Volume 1

The history and antiquities of the University of Oxford ... / by Anthony ä Wood. Now first published in English ... by John Gutch.

  • Wood, Anthony à, 1632-1695.
Date:
1792-1796
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history and antiquities of the University of Oxford ... / by Anthony ä Wood. Now first published in English ... by John Gutch. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    either Infcriptions over graves or in vvindowes, * as alfo all Armes vvhatfoever that appeare in public places. All which in a fliort time having colledled, I thought it my duty further to make a light fearch into Authors of Antiquity that are printed, con- cerning the origen of the Univerflty and the feveral Houfes of Learning therein, and when done, to have prefixed them to the faid Infcriptions, and according to my then immature judg- ment in fuch matters to have publifhed them. But when I was in the midfl: of thefe my endeavours, my duty obliged me to go on further in the work and reduce it to a juft volume, f To this end, knowing very well that fuch obfcure knowledge could not bo promoted without beating and tracing out obfcure paths, I made it my endeavours to perufe the Muniments, Regifters and other matters of Record belonging to the Univerfity. J Here- upon I applied myfelf to that eminent and learned perfon John Wallis S. Th. P. Cuftos Archivorum, that he would be pleafed * Sepulchral and Feneftral Infcrip- tions. • -f- [A various reading, or another be- ginning to the Author’s Preface.] ‘ About an year or two before the Reftauration of K. Charles II, all things being very much unfettled and in a tot- tering condition in the Kingdom of England, the Univerfities as ’twas gene- rally thought would be the firft places that fhould feel the fmart and anger of thofe that were then in authority, either as to the taking them away or at leaft to the lelfning of the Houfes of Learn- ing in them. Upon thefe ftrong furmi- fes, 1 thought it my duty as being a fon of this that I am now to fpeak of, to make a Colledlion of fuch Antiquities therein that were firft of all fubjedl to ruin, either by the malice of men, inju- ries of time, or weather: And thefe were fuch that were either Infcriptions over graves or in windowes, as alfo all Armes whatfoever that appear in public places. All which in afhorttime havingcolledled, I thought it my duty farther to make a light fearch into Authors of Antiquity that are printed, concerning theorigen of the Univerfity, and the feverall Houfes of Learning therein, and when done, to have prefixed them to the faid Infcrip- tions, and according to my then imma- ture judgment in fuch matters to have publifhed them. But when I was in the midft of thefe my endeavours, behold on a fuddain the fceen of all things in this Nation was changed, and whatfo- ever related to Monarchy and the Church was reftored: fo that feeing there was no great haftpof pubiifhing what in a man- ner I had don^, or either any likelyhood of our diflblution, I took a refolution (having had alwaies a fond Genius to- wards Antiquities) to enlarge my book and make it a juft volume.’ J Archiva Univerfitatis. to