The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-01
[D[gN1OGRAGY AT WzFOR[Da

iJliHPS week. anu there VERY
no exceptions, but of late years the col
ilege government has become so liberal
that those who belong to the Roman
Catholic communion. the dissenters and
the agnostics are now excused upon APP
iplication for conscientious scruples."
| The chapel of Christ Church college.
being the largest, is the cathedral of the
diocese, and the lord bishop has a chair
beside the altar whenever he chooses to
occupy it. But the Church of st. Mary
the Virgin, one of the most venerable
and historic edifices in the world, is the
university church. where the baccalaurc-
ate sermon is always preached and other
religious functions are observed. The his
tory of this church illustrates the impor-
tant part that Oxford has taken in the
ecclesiastical and political life of Eng
land. From the pulpit of st. Marys John
Wycliffe. the Morning Star of the Re
formation" denounced the errors and
abuses of his day Wyciffe's bible and
many of his books are preserved in the
library. He was a fellow of Balliol col
lege when he made his first translation
of the scriptures into English in 1880.
Beside this precious memento is preserved
the prayer book of the notorious Arch
bishop Laud and several theological
books which belonged to John Wesley
1t was in the Church of ST. Mary that
Cranmer, Ridley and Latimer were cited
on the 18th of April. 1904, for a dispu-
tation with the doctors of Oxford upOn
the presence, substance and sacrifice
of the holy sacrment" On the 18th of
September following they came to st.
Mary's to be tried for heresy. and, when
they passed over its threshold. they were
led to prison In the following March
Bishop Cranmer was brought in chains
to the altar and given an onportunity
Of recanting his opinions. They show
you the pillar to which he was chained
and where he stood when he uttered his
famous defiance of the bishop of Win
chester. Cardinal Pole and the pope of
Rome.
Curiously enough. within very few
feet of the pillar TO which Cranmer was
chained lie the remains of Amy Rohsart.
the beautiful heroine of Sir Walter
SCOTS "Kenlworth," and the reputed
wife of Robert Dudley. earl of Leices-
ter, the fav0rite of Queen Elizabeth
Cumnor hall. in which she was impr4s-
oned by her husband and died so myster-
iously, still stands about three miles west
of the city, surrounded by a beautiful
park and high forhidding walls. Lord
Abingdon. the present owner, was alb
sent when we drove over there and the
porter would moi admit us to the grounds
The old castle described in 'Kenilworth"
has been rebuilt and does not resemble
either outwardly or inwardly the prison
! in which Leicester placed his bride.
For many years Cumnor hall was de-
&serted. The place was supposed to be
Ehaunted by Amy Robsart's ghost No one
lived there for more than a century after
fhe death of Anthony Foster. who was
mixed up with the crime. Dr. Walter
Bayly. n professor Of chemistry at Ok
ord, left on record testimony that he
xefused to poison Amy Robsart at the
command of Leicester. and that the lat
Ter, for revenge, afterward endeavored
b displace him in the university, but
Die local legends represent that the un-
1brtunate woman, finding herself the oh
pct of reproach because her husband
konld not acknowledge their marriage dis
karded by her father, who believed she
HAS Leicester's mistress. and deserted
BY her lover, who aspired to be the hus-
band of Queen Elizabeth, ended her un-
happy life by committing suicide.
The guides about Oxford are generally
Jimpecunious graduates, who have failed
to attain the ambition of their lives and
lhave settled down to the business of
lshowing strangers about and relating
the traditions of the institution and
Ianecdotes of the great men who have
Iheen students here. One of the stock
Istories relates to the time Charles /.
Isought an asylum at Oxford when pur-
Issued by Cromwell, and convened a rump
sparliament in Convocation hall. Two of
Ibis cronies, the earl of Rochester and
1.-THE duke of Cumberland. were out on a
is'bat' one night, and met the rector of
ltrrinity college. Surprising that he did
mot identify them, they decided to ave
h little sport with the venerable scholar,
hnd addressed him the following inquiry
Fin rhyme:
llPrithee, tell us, reverend rector,
II Who knows everything so well.
(Which, in your most wise opinion,
II Is the nearest road to hell?'
II The witty rector was equal to the oc-
tasion, and astonished the impairment
i lords by this reply:
| fWhen you reach the town of Rochester,
| You will find hell near at hand,
| But others tell me that they think it
| Nearer still at Cumberland
| The students of Magalen college have
i park Immediately adjoining their dor
titories which is filled with majestic old
ices that have been growing there for
Hundreds of years. The turf has been
| town and rolled and pounded so long
| hat it is like a velvet carpet The
hedges are made of woven vines that
are also centuries old and behind them
Ire sheltered herds of deer and fawn
yHcn know nothing of huntsmen, but
fed from the students hands.
| La beautiful walk back of the college
huildings identified with Addison, who
J used to study there, is more beautiful
/, than it ever was, and the arch of foliage
which overhangs it is so thick as to af-
| ford perfect shelter from the rain. 1t is
a long cloister of trees planted before
America was discovered.
| The guides show you rooms that were
ohce occupied by Prince Arthur, whose
| fAme is immortalized in the stories of
| the crusades, and the gallant Prince
| Rupert, and one of them, who is a good
deal the worse for whisky, pointed out
a pulpit that projects from the outer
willis of Magdalen as the place where