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.

    759/768 (page 665)
    or whether not. This doubt being like to breed debate among them, they fent letters for the refolution thereof, in the name of the Convocation, to the Archb. of Canterbury [Warham] Chanc. of the Univerlity, and Dr. Fitz- james Bilhop of London, being then both at a Convocation of the Clergy at London. Which letters being received by them, they, efpecially Dr. Fitzjames, wrote to the Univerlity to this effedt, viz. that though ‘ there were no Statutes concerning the death of a Prodtor, yet the fame refpedt was to be had in the eledtion of his fuccelTor, as there was and had been by the death of a Chancellor.’ Which fentence being by the Convocation approved, they proceeded to a new eledtion, and forthwith made choice of Mr. Bentley Fellow of New College for the Northern Prodlor, notwith- ftanding he was born at Wodllock near Oxford, and fo the controverfy be- tween them was ended. An. Dom. 1508 23—24 Hen. VII. We are now come to the lad: year of K. Henry VII, who a little before this time intended fome great work to be done at Oxford; (i) but whether taken off by death, affairs ora fore peftilence, which hapned (2) this or the year before, to the difperlion of divers Students, it doth not appear. As for the Hate of learning in his time and before, I have already mentioned it. The Schools were much frequented with querks and fophidiry. All things whether taught or written, feemed to be trite and inane. No pleafant direams of Humanity or Mythology were gliding among us, and the Greek language from whence the greater part of knowledge is derived, was at a very low ebb or in a manner forgotten. Scholars were inconftant and wa- vering, and could not apply themfelves to an ordinary fearch in any thing. They rather made choice of, than embraced, thofe things which their rea- fons were capable of. ’Tis faid that where Studies dourilh, there Cities doj but now at Oxford, neither Study, City or Town, (and I believe at Cambridge alfo) whereby were wanting wife Councellprs and religious Pallors to fupply the Kingdom. The Town of Oxford not only decayed in its trading and riches, but alfo in its buildings, for want of a well replen- iihed Academy. Thofe llreets and lanes that were formerly populous, be- came now defolate and forfaken; and thofe Halls and Inns wherein learned men had been educated, and acute readings and difputations had formerly (i) F Ep. 523. VoL. I. (2) FF p. I. Ep. I. G fol. 48, b. 59, a, See. 4 CL according