neither intended by the oath, nor required by the law of the land. "Then their Majesties signed the oath, in sence of the Commissioners, &c. pre "God save King William and Queen Mary." VISIT OF WILLIAM III. TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CAM BRIDGE, 1689. The following interesting article is extracted from the London Gazette, October 10, 1689. "On Sunday last, the Vice-Chancellor, the Heads of Colleges, and Doctors in all Faculties, with several Regents and Non-regents, in their proper habits, waited upon his Majesty at Newmarket, being introduced into his Royal presence by his Grace the Duke of Somerset, Chancellor of the University. The Reverend Dr. Covell, ViceChancellor, addressed himself to his Majesty in a proper and elegant speech, congratulating the glorious successes his Majesty had been blessed with in his endeavours to rescue this church and nation from the imminent dangers that threatened both, and which were more particularly pointed against the Universities. And concluded with an humble recommendation of themselves to his Majesty's protection, wherein the Protestant religion had so much concern. To which his Majesty was pleased to return in answer, that as God had blessed him in this undertaking, so he should faithfully dis charge his trust in preserving the church of Eng land, land, and giving all protection and favour to the Universities. They then waited upon his Majesty to church, and at their return from thence were conducted to the King's house, where, by directions from his Majesty, they were received and splendidly entertained at dinner by Sir James Forbes, clerk of the green cloth. "The next day, his Majesty was pleased to make a visit to the University, and arrived here in the morning, being met without the town by the Mayor and Aldermen of the Corporation in their formalities, who complimented his Majesty, by Mr. Pepys, their present Mayor, and made a present of a large basin and ewer. They marched before him into town, at the entrance whereof his Majesty was received by rows of scholars, according to their several degrees, on each side of the streets leading to the public schools, and amidst the loud acclamations of all sorts of persons. His Majesty, alighting at the schools, received there the public thanks of the University, by the ViceChancellor and their orator, for the great honour that was then done them; and an extraordinary Commencement being then held on this signal occasion, for conferring degrees on persons of worth in all faculties, Mr. Kidder and Mr. Pelling were created Doctors in his Majesty's presence, being presented by the Regius Professor, Dr. Beaumont, with that unimitable elegancy which is so peculiar to him. "From "From the schools his Majesty walked to King's College, where Mr. Layton, a fellow of that society, declaring in his speech the apprehensions they were under least they might have offended his Majesty by a late petition, wherein they only mentioned one single person as duly qualified to succeed in the vacancy of their Provost, and humbly beseeching his Majesty's favourable construction of that matter, his Majesty was pleased (that none might be left there doubtful of his favour) graciously to assure them, that he willingly granted all they desired, or could wish, and that they might admit Dr. Roderick to be their Provost as soon as they pleased, which they received with the greatest joy and gratitude imagin able. "After that, his Majesty went to TrinityCollege; and in the first court thereof was congratulated by the Honourable Dr. Montague, the master, and in the second by Mr. Norris, a fellow of that College, and with a copy of English verses in the new-built library; the structure whereof his Majesty was very well pleased with. And here his Majesty was pleased to accept of a dinner, provided by the University, in the College-hall; where, at the upper end, was a table, raised five steps above the floor, at which sat his Majesty, and at one end his Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark, who attended him hither; and at the other tables, on each side of the hall, were their |