of students caused all these to be crowded with inhabitants. The civil power was blamably lax in regard to the enforcement of some wholesome statutes which had been made concerning eleanliness, and other necessary preventions of disease. Cattle of all sorts were slaughtered within the walls, and the offal, together with other dirt and offensive matter, was suffered to lie in heaps in the narrow and populous lanes. Epidemic diseases of the most destructive nature consequently ensued. The plague made dreadful ravages; and not only was the city for a long time carefully avoided by all strangers of consequence, but the students were often obliged to disperse, and seek security in the free air of more open districts. The king issued various edicts calculated to alleviate this grievance; but it was with great difficulty that the townspeople could be persuaded to adopt measures well suited to their own preservation. In the midst of ambitious schemes, so vast and so ably executed, that the record of them has afforded a theme of wonder to succeeding ages, the third Edward found leisure to bestow a watchful and paternal attention on his favourite University. His liberality was unceasing; and his interference was the more valuable, because while he progressively added to the power of the superior officers, he took judicious means of increasing the security and consequence of the students. But to the ancient animosity arising from difference of country, as to the north and south, fresh subjects of contention were now added. The learning of the day had become deeper, though it still had not, generally, penetrated far. The mind was universally brought into exercise, through all ranges of scholars; but its efforts were too frequently ill directed. In consequence, various disputes on doctrinal questions, nearly the whole of which

Dr. Plot observes, that, "moreover, about these times, the Isis and Charwell, through the carelessness of the townsmen, being filled with mud, and the common shores by this means stopped, did cause the ascent of malignant vapours, whenever there happened to be a flood. Great part of the waters which could not timely pass away, stagnated in the lower meadows, and increased the noxious putrid streams." Nat. Hist. p. 24.

were unconnected with the great fundamentals of religion, divided the University into different parties, not one of which recollected that urbanity should form the basis of disputation. During the height of the tumults produced by these dissensions, a great body of the students retired to Stamford, in Lincolnshire. So numerous were the seceders at this juncture, that it was deemed expedient for the king to write to the sheriff of Lincoln, commanding him to force the objectionable scholars from the place of their retirement; and a statute was made, obliging every candidate for a degree, to swear never to read, nor to hear a reader, at Stamford, as a university."

In 1349, so dreadful a plague prevailed, that the schools were shut up, "and there were scarce enough left in the city to bury the dead." Above a fourth part of the scholars died during this melancholy period; and so great was the panic created, that many of the townsmen were allowed to reside in the vacated halls.*

The studies at Oxford were resumed only by slow degrees; and with returning health the spirit of disagreement was revived. The remainder of Edward's reign is replete with quarrels between the scholars, the townsmen, and the preaching friars. From these we pass to observe that several parliaments and councils were held in the city by Richard II. It was nearly at this period that a bright luminary appeared in the University, and shed such rays as were calculated to illumine the most distant ages. We allude to Dr. Wickliffe, the Father of the Reformers. This eminent man was the first warden of Canterbury College; and it was at Oxford that he read those Lectures of Divinity which are known to have laid the foundation of so great a change

in

Some idea of the extent of mortality among the ecclesiastics on this occasion may be acquired from the following passage in Knighton :-" Before this plague you might have hired a curate for four or five marks a year, or for two marks and his board; but, after it, you could hardly find a clergyman who would accept of a vicarage of twenty marks, or twenty pounds year."

in religious opinion. His doctrines were no sooner divulged, than they were approved by the judicious, and received with enthusiasm by that large proportion of the University which had felt injured in consequence of the Pope's interference with the nomination to vacant benefices, or had been affronted by the assumptions of the preaching Friars. The strong sentiment which prevailed at Oxford in favour of Wickliffe is evident from the following circumstance:-" Pope Gregory XI. hearing of the new te-" nets, by a bull in the sixth year of his papacy issued his fulmination against the same, severely reproving the Chancellor's neglect in suffering this heresy to diffuse itself; yet the proctors, and many of the masters, were in doubt whether they should receive, or reject, this bull with contempt, as a new and unheard of thing."

