>

A

LIST

OF THE PRINCIPAL

BOOKS, MAPS, AND VIEWS,

THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN

Illustration of the History, Topography, Antiquities,

&c. of the

COUNTY OF OXFORD.

THIS County has to regret the want of a regular historian.

In the year 1677, Dr. Plot published a "Natural History of Oxfordshire, being an Essay towards the Natural History of England.” A second edition, with additions and corrections, was printed at Oxford, in 1705, fol. after the Doctor's death, by his son-in-law, Mr. Burman, Fellow of University College. This work touches very slightly on the Antiquities of the County. Plot was evidently a man of some learning and ingenuity, but a want of judgment pervades the whole work. He sank the dupe of nearly every circumstance that wore a marvellous aspect. Mysterious prognostics of death; fantastical operations of presumed demons; and the blessings arising from the royal touch, to those afflicted with the evil; occupy too many of his pages, and cause the reader to look with suspicion on the intelligence conveyed in more creditable sections.

The agricultural state of the county is chiefly indebted for illustra tion to the "View of the Agriculture of Oxfordshire, drawn up for the Board of Agriculture, &c. by the Secretary of the Board," (Mr. Arthur Young.)

A translation of Domesday, for Oxfordshire, has been published by the Rev. Mr. Bawdwen.

Bishop Kennet, in his excellent work intituled, "Parochial Antiquities," has entered fully into the history of the town of Bicester, and the neighbouring village of Ambrosden. The object of Dr. Kennet was the illustration of his immediate neighbourhood, while resident at Ambrosden; but his book contains hints of information relative to many other Oxfordshire parishes; and no hint from his pen could fail of being valuable. Very few writers have reared so estimable a fabric on so apparently hopeless a foundation.*

VOL. XII.

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Among

*Gough says, in his British Topography, " that he has a copy of Bishop Kennet's work, with large MS. additions by the author." But this valuable copy is not among the books bequeathed to the Bodleian library by Mr. Gough.

Among the "Occasional Remarks" prefixed to the account of Fair ford Windows, published with Roper's life of More, are some observations on Dorchester, Bensington, and Ewelm. Also in the Preface to Hemingford, p. 57-69.

In regard to Thame school, there was printed, as it appears for private use, the following thin folio: "Schola Thamensis ex fundatione Johannis Williams militis domini Williams de Thame,1575. God save the Queen." This book contains the indentures, and deeds of settlement; the statutes, and the evidences of the school and almshouse. "The only copy," says Mr. Gough, "that I ever saw was in Mr. West's library, now in the King's. There is another in the Bodleian.'

Tragi-comedia, being a brief relation of the strange, and wonderfull hand of God discovered at Witney, in the Comedy acted there, Feb. 3, where there were some slaine, many hurt, with severall other remarkable passages; together with what was preached in three Sermons on that occasion, from Rom. 1. 18. both which may serve as some Check to the growing Atheisme of the present age. By John Rowe, of C. C. C. in Oxford, Lecturer in the Town of Witney. Oxf.

1652."

"An answer to a scandalous Pamphlet, entituled the Present state of the Free School at Witney, in Oxfordshire, &c. by John Goole, A.M. Vicar of Eynsham, and Master of the Free School of Witney, in the county of Oxford." Oxf. 1721. 8vo.

"The Contract violated, or the hasty Marriage. By John Goole, M. A. Master of the Free School of Witney, and Vicar of Eynsham,” &c. This relates to a marriage between the author and a daughter of Dr. Hudson.

"Strange and wonderful News from Bisciter, a Town in Oxfordshire being a full and true Account of a terrible Tempest of lightning, rain, hail, and thunder, which happened there the twentyeth Day of April last past, and continued for several hours; burnt much Corn, some barns and outhouses, and kill'd many Cattel; also spoyl'd several Persons, and had like to have consumed the whole Town. 1678.” 4to.

The "Blenheim Guide," by the Rev. Dr. Mavor, is one of the most elegant and comprehensive works of the kind ever published, and contains many particulars relating to the borough of Woodstock.

The "Custome of the Mannor of Woodstock," is published in the preface to the 8th Volume of Leland's Itinerary. A transcript of a roll relating to this manor, t. Edw. I. is at the end of Hearne's edition of Robert de Avesbury.

