XLVI. LONDON TO GLOUCESTER THROUGH MAIDENHEAD, FARINGDON, About 3 miles distant is has a considerable trade in 888 26 28 To Reading, 11 miles. 35 Chalgrove Field, where 61 Bensington or Benson. 46 To Reading, 8 miles. Henerton House, C. F. Johnson, Esq. Park Place, E. F. Maitland, Esq. Grey's Court, Sir F. J. Stapleton, Bart. Near Wallingford, Mongewell House, Bishop of Durham. ON RIGHT FROM LOND. From Glo'ster. From Lond. ON LEFT FROM LOND. To Cheltenham, 5 m. 4 Division of the road. 102 Bowden Hall, J. H. Byles, Esq. Barnwood Court, and Barnwood Ho., D. Wal GLOUCESTER, see p. 130. 1071 ters, Esq. XLVII. LONDON TO OXFORD THROUGH MAIDENHEAD AND HENLEY, 58 Miles. Oxford, the capital of the county to which it gives its name, and the seat of one of the most celebrated universities of Europe, is pleasantly situate upon a gentle eminence in a valley at the confluence of two small rivers, the Isis and Cherwell. It is a place of very remote antiquity, but the period of its origin is involved in obscurity. The first fact connected with it that is known with certainty is, that in the reign of Alfred, who at one time resided at Oxford with his three sons, the place was noted for a monastery which was founded in the year 727. Oxford was twice set on fire, and otherwise suffered severely from the Danes. Edmund Ironside was murdered there. Canute frequently resided at Oxford, and held the great council of the nation there several times. Harold Harefoot, his son and successor, was crowned and died there. In the year 1067, the town was stormed by William the Conqueror, and, in order to bridle any attempt at revolt, a castle was built on the site, now partly occupied by the county gaol and the house of correction. During her contest with Stephen, the Empress Maude was closely besieged in Oxford Castle by her rival, but escaped in the night with only three attendants; and the castle surrendered next morning. In the reign of Richard II. the lectures of Dr John Wicliffe, the warden of Canterbury College, occasioned a great excitement, and afterwards produced very important results. Henry II. resided at Oxford during the greater part of his reign, and here his valiant son Richard Cœur de Lion was born. In the reign of Edward III. the university and town suffered much from a pestilence which carried off a fourth part of the students. In the martyrdoms of Mary's reign, Latimer, Ridley, and Cranmer were burnt at Oxford in front of Baliol College. During the civil wars, Oxford, after once or twice changing masters, became the head-quarters of the King. After the battle of Naseby, it surrendered to the parliamentary army under Fairfax. During the reign of James II. the university firmly resisted an illegal command of that prince to elect a Roman Catholic to the presidency of Magdalen College. James proceeded thither in person and expelled the contuma |