GOTHIC BUILDINGS OF OXFORD. ^S') projecting in this direction, and that this was removed to make way for the covered walk, or Proscliohum, wlien tlic Bodleian Library was built. After the lleformation the schools appear for some years to have been almost deserted and in ruins, until, in the rei<;n of Elizabeth, in the year 1597, Sir Thomas Bodlcy, a ^^critic- man of a Devonshire family, who had been educated in the University, (and who had afterwards travelled through most parts of Europe, and been employed by Queen Elizabeth in many important matters,) resolved, as he tells us himself, to " set up his staff at the Library door at Oxfoi'd," and restoi-e the place to the use of students. He commenced the same year the Restoration of Duke Humphrey's Library, which he repaired and refitted, and to which he added a new roof; and afterwards, in 1610, commenced building the Library which now bears his name, but which he did not live to see finished.^ This new building he placed at the east end of, and transversely to, the Divinity School, the north-east and south-east buttresses being built into the new wall, and leaving in front of the east door the Proscholium or covered walk already mentioned, popularly known as the " Pig Market.'^ Of this Wood says, " In which Ambulachrum do stand such that are candidates for, or sue after, their graces to the Regents sitting in the Congregation House adjoining." The reason of this being, that any requisite questions might be put to them previous to granting the degrees, a practice which was discontinued when the s^^stem of public exam- inations was introduced.^ It was necessary, therefore, in making the new building, to retain this space, and the present groined room was formed accordingly. It is lighted by a window at each end, one of which is not nor has ever been intended to be glazed. It has a vaulted ceiUng, with bosses at the intersections, the alternate ones being shields ' The architect employed was Thomas compelled to walk an hour in the Pi^- Holt of York, who was likewise employed market in order to allow the tradesmen over several of the other buildings in to whom they were indebted to recognise Oxford at the same period. He died in them and obtain payment of their debts, 16-24, and was buried in Holywell Church- it being a rule that no candidate against yard. The builders were first, J. Acroid, whom an action for debt is pending in the who died in 1613, and afterwards J. University court, can receive a degree. Bentley, who built likewise the new build- But though the belief was not correct, it ings of Merton, and M. Beutley, who was until a comparatively recent period died in 1618. the custom for tradesmen to attend at
- From this arose the popular but those times for the purpose nientioDed.
erroneous belief that the candidates were
