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OXFORD-SHIRE, receiveth her name from that famous Vniversitie, and most beautifull Citie Oxford,* 1.1 and this of the Foord of Oxen, say our English Saxons; though Lei∣land upon a ground of conjecture will have it Ousford, from the Ri∣ver Ouse (by the Latines called Isis, which giveth name likewise to the adjoyning Iland Ousney.* 1.2 The North point of this Shire is bordered upon by the Counties of Warwicke and North-Hampton, the East with Buckingham, the West by Glou∣cester-Shire, and the South altogether is parted from Barke-Shire by Thamisis, the Prince of British Rivers.
* 1.3(2) The blessings both of the sweet-breathing heavens, and the fruitfull site of this Counties soyle, are so happy and fortunate, that hardly can be said whether exceeds. The ayre milde,* 1.4 temperate and delicate; the Land fertile, pleasant and bounteous; in a word, both Heaven and Earth accor∣ded to make the Inhabitants healthfull and happie: The hils loaden with woods and cattle, the vallies burthened with corne and pasturage,* 1.5 by reason of many fresh springing Ri∣vers which sportingly there-thorow make their passage; whereof Evenlod, Charwell, Tame and Isis are chiefe: which two last making their Bed of Marriage neere unto Dorche∣ster, runne thence together in one channell and name.
* 1.6(3) The length of this Shire is from Cleydon in the North-West, unto Caversham in her South-East, neere unto Tha∣misis, and amounteth almost to fortie miles; the broadest part is in her Westerne Borders, which extending from the said Cleydon in the North, unto Faringdon seated upon the River Isis in the South, are scarcely twenty sixe: and thence growing narrower like unto a Wedge, containing in Cir∣cumference about one hundred and thirty miles.
* 1.7(4) The ancient Inhabitans known to the Romanes, were the Dobuni, part whereof possessed further Westernly into Glocester-shire, and neerer East-ward, betwixt the bow∣ing of Thamisis, were seated the Ancalites, who sent their submission unto Iulius Caesar,* 1.8 when report was made that the Trinobantes had put themselves under his protection; whereof followed the Britaines servitude under the proud yoke of the all-coveting Romans: yet afterwards this Coun∣ties people, being very puissant (as Tacitus termes them) and unshaken by warres, withstood Ostorious Scapula the Romane Lieutenant, choosing rather to yeeld their lives in Battle, then their persons to subjection. Of later times it was possessed by the Mercian-Saxons, as part of their King∣dome, though sometimes both the West Saxons, and the Northumbrians had the dispose of some part therof: for Beda affirmeth that King Oswold gave the then-flourishing Citie Dorchester unto Berinus the West-Saxons Apostle, to be his Episcopall See: whence the good Bishop comming to Ox∣ford, and preaching before Wulpherus the Mercian King (in whose Court Athelwold the South-Saxons heathenish King was then present) he with all his Nobles were converted to the faith of Christ,* 1.9 and there baptized, whereby Berinus be∣came the Apostle also of the South-Saxons.
(5) Other places of memorable note, either for actions therein happening, or for their owne famous esteeme, are the Roll-rich-stones, standing neer unto Enisham in the South of this Shire: a monument of huge stones, set round in com∣passe, in manner of the Stonehenge: of which, fabulous tra∣dition hath reported forsooth, that they were metamorpho∣sed from men, but in truth were there erected upon some great victory obtained, either by, or against Rollo the Dane, who in the yeere 876. entered England, and in this Shire fought two Battles, one neere unto Hoch-Norton, and a se∣cond at the Scier Stane.
* 1.10(6) Rodcot likewise remaineth as a monument of Ox∣fords high stiled Earle, but unfortunate Prince, Robert de Vere, who besides the Earledome, was created by King Ri¦chard the second, Marquesse of Dublin, and Duke of Ireland: but at that Bridge,* 1.11 discomfited in fight by the Nobles, and forced to swimme the River, where began the downfall of his high mounted fortunes; for being driven forth of his Country, lastly died in exile and distressed estate. But more happie is this Countie in producing far more glorious Prin∣ces, as King Edward the Confessor, who in Islip was borne; Edward the victorious black Prince, in Woodstock; and in Oxford that warlike Coeur de Lion, King Richard the first, the sonne of King Henry the second, first took breath.
