e presenter's right hand.

[Sidenote: (3) The Proctorial Charge.]

The third part of the ceremony is the charge which is delivered, usually
by the Junior Proctor, to the candidates for the degree. Each receives a
copy of the New Testament from the Bedel, on which to take his oath. The
charge to all candidates for a doctorate or for the M.A. is:--

'Vos dabitis fidem ad observandum statuta, privilegia, consuetudines
et libertates istius Universitatis. Item quod quum admissi fueritis
in domum Congregationis et in domum Convocationis, in iisdem bene et
fideliter, ad honorem et profectum Universitatis, vos geretis. Et
specialiter quod in negotiis quae ad gratias et gradus spectant non
impedietis dignos, nec indignos promovebitis. Item quod in
electionibus habendis unum tantum semel et non amplius in singulis
scrutiniis scribetis et nominabitis; et quod neminem nominabitis nisi
quem habilem et idoneum certo sciveritis vel firmiter credideritis.'

('You will swear to observe the statutes, privileges, customs and
liberties of your University. Also when you have been admitted to
Congregation and to Convocation, you will behave in them loyally and
faithfully to the honour and profit of the University. And especially
in matters concerning graces and degrees, you will not oppose those
who are fit or support the unfit. Also in elections you will write
down and nominate one only and no more at each vote; and you will
nominate no one but a man whom you know for certain or surely believe
to be fit and proper.')

To this the candidates answer 'Do fidem'.

The charge to candidates for the B.A. or other lower degrees is much
simpler:--

'Vos tenemini ad observandum omnia statuta, privilegia,
consuetudines, et libertates istius Universitatis, quatenus ad vos
spectent' (as far as they concern you).

This charge, which is of course the first part of the charge to M.A.s,
goes back to the very beginnings of University ceremonial; the latter
part of the charge to M.A.s is modern, and takes the place of the more
elaborate oaths of the Laudian and of still earlier statutes. By these a
candidate bound himself not to recognize any other place in England
except Cambridge as a 'university', and especially that he 'would not
give or listen to lectures in Stamford as in a university'.[6] There
was also a special direction that each candidate should within a
fortnight obtain the dr