1915] 



HILL— BOTANIC GARDENS 199 



had in ancient times been a Cemitery for the Jews of Oxon, gave 

 to the University £250 to make a purchase of it. Upon the 

 receipt of it they bought out the present possessor thereof, Mar. 

 27, 19 Jac. Dom. 1622 ; and not long after the University took 

 a lease of the said ground from Magdalen College (for to them 

 it did belong) in their own name July 28 following, by pay- 

 ing yearly for it 40s. Afterward much soil being conveyed 

 thither for the raising of the ground to prevent the overflowing 

 of the waters, the first stone of the fabric was laid on the day 

 of St. James the Apostle (July 25) an. 1622, after this manner: 

 About two of the clock in the afternoon, the Vicechancellor with 

 certain Heads, Doctors, and both the Proctors, went solemnly 

 from St. Mary's Church to that place ; where being settled, Mr. 

 Edward Dawson, a Physician of Broadgates, spoke an elegant 

 Oration ; which being done. Dr. Clayton, the King's Professor of 

 Medicine, spake another. Afterward the Vicechancellor laid the 

 first stone with the offering of money thereon, according to the 

 ancient custom; then several Doctors and both the Proctors; 

 which being done, the Vicechancellor concluded with a brief 

 Oration. 



"Afterward the said Earl proceeding in building and encom- 

 passing it with a stately free-stone wall; which being almost 

 finished, set up in front thereof, next to the East Bridge, a 

 comely Gatehouse of polisht stone; on which for the perpetua- 

 tion of his name, he caused this Inscription to be engraven on 

 the out and inside thereof: 



GLORIAE DEI OPT. MAX. 



HONORI CAROLI REGIS 



IN USUM ACAD, et REIPUB. 



HENRICUS COMES DANBY D. D. MDCXXXII. 



In the year 1633 all the wall being finisht, and soon after the 

 floor raised, which cost the Earl £5,000 and more, he caused 

 to be planted therein divers simples for the advancement of 

 the Faculty of Medicine. All which and several hundred more 

 may now compare with any in the kingdom or elsewhere." 



An interesting plan of the Garden by Loggan, made in 

 1675, shows four main enclosures within the boundary wall, 

 each containing four series of geometrically arranged beds 

 according to the formal arrangements then in vogue. 



Thomas Baskerville^ gives the following description of the 

 early condition of the Garden (about 1670-1700) : 



"Amongst ye severall famous structures & curiosities where- 

 with ye flourishing University of Oxford is enriched, that of ye 

 Publick Physick Garden deserves not ye last place, being a 

 •Account of Oxford Collectanea (c. 1G70-1700). 



