stored. But it revived only to encounter fresh disasters. In 1009, Swein, the Danish invader, again placed firebrands in the city: the assailants, however, departed before the havoc became general, and the flames were extinguished. A scene of horrible slaughter took place at Oxford in the year 1012. The Danes had, at this period, effected a partial settlement in various districts of England, and King Ethelred, in order to gratify revenge, and rid himself of the encroachers, by one blow of dreadful malignancy, forwarded letters into all parts, directing his subjects to sacrifice the Danes, without a solitary exception, on the day dedicated to the Feast of St. Brice. This order was executed with terrible fidelity at Oxford. No regard was paid to sex or dignity. Many of the wretched victims fled to the churches, in hope of sanctuary; but were there slain, without mercy, while they stood embracing the altars! Among those who fell was the Lady Gunilda, sister to Swein, King of Denmark, who had uniformly evinced friendship towards the English, and had been sent as a hostage on condition of peace, together with her husband, Polingus! In consequence of this ferocious outrage, Swein entered the country in arms, and talked loudly of inflicting sanguinary vengeance; but, in regard to Oxford, it appears that he only frightened the people into a surrender, and took pledges of them. King Ethelred had now become familiar with assassination; and he invited, three years after the general massacre, a large party of the Danes to a conference in the city scarce cleansed from the blood of their friends. On this occasion, Edric, Earl of Mercia, a brother-in-law, and creature of the king's, caused two of the Danish noblemen to be treacherously murdered. This injury the Danes endeavoured to revenge, but they were overpowered; and some of them, taking shelter in St. Frid's church, were there burned. During the successive struggles between the Saxons and the Danes Oxford often suffered severely; and, amid such brutal and vindictive contests, it must necessarily be supposed that the in terests of learning were quite disregarded. In fact, no author, though several have been mentioned who possessed considerable ingenuity, has been able to ascertain any prominent result accruing from those studies which many are willing to believe were still numerously attended. But, although the sordid and iron character of the ages, which shortly followed the bright reign of Alfred, suspended the tide of learning in its promising career, the city of Oxford progressively arose to much political consequence. King Edmund, surnamed Ironside, resided here; and was, unhappily, murdered in the city, November the 30th, 1016. Canute, not unjustly denominated the Great, maintained his court at Oxford for many years; and, in the year 1022, held a great council, at which time the Laws of Edward were first translated into Latin, and enjoined to all subjects, Danes as well as English. In 1026, the same monarch confirmed by his royal authority, in a Parliament held at Oxford, the Edicts of King Edgar. Harold, surnamed Harefoot, from his great agility in pedestrian exercises, likewise fixed his chief residence in the city. The ceremony of his coronation was performed here, and he breathed his last at this favoured place of regal abode, though his remains were carried for interment to Westminster. William, styled the Conqueror, had not long been crowned at Westminster, when he made a progress towards the north, for the purpose of intimidating such of his new subjects as were unwilling to receive the destroyer of the brave but impetuous Harold for their sovereign. In the course of this progress, William approached Oxford; but the inhabitants closed their gates, and denied him entrance. He immediately resorted to force; and, having stormed the city, speedily gained admittance. The reign of William forms an important era in the History of Oxford; and the sur vey made by order of that king affords the reader so interesting an opportunity of drawing a comparative analysis between tho precise state of the city at that period, and its population and wealth in succeeding ages, that it appears desirable to present the account, without abridgement, as it stands in the Record of Domesday : "Oxenefordscire (Oxfordshire.) [Orig. 154, a. 1.] "In the time of King Edward, Oxeneford (Oxford) paid, for toll and gable, and all other customs, yearly to the king, twenty pounds, and six sextaries of honey. But to Earl Algar, ten