FIRST PUBLIC COMMENCEMENT, (1616.)

17

University of Dublin," but the acts of disputation were not, as it appears, performed within the college, "because the rooms were very small," but in the choir of St. Patrick's Cathedral, according to the following arrangements:

The number of doctors that proceeded that day were, in theology, five, videlicet:

"Dr. Jones, Lord Chancellor,

Dr. King, Bishop of Elphin, and By Grace. }

Dr. Ussher,

Dr. Richardson, and In public disputation.
Dr. Walsh.

Bachelors of Divinity, 3.

Masters of the Arts, 15.

Bachelors of the Arts, 17.-Being in all 38 Graduates that commenced, with two others incorporated."

It is evident that the proceedings on this occasion did excite considerable public attention, and appear to have been conducted with much pageantry, as we find them described in the above work, the style of which displays the quaintness of that period, although the description is very graphic. It goes on to say

"The manner of this Commencement was accomplished in the following order :-First, Dr. Hampton, Lord Archbishop of Ardmagh and Primate of all Ireland,' who having many years before proceeded Doctor in Theology, in the University of Cambridge, was now, at this Commencement, incorporated into the University of Dublin, and was senior Doctor and moderator of theological acts in the commencement: so, upon the day appointed, (18th of August,) the said Dr. Hampton, Lord Primate, together with the Provost, Fellows, and Scholars of the House, passed from the College, through the city of Dublin, in very stately order, for the Lord Primate, and other ancient doctors, and also those that were to proceed doctors, were every one attired in scarlet robes with doctors' hoods: also the Bachelors of Divinity, the Masters and Bachelors of Arts, were attired in such other scholarlike attire as appertained to them-which made a very

C

18 FIRST PUBLIC COMMENCEMENT, (1616.)

beautiful appearance to the sight of all men; and they were farther_graced with the presence of the Lord Deputy, the Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas Ridgeway, Knt., Treasurer, and the Treasurer at War, with divers other of the council who followed after them, and sate in the cathedral to hear their disputations and discourses, which were performed as followeth :

"First, on entering St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Masters and Bachelors of Arts sat down in the places. appointed for them, each according to his degree. Likewise, Dr. Dunne, being a Doctor in the Civil Law, and Vice-Chancellor of the University, took his place which was appointed for him in the choir,-and then Mr. Anthony Martin, Proctor for the College, ascended up into one of the pulpits, as Moderator of the Philosophical Acts; and the Lord Primate, who was Father for the day, of the Theological Acts, with those three who were to proceed in the public disputation, as also two Bachelors of Divinity, did ascend up to their places which were appointed for them on the right side of the choir; and when the Lord Deputy, and the Lord Chancellor, and the Council were placed, and all things in good order, Dr. Dunne, the ViceChancellor began an oration in Latin, being as an introduction into all the Acts of that day's dispensation, which he performed learnedly; and when he had ended his oration, the Primate began another, also in Latin, commencing the Act of Divinity, and those that were to commence doctor.

"This oration contained a long discourse, in which he administered four academical consequences as here do follow in order:

"1st. He set them in his chair.

"2nd. He gave them square caps.

"3rd. He delivered to them the Bible. "4th. He put rings upon their fingers.

"These ceremonies were ministered separately to each of them. First, to Dr. Ussher, then to Dr. Richardson, and lastly to Dr. Walsh. The Lord Primate expounding to them the signification of each

ceremony.

FIRST PUBLIC COMMENCEMENT, (1616.)

19

"This manner of commencement was never used in Ireland before this time.

"Now all things being thus performed by the Lord Primate, Dr. Ussher went down into the choir, and ascended up into one of the pulpits, where he made a sermon-like oration upon the text, Hoc est corpus meum,' and after a long discourse thereon, the other two doctors (Richardson and Walsh) disputed with Dr. Ussher upon the same point; in which disputation, the Lord Primate, who was Father of the Theological Acts, was also Moderator; and having finished the Act, they 'rose up and returned to Trinity College, where a stately dinner was provided for the Lord Deputy and Council, and thus were completed all things concerning the acts of commencement in the University of Dublin, to their high credit and commendation.

