came from Edge- hill to Oxford, with Prince Rupert and his brother. Prince Maurice, Prince Charles, and James Duke of York. They came in their full march into the city, with above sixty or seventy colours borne before them which they had taken at Edgehill from the Parliamentary forces, when the mayor and citizens presented themselves to his Majesty at Pennyless- bench, and gave him a considerable sum of money. Nov. 2nd., the troops marched to Abingdon ; Nov. 3rd., the king, the prince and duke, with a troop of dragoons, went towards Reading, leaving behind Earls Bristol and Dorset, with Lords Andover and Digby, and an escort, who disarmed the city, and commenced providing arms, raising troops, and fortifying the place — particulars, unfortunate!}', are not given further than that on Nov. 30th, Charles having returned from Reading, a new gate of timber was set on the east bridge, and a bulwark raised between it and the corner of the Ph3'sic-Garden wall, which being soon finished, there were planted thereon two pieces of ordnance to secure the entrance that way. A trench, also, at that time, was making near to that of the scholars by the wall of St. John's College walks, for the defence of the University and city. Dec. /ith, the University bellman went about the city warn- ing people to dig at the works through the New Park ; and