s and great revenues bestowed upon them (the
like whereof is not to be seen in any other region, as Peter Martyr did
oft affirm) to the maintenance only of such convenient numbers of poor
men's sons as the several stipends bestowed upon the said houses are able
to support.[233]

* * * * *

Of these two, that of Oxford (which lieth west and by north from London)
standeth most pleasantly, being environed in manner round about with woods
on the hills aloft, and goodly rivers in the bottoms and valleys beneath,
whose courses would breed no small commodity to that city and country
about if such impediments were removed as greatly annoy the same and
hinder the carriage which might be made thither also from London. That of
Cambridge is distant from London about forty and six miles north and by
east, and standeth very well, saving that it is somewhat near unto the
fens, whereby the wholesomeness of the air is not a little corrupted. It
is excellently well served with all kinds of provisions, but especially of
fresh water fish and wild fowl, by reason of the river that passeth
thereby; and thereto the Isle of Ely, which is so near at hand. Only wood
is the chief want to such as study there, wherefore this kind of provision
is brought them either from Essex and other places thereabouts, as is also
their coal, or otherwise the necessity thereof is supplied with gall (a
bastard kind of mirtus as I take it) and seacoal, whereof they have great
plenty led thither by the Grant. Moreover it hath not such store of
meadow ground as may suffice for the ordinary expenses of the town and
university, wherefore the inhabitants are enforced in like sort to provide
their hay from other villages about, which minister the same unto them in
very great abundance.

Oxford is supposed to contain in longitude eighteen degrees and eight and
twenty minutes, and in latitude one and fifty degrees and fifty minutes:
whereas that of Cambridge standing more northerly, hath twenty degrees and
twenty minutes in longitude, and thereunto fifty and two degrees and
fifteen minutes in latitude, as by exact supputation is easy to be found.

The colleges of Oxford, for curious workmanship and private commodities,
are much more stately, magnificent, and commodious than those of
Cambridge: and thereunto the streets of the town for the most part are
more large and comely. But for uniformity of building, orderly compaction,
and politic r