(CXXVII.) That monks about to take a degree shall bring letters of submission.

That no monks, under pretence of obedience to the rules. of their monastery, and of licence not being expressly obtained from their superiors, nor given to the University, may be able afterwards, by feigned pretexts, to decline their adherence to the true effect of their oath, we, by the consent of the regent and non-regent masters, have on careful deliberation enacted, that no monk shall henceforth be admitted to incept, or annually resume, in any faculty in this University, unless he has first obtained from his superior, having sufficient power in this matter, dimissory letters, regarding the undergoing and pledging suitable and usual oaths to be effectually observed, and have shewn them to the said University; and they shall remain in the keeping of the said University.

(CXXVIII.) Of the time of holding the vespers in each faculty.

It is also enacted, that the masters in each faculty may hold the vespers on days on which no disputations can be held, provided they are days on which the schools are held.

(CXXIX.) of the mode of making promise at the vespers in each faculty.

Also, each bachelor about to incept, when his vespers belonging to his faculty are gone through, shall give a promise to one of the proctors that he will not re-assume the rank of bachelor in the same faculty.

(cxxx.) of vespers in medicine, civil and canon law, if there be not a regent master therein.

We likewise enact, that if there be not a regent master in medicine, it shall be allowed to a non-regent master in that faculty to hold vespers in medicine; and if he has not on the same day resumed his lectures in civil and canon law, we wish the same method of holding vespers to be observed.

(CXXXI.) Of the mode of inviting the masters to vespers and lectures.

We likwise enact, that it shall be sufficient for every one about to incept in this University, and duly admitted to incept in the same, as far as regards every thing preliminary to his inception required by the statutes and usages of this University, when prepared and ready, to use proper diligence to invite the masters reverently to his inception, visiting them at their schools, and in other ways to render the same persons friendly and well-disposed towards him, according as his condition or duty requires; and if any doubt or controversy arises about the proper diligence in the cause, we leave it to be decided by the discretion of the majority of the regents.

(CXXXII.) Of certain observances in inceptions and annual resumptions.

We enact that no scholar having an income of the value of forty pounds taking one year with another, which is certified by his oath, shall be admitted to incept here at the expence of another incepting. Also, that no master be received here in order, at inceptions or annual resumptions, wearing his mantle or any ordinary habit, unless before any part of the inception or resumption has begun he take an oath publicly in the church, touching the relics, to the following words: You shall swear that you will observe the statutes, privileges, and customs of the University. Nor shall any dispensation be granted to any one unless he thus swear, except by the consent of the regents and non-regents in a general assembly of each. Also no master having an income of above the value of thirty pounds, true value taking one year with another, in which his oath shall be depended upon, shall be allowed to carry a mantle in his place at the inceptions and annual resumptions, unless he be the person under whom the principal inceptor intends to incept, or his master, or his brother, or one of his family, or any

one else approved of for such a purpose by the major part

of the regents.

(CXXXIII.) Of the oaths to be taken by the masters at inceptions and annual resumptions.

Every one at the time of an inception shall, before he determine his question, promise by a corporal oath that he will observe the statutes of the University, and shall swear to continue his regency there for a year at least, unless excused by a necessary or approved cause, except on the days on which it shall happen that any master in his faculty reads his first lecture in the schools, and also on the days on which it happens that a doctor of divinity publicly determines in the schools. But those in medicine shall swear to the continuation of their regency for three years, unless it shall happen that another person incepts or resumes within these three years, if this latter person has given a security by oath to the proctor, viz., that he will supply the place of the aforesaid inceptor who ceases from lecturing; or unless it shall happen that another person during the said time shall incept. Moreover, the Theologi Aulares and the friars (Fratres) shall swear to continue their regency for two years, unless they happen within that time to obtain legitimate successors; this being provided, that in the said year they shall specially observe disputations, vespers, inceptions, and also funeral rites, masses, and ordinary processions, just as in their first year. They shall also swear, on the sacrament, that they will not disturb the peace of this University, either of themselves or by means of others, or give their interest, advice, or aid to such disturbers. Moreover, that if they know of any such disturber or disturbers of the peace, they will give information of him or them to the chancellor and also that they will not of themselves, or by means of others, hinder such disturbers from being brought to justice. Each shall also swear that, as far as in him lies,

he will preserve the honour of the University, and resist its adversaries, and not bring upon it any disgrace or disadvantage. He shall also swear that he will not incept in any faculty in any other place out of this University except Oxford, in England, nor annually resume his lectures, or consent that any one thus incepting in any other place in England shall be accounted a master in that faculty here.

(CXXXIV.) Of those responding to the question.

We enact and ordain, that no one be admitted to respond to the question in arts, unless he has remained a general sophist for two years, or at least for one whole year, except sons of noblemen, and unless he has maintained two general sophisms at a time and place appointed by the University and has been twice respondent.

(CXXXV.) New statute concerning reading the mathematical sciences.

The authority of our ancestors has formerly enacted that our questionists are, besides the ordinary lectures, to hear from a bachelor the whole of logic cursorily, and that, after they have commenced the latter books, they shall each read much by themselves. And those, again, about to incept in arts, shall hear from a master the philosophy of Aristotle; and those, who have now for the first time incepted, are each bound to lecture ordinarily, on the usual days, for one year; and this fourfold mode of lecturing, since it has now, from being obsolete, or not attended to, become quite vain, troublesome, and useless, and since we do not think it improper to give support to the mathematical sciences which are now somewhat in danger, by effecting a commodious change in these lectures, we enact, that every year before the vacation, some masters skilled in these arts, being appointed by the voice of the majority of the regents, shall at the first

hour after noon, as days were formerly reckoned, read lectures to the bachelors and scholars; and we bind all the bachelors, by this same decree, to attend for the first year of the three years, arithmetic and music; for the second, geometry and perspective: for the third, astronomy: but the lectures held between Quinquagesima and Palm Sundays are to be transferred to six weeks in autumn; and for salary the lecturer shall receive from the public chest, for the three terms of the year, twenty six shillings and eight pence. In order that the public treasury may not be impaired by these means, and since we think it right that those who are freed from labour ought to give a reward equivalent to the amount of the labour, every questionist is bound, when he shall have been admitted to respond to the question, to pay to the aforesaid lecturer eight pence, and every bachelor on the day of his entrance into the latter books, two shillings, and each person about to incept in arts, on the day of inception, twelve pence. Every monk, except the mendicants, shall similarly in each term pay four pence. The payment reserved to the bedells is nevertheless, according to custom, to remain in its usual force.

(cxxxvI.) of hearing forms; the masters and scholars are not to be too closely restrained.

We also enact, that the masters who shall have been regents for any time in this University, shall by no means be bound to attend ordinary lectures thrice in a week in a different faculty, by virtue of their oath that they have taken respecting obedience to the University statutes; nor in the same way shall all who have sworn obedience to the statutes of the same be bound to attend these lectures any more than the other scholars; nor moreover shall they who lecture cursorily in another faculty, by virtue of the aforesaid oath be bound to wear caps. We moreover will that