impregnable in those days of feeble artillery. The author of the
Gesta Stephani had pointed out, many centuries before, that Oxford,
if properly defended, could never be taken, thanks to the network of
streams that surrounds her. Though the citizens worked grudgingly
and slowly, the trenches were at last completed. The earthworks--a
double line--ran in and out of the interlacing streams. A
Parliamentary force on Headington Hill seems to have been unable to
play on the city with artillery. Barbed arrows were served out to
the scholars, who formed a regiment of more than six hundred men.
The Queen held her little court in Merton, in the Warden's lodgings.
Clarendon gives rather a humorous account of the discontent of the
fine ladies "The town was full of lords (besides those of the
Council), and of persons of the best quality, with very many ladies,
who, when not pleased themselves, kept others from being so." Oxford
never was so busy and so crowded; letters, society, war, were all
confused; there were excursions against Brown at Abingdon, and alarms
from Fairfax on Headington Hill. The siege, from May 22nd to June
5th, was almost a farce. The Parliamentary generals "fought with
perspective glasses." Neither Cromwell at Wytham, nor Brown at
Wolvercot, pushed matters too hard. When two Puritan regiments
advanced on Hinksey, Mr. Smyth blazed away at them from his house.
As in Zululand, any building made a respectable fort, when cannon-
balls had so little penetrative power, or when artillery was not at
the front. Oxford was surrendered, with other places of arms, after
Naseby, and--Presbyterians became heads of colleges!



CHAPTER V--SOME SCHOLARS OF THE RESTORATION