Tudor Times

Queen Elizabeth's accession brought stability to the University after the dangers and difficulties of Mary's Catholic regime, during which many academics felt it wise simply to lie low. As Chancellor, the Earl of Leicester restored discipline and demanded loyalty to the church and monarch of England - which, once established, has never again seriously wavered.

Queen Elizabeth's visits to Oxford were the occasion of much speechifying, by herself and others, in Latin and Greek. She attended debates, and a play was performed for her at Christ Church. Her final farewell, at Shotover, was an emotional occasion.

Her title as founder of Jesus College is somewhat an honorary one, though she was pleased to accept it, and the college possesses no less than three portraits of her. Jesus College has always been associated closely with Wales, and Elizabeth herself regarded her Welsh ancestry as important.