The Proctors come into the Regent-House attended by the Bedells, and the Senior Doctor delivers the Nomination paper to the Senior Proctor, to be published at the beginning of the next Congregation. The Proctors give orders to the Bell-ringer' concerning ringing the bell for the next Congregation, which must be at nine o'clock, or one o'clock, on the following day. If the Proctors do not order a Congregation to be at one of these hours on the fourth of November, the Bedells are, by their own authority, to order one to be at nine o'clock, or one o'clock, on the fifth of November. Stat. Eliz. 34. Lib. Stat. p. 242. The Proctors, preceded by the Bedells, go to the Senior Proctor's rooms, where the staves are left. The Marshall brings the Vice-Chancellor's books, and the plate to the Senior Proctor, in whose custody they are to remain, until the Election of a new Vice-Chancellor. 7 By the 34th Statute the Bedells are, at the desire of the Proctors, to call a Congregation at nine in the morning, or at one in the afternoon, of the following day. But the custom of calling Congregations by the Bedells being discontinued, the Proctors give orders to the Bell-ringer. concerning the time of ringing the bell: which rings one hour before the Congregation assembles. Election of the Vice-Chancellor. The Senate assembles at ten in the morning, or two in the afternoon, of the fourth of November. It usually meets at two in the afternoon. The Proctors in Congregation habit, attended by the Bedells, go from the Senior Proctor's rooms to the Senate-House. They sit at the West end of the House, and when the Congregation is assembled, a Bedell calls up the Houses. The Proctors go to the back of the chair, and the Senior publishes the Nominati, &c. and makes his speech. The Proctors sit upon a form placed near the chair, whilst a Bedell, beginning at the word Electio, reads to the end of the 34th Statute. Lib. Stat. p. 242. The Proctors go to the table, and stand in Scrutiny with the two Senior Doctors, or (if there be no Doctor present,) with the two Senior Bachelors in Divinity. The Doctors in the three Faculties, and all the Regent and Non-Regent Masters, are the Electors. A Bedell calls, Ad Scrutinium pro Electione Procancellarii. The Scrutators first give their votes, written in the following form: A. B. eligit Venerabilem } Virum C.D. in Procancellarium hujus Academiæ in annum sequentem. The Doctors, Regents, and Non-Regents, deliver their votes, written in the same form, to the Scrutators. A Bedell calls at proper intervals, Ad Scrutinium secundo-Ad Scrutinium ultimo - Cessatum est a Scrutinio. The Senior Proctor writes his vote, and declaration of Election, in the following form: Ego A, B. Senior Procurator hujus Academia (eligo et) a vobis electum pronuncio Dignissimum vel Venerabilem } Virum C. D. in Procancel larium hujus Academiæ in annum sequentem. He takes the votes of the other Electors, and his own paper to his place, where (the Junior Proctor standing by him) he reads one vote at length, and for each of the rest he says Eundem eligit A. B. Lastly, he pronounces the Election in the form previously written. D If there be a contest for the Office, the Scrutators count the votes, and give the lesser number to the Senior Proctor, who, (with the Junior Proctor standing by him) publishes them at the usual place. He then reads, in the same manner, the votes for the Person chosen, and then declares the Election in the words of the paper previously prepared. 8 If the fourth of November fall on a Sunday, the Election is not deferred on that account. If the Vice-Chancellor be not admitted before the Sermon, the Proctors, preceded by the Bedells, go to St. Mary's Church, with their hoods squared, and sit in the Vice-Chancellor's seat. They do the same on every Sunday, during the time the Office of Vice-Chancellor may happen to be vacant. Admission of the Vice-Chancellor. Immediately after the Election, a Bedell goes to the Vice-Chancellor Elect to inform him, who either sends word that he desires the Congregation to be continued to some other day, 8 If he vote for the unsuccessful Candidate, he omits the words eligo et. 9 If the Vice-Chancellor Elect do not come to take upon himself the Office immediately, the Proctors continue the Congregation or he accompanies the Bedell to the SenateHouse, attended by the Fellows and other Masters of Arts of his College. He robes at the entrance of the SenateHouse, and the Bedell attends him to his place. After sitting there a little time he goes to the South side of the table, the Proctors standing in front. He declares, by his subscription in the ViceChancellor's book, that he will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England, as by law established; then takes the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy: and the Senior Proctor administers to him the Oath of Office in the following words: Jurabis quod bene et fideliter præstabis omnia quæ spectant ad Officium Procancellarii hujus Academia; Sic te Deus adjuvet, et Sancta ejus Evangelia. Lib. Stat. p. 528. He then goes to the front of the table, and the Proctors stand on each side. The two Regents, who sealed the purse, come and examine their seals, which are then broken, and the Proctors deliver to the Vice Congregation to the day and hour fixed on by him for his Admission; the Senior Proctor making use of the following form. Nos continuamus hanc Congregationem Regentium et NonRegentium in horam diei |