INTRODUCTION. xlix and when the former left the meeting, refusing to return at the requisition of the Vice-Chancellor.^ It is clear that the party that sympathized with Forbes were the movers in this business ; but it is strange that the Vice-Chancellor should have taken their side, which can only be attributed to weakness on his Grace's part, the consequence, probably, of old age.^ The following notice of this Commencement occurs in Boyer's "Political State of Great Britain"" :— "A Commencement being held on the 9th Febr. in Trinity College, Dub- lin, several of the Students had prepared to take their Degrees, but were dissappointed. For several of the Graduates and Non- Resident Masters of Arts having made a motion to the Vice Chancellor, the ABp. of Tuam, that the sentence of Forbes' Degradatio might be read before any public business should be gone upon, the ABp. was for having the same read as they pro- posed. But it being believed that the reading of it was in order to have an act obtained to repeal the said sentence, the Vice Provost and the Senior Fellows of the College opposed its being read : and by withdrawing them- selves prevented the assembly from proceeding further in that affair. Where- upon the Commencement was adjourned to the 12th instant." Dr. Miller cites the account*^ given by the College itself of this occurrence, as evidence that "incongruities existed in the govern- ^ See Dr. Miller's Exam, of the Masters sent to them the following Charter, &c., p. 6. message: — ' Procuratores, Registra- ^ John Vesey was 37 years Arch- rius, et Bedellus citantur et requi- bishop of Tuam, and had been before runtur comparere in domo Regentium that 6 years Bishop of Limerick. He sub poena juris et contemptus.' To died 28th March, 1716, aged 79. which message the Vice-Provost and
- = Vol. vii., for 17 14, p. 116. the Senior Fellows sent the following
"^ This account, given in the Re- answer: — ' Procuratores, Registrarius, gister (in loc), is as follows : — et Bedellus postquam Vice-Prteposi- " 17 if February 9. This day the turn et Socios Seniores certiores fece- Vice-Provost's negative was not al- rint de nuntio per reverendos viros lowed in the Regent-house, where- Doctores Hamilton et Gourney ad upon the Vice-Provost withdrew from eos misso, cum orani humilitate sen- thence into the Provost's house, and tentiam suam offerunt, quod sine con- was followed by the rest of the Senior sensu Vice-Praepositi et Sociorura Fellows, Junior Proctor, and Beadle ; Seniorum nihil in hac re tuto agere and then the Vice-Chancellor and posse existimant. Et insuper Vice-