* 1.12(7) Which Citie is, and long hath been the glorious seat of the Muses, the British Athens, and learnings well-spring, from whose living Fountaine the wholsome waters of all good literature streaming plenteously, have made fruitfull all other parts of this Realme, and gained glory amongst all Nations abroad. Antiquitie avoucheth, that this place was consecrated unto the sacred Sciences in the time of the old Britaines, and that from Greekelad, a Town in Wilt-shire, the Academie was translated unto Oxford, as unto a Plant-plot, both more pleasing and fruitfull: whereto accordeth the ancient Burlaeus and Necham,* 1.13 this latter also alledging Merlin. But when the beauty of the Land lay under the Saxons prophane feete, it sustained a part of those common calamities, having little reserved to uphold its former glo∣rie, save onely the famous monument of Saint Frideswids Virgine-Conquest, no other Schoole then left standing be∣sides her Monasterie: yet those great blasts, together with other Danish stormes, being well blowne over,* 1.14 King Elfred, that learned and religious Monarch, recalled the exiled Mu∣ses to their sacred place, and built there three goodly Colled∣ges for the Studies of Divinitie, Philosophie, and other Arts of humanitie, sending thither his owne sonne Ethelward,* 1.15 and drew thither the young Nobles from al parts of his king∣dome. The first Reader thereof was his supposed brother Neote, a man of great learning, by whose direction King Elfred was altogether guided in this his goodly foundation. At which time also, Asserius Menevensis, a Writer of those times affaires, read the Grammar and Rhetoricke, and affir∣meth that long before them, Gildas, Melkin, Ninius, Kenti∣gern, S. German, and others, spent there their lives in learned studies. From which time that it continued a Seed plot of learning till the Norman Conquest, Ingulphus recordeth, who himselfe then lived. No marvell then if Matthew Paris calleth Oxford, the second Schoole of Christendome, and the very chiefe Pillar of the Catholique Church. And in the Councel holden at Vienna, it was ordained, that in Pa∣ris, Oxford, Bononia, and Salamanca (the onely Vniversities then in Europe) should be erected Schooles for the Hebrew,* 1.16 Greeke, Arabick and Chaldean Tongues, and that Oxford should be the generall Vniversitie for all England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales: which point was likewise of such weight with the Councel of Constance, that from this pre∣cedence of Oxford Vniversitie, it was concluded, that the English Nation was not onely to have precedence of Spaine in all Generall Councels,* 1.17 but was also to be held equall with France it selfe. By which high prerogatives this of ours hath alwaies so flourished, that in the dayes of King Henry the third, thirtie thousand Students were therein resident, as Archbishop Armachanus (who then lived) hath writ,* 1.18 and Rishanger (then also living) sheweth, that for all the civill warres which hindered such places of quiet studie, yet 15000. Students were there remaining, whose names (saith he) were entered in matricula, in the matriculation Booke. About which time, Iohn Baliol (the father of Baliol King of Scots) built a Colledge, yet bearing his name, Anno 1269. and Walter Merton Bishop of Rochester, that which is now called Merton Colledge; both of them beautified with buil∣dings, and enriched with lands, and were the first endowed Colledges for learning in all Christendome. And at this pre∣sent there are sixteen Colledges (besides another newly builded) with eight Hals,* 1.19 and many most faire Collegiat Churches, all adorned with mest stately buildings, and en∣riched with great endowments, noble Libraries, and most learned Graduates of all professions, that unlesse it be her sister Cambridge, the other nursing breast of this Land, the like is not found againe in the world. This Citie is also ho∣noured with an Episcopall See. As for the site thereof, it is re∣moved from the Equator in the degree 52. and one minute, and from the West by Mercators measure, 19. degrees, and 20. minutes.
(8) As this Countie is happy in the possession of so fa∣mous an Academie, so it is graced with most Princely Pala∣ces appertaining to the English Crown, whereof Woodstocke is the most ancient and magnificent, built to that glory by K. Henry the first, and enlarged with a Labyrinth of many windings by K. Henry the second, to hide from his jealous Iuno, his intirely beloved Concubine Rosamond Clifford, a Damosell of surpassing beauty; where nowtwithstanding followed by a clew of silke that fell from her lap, she was surprised and poysoned by Queen Eleanor his wife, and was first buried at Godstow Nunnery, in the midst of the Quire, under a Hearse of Silke, set about with lights, whom Hugh Bishop of Lincolne (thinking it an unfit object for Virgins devotion) caused to be removed into the Church-yard: but those chaste sisters liked so well the memory of that kinde Lady, as that her bones were translated againe into their Chappell.
Bensington is another of his Majesties Mannors, built by Will. de la Pole Duke of Suffolke, but now in neglect through the annoyance arising from the waters or marishes adjoyn∣ing. Houses built for devotion, and for abuse suppressed and againe put downe, the chiefe in account were Enisham, Osney, Bruerne, Godstow, Burchester, and Tame, besides Saint Frideswides, and very many other stately houses of Religion in the Citie.
The Divsiion of this Shire is into fourteene Hundreds, wherein are seated ten Market Townes, and two hundred and fourescore Parish-Churches, whose names are Alpha∣betically inserted in the Table ensuing.