But it is in the public buildings, and especially in the chapel, that the greatness of Wykeham, as an architect, is best seen.  In spite of the destructive fanaticism of the Reformation, and the almost equally destructive “restorations” of the notorious Wyatt, and of Sir Gilbert Scott (who inexcusably raised the height of the roof), the chapel still is indisputably the finest in Oxford.  And its glass may challenge a still wider field.  The eight great windows in the ante-chapel, dating from the Founder’s time, rival the glories of the French cathedrals; the windows of the chapel proper, whatever be thought of their artistic success, are a unique instance of what English glass-makers could do in the eighteenth century; and Sir Joshua Reynolds’ west window (the outside of which is seen in the centre of the next picture) has at all events the suffrages of the majority, who agree with Horace Walpole that it is “glorious,” and that “the sun shining through the transparencies has a magic effect.”  It must be added, however, that Walpole soon changed his mind, and was very severe on Sir Joshua’s “washy virtues,” which have been compared to “seven chambermaids.”

Not the least interesting feature of the Founder’s chapel is its detached bell-tower, seen in the next picture, on the north side of the cloisters.  He obtained leave to place this on the city wall, a large section of which the College undertook to maintain-thus adding a permanent charm to their own garden.

The magnificence of the Founder Bishop is well seen in his splendid crozier, bequeathed to him by his college, and still preserved on the north side of the chapel.  The results of his work, for Oxford and for learning, will be briefly told of in the next chapter.

 [Plate XI.  New College :  The Tower]

NEW COLLEGE (2) HISTORY

“Round thy cloisters, in moonlight,
Branching dark, or touched with white: 
Round old chill aisles, where, moon-smitten,
Blanches the Orate, written
Under each worn old-world face.” 

          
                                                          L. JOHHSON.

William of Wykeham’s College had other marked features besides its magnificent scale.  Previous colleges had grown; at New College everything was organized from the first.  As the great architectural History of Cambridge says:  “For the first time, chapel, hall, library, treasury, the Warden’s lodgings, a sufficient range of chambers, the cloister, the various domestic offices, are provided for and erected without change of plan.”  The chapel especially gave the model for the T shape, a choir and transepts without a nave, which has become the normal form in Oxford.  The influence of Wykeham’s building plan may be traced elsewhere also—­at Cambridge and even in Scotland.

In these well-planned buildings, definite arrangements were made for college instruction, as opposed to the general teaching open to the whole University; special informafores were provided, who were to supervise the work of all scholars up to the age of sixteen.  This marks the beginning of the Tutorial System, which has ever since played so great a part in the intellectual life of England’s two old Universities.