Page:Literary Landmarks of Oxford.djvu/91

 CHRIST CHURCH

local historians are fond of speaking of Christ Church as "A Venerable Pile." "Venerable pile" is a venerable phrase, which has done as much duty, in the works of topographical writers, as "glory crowned heights" has done in the verses of war-poets, or as the expression "a wealth of golden hair" has done in the romances of all days.

Christ Church College as "a pile" is not particularly "venerable." It was founded early in the Sixteenth Century by Wolsey and Henry the Eighth, "Ego et Rex," the Cardinal, as was his way, doing all the work; the King, as was his way, taking all the contemporary credit and glory. Posterity, however, has set things right; and Wolsey has no grander or more lasting monument.

When the local historians call Christ Church "the most magnificent House of Learning in Europe," they are not so far astray. Royalty and aristocracy have made it magnificent by their presence and by their support; and Men of Mind, from Sir Philip Sidney to John Ruskin and Gladstone, have made it magnificent by their learning.

One Frideswyde, daughter of Didan and 63