pounds, his mill being added, which he had within (infra) the city. "When the king went on an expedition, twenty burgesses went with him, for all the others; or they paid twenty pounds to the king that all might be free. Now, Oxeneford (Oxford) pays sixty pounds by tale, of twenty pence in the ore. "In the town itself, as well within the walls as without, there are two hundred and forty three houses, paying the tax; and, besides these, there are five hundred houses, save twenty-two, so waste and decayed that they cannot pay the tax. "The king has twenty mural mansions, which were Earl Algar's, in King Edward's time, paying then, and now, fourteen shillings, save two-pence. And he has one mansion, paying sixpence, belonging to Scipton (Shipton ;) and another of fourpence, belonging to Blochesham (Bloxham;) and a third, paying thirtypence, belonging to Riseberge (Risborough;) and two others of four-pence, belonging to Tuiforde (Twyford) in Buckinghamshire; one of these is waste. They are called mural mansions, because, if it be necessary, and the king command it, they repair the walls. "To the lands which Earl Aubery held belongs one church and three mansions; two of these, paying twenty-eight pence, lie to the church of St. Mary; and the third, paying five shillings, lies to Burcford (Burford,) To "To the lands which Earl William held belong nine mansions, paying seven shillings. Three of these are waste. "The Archbishop of Canterbury has seven mansions; they pay thirty-eight pence. Four of these are waste. "The Bishop of Winchester has nine mansions; they pay sixtytwo pence. Three of these are waste. "The Bishop of Baieux has eighteen mansions, which pay thirteen shillings and four-pence. Four of these are waste. The Bishop of Lincoln has thirty mansions, paying eighteen shillings and sixpence, sixteen of which are waste. The Bishop of Constance has two mansions, paying fourteen-pence, and the Bishop of Hereford has three mansions, paying thirteen-pence. One of them is waste. "The Abbot of St. Edmund's has one mansion, paying sixpence, belonging to Tentone (Tainton.) The Abbot of Abingdon fourteen mansions, paying seven shillings and three pence; eight of which are waste; and the Abbot of Eglesham has one church, and thirteen mansions, paying nine shillings. Seven of these are waste. "The Earl of Moreton has ten mansions; they pay three shillings. They are all waste, except one. "Earl Hugh has seven mansions; they pay five shillings and eight-pence. Four of these are waste. "The Earl of Evreux (Ebroicensis) has one waste mansion, and it pays nothing. "Henry de Ferieres has two mansions, paying five shillings. "William Pevrel has four mansions, paying seventeen-pence. Two of these are waste. "Edward the sheriff, two mansions, paying five shillings. "Ernulf de Hesding three mansions, paying eighteen-pence. One of these is waste. "Berenger de Todeni, one mansion paying sixpence. "Robert de Oilgi, twelve mansions, paying sixty-four pence. Four of these are waste. "Roger de Ivri, fifteen mansions, paying twenty shillings and four-pence. Six of these are waste. "Rannulf Flammard, one mansion, paying nothing. "Wido de Reinbodcurth, two mansions, paying twenty-pence. "Walter Gifard, seventeen mansions, paying twenty-two shillings. Seven of these are waste. The predecessor of Walter had one of these, of the gift of King Edward, out of eight virgates which paid customary payments in King Edward's time. "Jernio has one mansion, paying sixpence, belonging to Hamtone (Hampton.) "The son of Manasse has one mansion; it pays four-pence to Blecesdone (Bletchington.) "All these above-written hold the aforesaid mansions free, because they repair the walls. "All the mansions which are called mural, were, in King Edward's time, free from all customary payments, except expedition, and reparation of the walls. "The priests of St. Michael's have two mansions, paying fiftytwo pence. [Orig. 154, a. 2.] "The canons of St. Fridesnid have fifteen mansions, paying eleven shillings. Eight of these are waste. "Coleman had, during his life, three mansions of three shillings and eight-pence. "William has one of twenty-pence. Spracheling, one mansion, which pays nothing. "Wluui, the fisherman, one mansion of thirty-two pence. "Aluuin has one mansion of thirty-seven pence. Three of these are waste. Edric, one mansion which pays nothing. Harding and Leveva, nine mansions paying twelve shillings. Four of these are waste. 66 Ailric, one mansion, which pays nothing. Dereman one mansion |