"
The signs of the times grew darker. In 1636 the King and Queen
visited Oxford, "with no applause." In 1640 Laud sent the University
his last present of manuscripts. He was charged with many offences.
He had repaired crucifixes; he had allowed the "scandalous image" to
be set up in the porch of St. Mary's; and Alderman Nixon, the Puritan
grocer, had seen a man bowing to the scandalous image--so he
declared. In 1642 Charles asked for money from the colleges, for the
prosecution of the war with the Parliament. The beautiful old
college plate began its journey to the melting-pot. On August 9th
the scholars armed themselves. There were two bands of musqueteers,
one of pikemen, one of halberdiers. In the reign of Henry III. the
men had been on the other side. Magdalen bridge was blocked up with
heaps of wood. Stones, for the primitive warfare of the time, were
transported to the top of Magdalen tower. The stones were never
thrown at any foemen. Royalists and Roundheads in turn occupied the
place; and while grocer Nixon fled before the Cavaliers, he came back
and interceded for All Souls College (which dealt with him for figs
and sugar) when the Puritans wished to batter the graven images on
the gate. On October 29th the King came, after Edgehill fight, the
Court assembled, and Oxford was fortified. The place was made
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.
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