"The total sum of all the graduates that have commenced in this University from the first foundation thereof to this present year, 1616, inclusive, containing the space of 23 years, viz.-In Divinity, 7; in Civil Law, 1; in Physic, 1; Bachelors in Theology, 7; Masters of Arts, 38; Bachelors of Arts, 53; Bachelors of Music, 2. Total graduates, 109.

"Besides 1 Doctor and 2 Masters of Arts who were incorporated.”

The account closes with a pious wish, that as Alma Mater had brought forth such a learned offspring in her early years, "she would, in a more mature period, (God blessing her increase,) produce multitudes of learned children, who shall flourish in the church, and commonwealth, to the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian religion."

SECTION III.

Referring to the list of members and students noticed in the foregoing section, who commenced doctors and bachelors of divinity, it is evident that a lectureship in divinity must have existed in the college from

the time of its foundation. Yet it is also certain that it did not, for many years, assume the character of a regular university professorship; an anomaly that may only be accounted for by the very slender condition of the collegiate funds, which could not afford it a proper endowment; yet, under these circumstances, we find Dr. Luke Challoner, recorded as the first Divinity Lecturer; and to him succeeded, in 1607, Dr. James Ussher, afterwards Archbishop of Ardmagh, &c. That distinguished prelate held the theological chair until he was made Bishop of Meath, in 1621, when Dr. Samuel Ward, of Ipswich, was appointed to it; and thus there was a regular succession of divinity lecturers, excepting about twenty years, during the government of "The Commonwealth." It was not, however, until 1674, that this important professorship was properly endowed. This was done by letters patent issued expressly for that purpose by King Charles II., directing that certain lands, being a part of those then given to the college by the Act of Settlement, should be allocated for that purpose; and the professor was then recognised by the royal letter as an officer of the University, with all the privileges connected with the office. Considerable changes and improvements have since been made in this professorship, in the reign of King George III., as we shall notice in their chronological order.

The professorship of Law does not appear to have had any regular endowment or salary for its support, any more than the foregoing professorship. By the original statutes of the University "the study of the law" had been provided for, (Stat. Coll. cap. xviii.) By this it was enacted, that "one of the Fellows should devote himself to the profession of the Law," and the Fellow so appointed was bound to deliver, within two years after his election, a lecture in that faculty, once in each term.

It was not until A.D. 1668, that this professorship was established as it now stands by letters patent from King Charles II., which granted a proper endowment out of the lands granted by Act of Settle

THE ORIGINAL CHARTER.

21

ment, to the officer, "as Regius Professor of the Canon and Civil Laws;" when Dr. Henry Styles, LL.D., was elected the first professor under the new regulation.

The professorship of Medicine, the third faculty taught here, appears to have originally existed under similar circumstances to those of Divinity and Law; and it is somewhat remarkable, that there does not appear ever to have existed any charter, or royal letter, to establish in this institution a Regius Professorship of Medicine, distinct from the Medical Fellowship. Although, as we have seen, the Law Fellowship was recognised by the letter of King Charles II. Yet it cannot reasonably be doubted that the persons described in the college statutes as Jurista and Medicus, were the proper and acknowledged professors of these faculties; and this view of the case is fully corroborated by the statutes of Bishop Bedell, where we find these University Officers invariably styled Professores Jurisprudentiæ et Medicina.

With regard to the offices of "Regius Professor of Physic," and the Medical Fellowship, they appear to have been originally held by one person until the Restoration, ever since which period, these two places have been kept distinct, and except in two instances, namely, those of Dr. Stearne, M.D., and Dr. Helsham, M.D., they never have been held by the same person.

In the year 1637 the constitution of the college underwent essential alterations. By the original charter, several visitors had been appointed with concurrent authority, to correct abuses of magnitude, to determine causes of grave and serious nature, and to act as a court of appeal from the ordinary scholastic tribunal of the provost and board. But it was now found that the number of visitors, instead of accelerating business, tended to impede it, and that the opinion which was intended to be decisive, only transferred contention to a more elevated ground. The principal cause of collegiate dispute and animosity, at that time, was the election of provost, which by charter devolved on the fellows, or the majority of them. While they