The Prior of the College then administered a
number of oaths in which the candidate promised respect to
that body and solemnly renounced all the rights of which the
College had succeeded in robbing all Doctors of other Colleges
not included in its ranks. The candidate then gave a lecture or
exposition of the two prepared passages: after which he was
examined upon them by two of the Doctors appointed by the
College. Other Doctors might ask supplementary questions of
Law (which they were required to swear that they had not
previously communicated to the candidate) arising more
indirectly out of the passages selected, or might suggest
objections to the answers. With a tender regard for the
feelings of their comrades at this 'rigorous and tremendous
Examination' (as they style it) the Statutes required the
Examiner to treat the examinee as _his own son._
But, knowing what we do of parental discipline in the Middle
Ages, we need not take this to enjoin a weak excess of leniency.
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