Oxford (England) -- History; University of Oxford -- History
Some traces of the symbolism which pleased the founder still survive at
Queen's. The students are still summoned to hall, as the founder
directs, by the blasts of a trumpet; still on Christmas Day the college
celebrates the "Boar's Head" dinner (see p. 23); still on 1st January
the bursar presents to each guest at the Gaudy a needle and thread
(aiguille et fil = Eglesfield), saying, "Take this and be thrifty." And
the magnificent wassail cup given to the college by the founder is still
in use. But of the original buildings scarcely anything remains. The old
entrance in Queen's Lane has been supplanted by the front quadrangle
opening on the High (1710-1730), in which Hawksmoor, Wren's pupil,
achieved a fine example of the Italian style. Wren himself designed the
chapel. The magnificent library in the back quadrangle (late
seventeenth century) is housed in a room, which, with its rich plaster
ceiling and carving by Grinling Gibbons, is a remarkable specimen of the
ornate classical style.
Eglesfield had attempted a task beyond his means. Forty years later
William of Wykeham adopted his ideas, developed them and carried them
out. It is the scale on which he founded S. Mary College, or New
College, as it has been called for five hundred years to distinguish it
from Oriel, the other S. Mary College, and the completeness of its
arrangements that mark an era in the history of college foundations. Son
of a carpenter at Wickham, William had picked up the rudiments of
education at a grammar school and in a notary's office. Presently he
entered the King's service. He was promoted to be Supervisor of the
Works at Windsor; and made the most of his opportunity. _Hoc fecit
Wykeham_ were the words he inscribed, according to the legend, on the
walls of the castle at Windsor; and it is equally true that he made it
and that it made him, for so, to stop the mouths of his calumniators, he
chose to translate the phrase. The King marked the admirable man of
affairs; and rewarded him, according to custom, with innumerable
benefices. Wykeham became the greatest pluralist of his age. He grew in
favour at court, until soon "everything was done by him and nothing was
done without him." He was "so wise of building castles," as Wycliffe
sarcastically hinted, that he was appointed Bishop of Winchester and
Chancellor of England. Yet in the midst of the cares of these offices he
found time (1370) to set about establishing his college. His great
genius as an architect, and his astonishing powers of administration
under two kings, point him out as one of the greatest Englishmen of the
Middle Ages. He has left his mark on his country, not only in such
architectural achievements as Windsor and Queenborough Castles, the
reconstruction of the nave of Winchester Cathedral (where is his altar
tomb) or the
[Illustration: The Bell Tower & Cloisters New College.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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