But although the temper of the University was thus favourable to the cause of truth at this important era, the general interests of learning do not appear to have been by any means in a flourishing state. The number of students was so small, that many of the halls and schools (as appears by their rent-rolis) were let for purposes remote from the dissemination of letters. Yet the court liberally patronized the University, and several new foundations took place during the reign of Richard. That the laws enforcing cleanliness thrunghout the city had greatly succeeded in warding off pestilential diseases is evident from the circumstance already mentioned, of several Parliaments and Councils having been summoned to meet at Oxford by this king.

Although the novel tenets professed by Wickliffe inculcated a habit of discussion among all classes, and peculiarly stimulated the researches of the learned, the ages which immediately followed his appearance were dull and sordid to a lamentable degree. The interests of religion and learning were made subordinate to statepolicy and party-ambition. The annals of the University are necessarily so barren during these boisterous periods, that we shall gladly hasten over the narration, in order to gain the opporG3 tunity

.

tunity of dwelling at some length on the more interesting eras which are to succeed.

A strong predilection to Lollardy, as the doctrines of Wickliffe were then termed, pervaded the University during the reign of Henry IV. Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury, most vigorously prosecuted those suspected of heresy; and compelled the friends of reformation to abstain from an open delivery of their opinions; but such was the dignity of spirit prevailing at Oxford, that many of Wickliffe's friends sent letters to the bishop, couched in the bitterest language of reproach, and at length all lectures. were suspended, the students retired into the country, and a determination was made to dissolve the University. This was not. a mere idle threat, but was viewed in so serious a light by the court, that the King condescended to write letters, requesting that the discontented members would lay their purpose aside,

King Henry V. had been partly educated at Oxford, and he retained through life a fondness for the University. Henry, though far from learned, was fond of books; and, in his more, mature years, took pleasure in conversing with men of letters, Had his reign been less warlike, or prolonged to a greater extent, he would probably have proved a useful and active patron to literature in general, and to the University of Oxford in partiticular. The same severity was exercised in this as in the preceding reign, respecting freedom of religious discussion; yet the University wore somewhat of a flourishing aspect as far as regarded the number of the students. If Henry had possessed leisure, he intended to amend the statutes of the University, and to found a College for the reception of strangers.

Henry VI, professed much affection for Oxford; but his favour communicated no solid benefit. The finances of the University were low, even to penury, during his reign; and the scholars were few in number. Learning (particularly that connected with the Latin language) fell to decay, and a general system of bribery and peculation prevailed in the church. Benefices were even disposed of, for interested considerations, to persons not in 9

holy

holy orders; while men of ancient and honourable standing in the University were suffered to remain unnoticed in the seclusion of their respective colleges.

Thus circumstanced, the collegiates had not cause for particular regret when the accession of the house of York placed á more active monarch on the throne. Edward IV. to evince his anxiety for the encouragement of literature, assumed the title of "Protector of the University," and, on many occasions, proved a zealous friend. But the havoc committed among noble and affluent families by the rage of civil war, was long detrimental to the progress of refinement. This king honoured Oxford with á visit towards the conclusion of his reign,

Richard III. was much too wise and politic a prince to treat the University with neglect. He visited Oxford soon after his accession to regal power, and took many judicious steps for the advancement of literature, among which was a law allowing the University to import or export books at pleasure." Peshall, in his brief History of the University, attributes the propriety of the latter part of this grant to "the superabundance of books in Oxford" at this juncture. But may we not more rationally presume that the allowance was intended to signify an entire freedom of press and liberty of discussion ?

A dreadful pestilence, which raged for six weeks, and almost depopulated the city and colleges, ushered in the reign of the seventh Henry. Although, from various fortuitous circumstances, this period has the proud boast of fostering the revival of letters, the University of Oxford unhappily had little share in the glorious task. From the many discouraging particulars of the last century, genuine scholarship had become almost an obsolete character, in a professional point of view. The Greek language, because unknown, was affectedly held in contempt.* Collegiate discipline was relaxed to a dangerous degree, and intestine broils continually tormented the few who

The Anti-Grecians formed themselves into an association under the title of Trojans. The leader of the party took the name of Priam; and others called