"A short survey of Woodstock" is printed with "The Just Devil of Woodstock, or a true Narrative of the several apparitions, the frights, and punishments that were inflicted upon the rumpish Commissioners," &c. by Widdowes.

"W. Whately's

"W. Whately's Sermon, and account of the fire at Banbury, which burned 103 houses, &c. London 1630." 4to.

"Crouch Hill, a descriptive poem, with some account of the siege of Banbury Castle," by Mr. Rusher.

"God's Terrible Judgement in Oxfordshire; a true relation of a woman at Atherbury, having used divers horrible wishes and imprecations, was suddenly burnt to ashes on one side of her body, when there was no fire near her. 1677," 4to.

"Memoirs of Osney Abbey, near Oxford, collected from the most authentic authors," &c. by John Swaine, Esq. (of Windsor) 1769.

A discourse about Fair Rosamond, and the Nunnery of Godstowe, with occasional notes about Binsey; written by T. Hearne, 1718. Spicil. ad G. Neubrig. p. 730.

In the Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. XLI. p. 285. is a curious article on the subject of Godstow, communicated by Mr. Gough; and, in the same work, for August, 1787, is a transcript from the Chartulary, or Ledger Book, of Godstow Nunnery.

Hearne wrote "A Discourse concerning the Stunsfield tessellated pavement, &c." which is prefixed to Vol. VIII. of Leland's Itinerary. John Pointer, M. A. attacked Hearne's opinions, in "An account of a Roman pavement lately found at Stunsfield, in Oxfordshire, proved to be 1400 years old. Oxf. 1713." 8vo.

The following pamphlets appeared in the 17th century, concerning operations in the civil war.

"Exceeding good News from Oxfordshire; being a true relation of the manner of the apprehending of the Earl of Berkshire, Sir John Curzon, Sir Robert Dormer, and divers other cavaliers, in Oxfordshire, by Colonell Hampden and Colonell Goodwyn, &c. 1642,"

4to.

"His Highness Prince Rupert's late beating up the rebels quarters at Postcomb and Chimner, in Oxfordshire; and his victory in Chalgrove Field, on Sunday morning, June 18, 1643. Whereunto is added Sir John Werie's expedition to West Wickham, the Sunday after, June 25, 1643." 4to.

"The Levellers (falsly so called) vindicated; or the case of the twelve troops which (by treachery in a treaty) was lately surprised and defeated at Burford, truly stated, and offered to the judgment of all unbyassed and wel-minded people, especially of the army, their fellow souldiers, under the conduct of the Lord Fairfax." 4to.

The most important publications connected with the City of Oxford are,

"The ancient and present state of the City of Oxford, containing an account of its Foundation, Antiquity, Situation, Suburbs, division by Wards, Walls, Castle, Fairs, Religious Houses, Abbeys, St. Frideswede's; Churches, as well those destroyed as the present, with their monumental inscriptions; Mayors, Members of Parliament, &c. The

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whole

whole chiefly collected by Mr. Anthony á Wood, with additions by the Rev. Sir J. Peshall, Bart. London 1773." This work is embellished by a plan of the City, engraved by Longmate, in 1773, under the direction of Gwyn; and by views of St. Mary's, All Saints, and St. Giles's.

Hearne printed, in the appendix to the Annales de Dunstaple, No. VII and VIII. a copy of John and Henry IIId's Charter of Liberties and Privileges to this City, from the register of Oseney Abbey, copied by Mr. Hare among his MSS. in the library at Caius College, Cambridge.

A Charter of Henry to the Burgesses of Oxford is printed, from the Cott. lib. Claud. D. II. at the end of Lib. Nig. Scac. II. 819.

1772,

Other particulars concerning Oxford, Ib. Append. No. VI. 597. 613. 683. 1st edit.

"The Passage of the Treatie for the surrender of Oxford to Sir T. Fairfax, &c, 1646."

"Articles concluded and agreed on for the surrender of Oxford and Farringdon to Sir T. Fairfax, 24th of June, 1646. Lond. 1646.” 4to.

Dr. Birch published in the Philosophical Transactions, Vol. LI. p. 699, an account of the black assize, from Merton College Registers, with remarks.

