7/29/2019 Civil War Oxford

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Civil War Oxford

Oxford is remembered at this point, on the whole, as being the site of Charles I's court during the Civil

War, but its real involvement was far more complex.

Oxford's relationship to the monarchy has been well-documented, and its reputation as a royalist stronghold

often explored, but the roots of Oxford's loyalty to the Crown can be seen even before the beginning of theconflict. However, it deserves to be recorded that the town was, on the whole, in support of Parliament, ane

there were many Puritans at the University. It was the university, however, where support for the king was

strongest.

In 1642 the colleges of Oxford pledged much of their plate to the Crown, after a begging letter to the Vice-

Chancellor, dated July 7th:

And whereas our University of Oxford is not only involved in the consequence of such dangerous and

illegall proceedings equally with the rest of our Subjects, but by our perpetuall care and protection of

such nurseries of Learning, we have especiall reason to expect the particular care of us, and their

extraordinary assistance to our defence and preservation

When, as a result of this letter, Convocation lent the King 860, Parliament objected:

Wherefore for the preservation of that Kingdome and preventing of the ruine and destruction of that

famous Universitie, we do order and command, that the Heads and Fellowes of the said Colleges

respectively, do surcease and forbeare that wicked and unlawfull course

Nevertheless, the colleges did give much of their plate to the king, although the differences in the amounts

might be taken to be an indicator of the strength of their feeling (it must be noted that not to respond to a

direct request from a reigning monarch might be considered a foolish course of action). Whilst Magdalen

contributed 296 of its plate (and this was only a loan), Balliol provided 41which perhaps indicates their

difference in feeling for the cause of the king.

The fact that Charles I held his court at Oxford during the Civil War is an indicator that University feeling,

if not that of the town itself, was royalist enough to let him reside there, in a time when his life was

threatened. From 1642 to 1646 he lodged at Christ Church, and Queen Henrietta Marie held court atMerton, and the other colleges housed their courtiers.

Oxford raised two regiments for the King and the war did take its toll on the city. When the Puritan armies

occupied Oxford many of the buildings were defaced for their "Papist ornaments", and Corpus Christi's

famous beehive was destroyed in the fighting over the city. As a result of Oxford's involvement Parliamentordered a reform of the University, but, when the Visitors arrived most of the academics ignored their cals

to attend the Visitation. In 1651, Parliament ordered the city to be slighted and Cromwell was made

Chancellor of the University in 1650, with many of the heads of colleges being replaced with people more

amenable to the Parliamentary cause.

Despite the turmoil of the times at Wadham John Williams was forming the nucleus of a group that was to

become the Royal Society, a group that included Boyle, Halley, Wren and Locke.