At the end of Boyle's History of the Air, 1692. 8vo. is a register of the changes of air observed at Oxford, from June 24, 1660. to March 28, 1677.

The first general account of the University of Oxford is contained in some rhyming verses by Trevytlan, or Trevytham, a Franciscan Friar, t. Hen. VI. published by Hearne at the end of "Historia vitæ Ric. II. Ox. 1729."

In the year 1564, the public orator of Cambridge expatiated, with some extravagance, on the presumed superior antiquity of that University, in an harangue delivered before Queen Elizabeth. This induced Thomas Key, or Cay, Master of University College, to com pose a piece in which he endeavoured to prove that the University of Oxford was founded by certain Greek professors who accompanied Brute to England. Key's work was first printed, with an answer written by Dr. Caius, of Caius College, Cambridge, by Bynneman, 1568, 4to. and again in 1574, under the title of, Assertio Antiquitatis Oxoniensis Academiæ incerto authore ejusdem gymnasii: ad illustriss. Reginam auno 1566. Jam nuper ad verbum cum priore edita; cum fragmento Oxoniensis Historiolæ. Additis castigationibus authoris marginalibus ad asteriscum positis. Inter quas libri titulus est, qui ante castigationem (quam editionem secundam dicimus) nullus erat. Omnia prout ab ipsis authoris exemplaribus accepimus, bona fide commissa formulis."-Hearne republished it with his "Vindicia Antiquitatis Academiæ Oxoniensis contra Joannem Caium Cantabrigiensem,"

from

from the original MS. with additions to the " Assertio," by the author, and other copious papers. Ox. 1730.

A Discourse of the Antiquity of the University of Oxford, by way of "Letter to a friend, written by Dr. Hutten, Canon of Christ Church, 1599." printed at the end of Hearne's Textus Roffensis, gives an account of the City and University, but not of the Colleges particularly.

"Nicolai Fierberti, Oxoniensis in Anglia Academiæ descriptio; ad perillustrem et reverendiss, D. D. Bernardinum Paulinum, Š. D. N. Clementis VIII. datarium. Romæ, 1602." 12mo.-This curious tract was reprinted in Leland's Itinerary, Vol. IX.

"Bryan Twyne," says Gough, "was the first who treated the affairs of this University like a professed Antiquary, for which he was rewarded with the place of keeper of its archives. His Antiquitatis Academiæ Oxoniensis Apologia, in tres libros divisa, was printed at Oxf. in 1608. 4to. Hearne boasts that he has defended the antiquity of Oxford with irrefragable and undeniable proofs, yet Twyne allowed the authority of that MS. which makes against it."

Twyne was followed by Scot, Langbaine, and Fulman; but the labour of each was eclipsed by that of Anthony á Wood, whose "Historia et Antiquitates Universitatis Oxoniensis duobus voluminibus comprehensæ. Oxon. è Theatro Sheldoniano. 1674." fol. was published at the expense of the University. The first volume contains the Antiquities of the University, in chronological order, to 1646; the second those of the Colleges.

"The History of the University of Oxford, to the death of William the Conqueror.' Oxf. 1772. 8vo. is Wood's work published by Sir John Peshall, who afterwards published the "History of the University of Oxford, from the death of William the Conqueror to the demise of Q. Elizabeth. Oxf. 1773." 4to.

William of Worcester, who was educated at Hart Hall, drew up a history of the learned men educated at Oxford, of which Twyne published an extract in his "Apologia;" but the great historian of the members of the University is Anthony á Wood, whose work is intituled "Athenæ Oxonienses. An exact history of all the writers and Bishops who have had their education in the most ancient and famous University of Oxford, from the 15th year of King Henry the seventh, Dom. 1500. to the end of the year 1690; representing the birth, fortune, preferment and death of all those authors and prelates; the great accidents of their lives, and the fate and character of their writings. To which are added the Fasti, or Annals of the said University, for the same time.”

The "Athena" were reprinted in 1721, in two Volumes, folio, continued down to Wood's death, 1695, from the copy now deposited in the Ashmolean Museum, in which the author had, with his own hand, inserted a great number of additions and amendments; and 500 new lives were communicated to the editors by Bishop Tanner, to whom Wood on his death-bed bequeathed it,