to thank Dr. Rashdall and the Rev. Andrew Clark for most kindly
reading through my chapters, and for several suggestions, and Professor
Oman for special help in the Appendix on 'The University Staves'.

J.W.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I PAGE

THE DEGREE CEREMONY 1

CHAPTER II

THE MEANING OF THE DEGREE CEREMONY 19

CHAPTER III

THE PRELIMINARIES OF THE DEGREE CEREMONY 34

CHAPTER IV

THE OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY 50

CHAPTER V

UNIVERSITY DRESS 64

CHAPTER VI

THE PLACES OF THE DEGREE CEREMONY 79

APPENDIX I

THE PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD 93

APPENDIX II

THE UNIVERSITY STAVES 94

INDEX 97

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

THE ORIGINAL SHELDONIAN _Frontispiece_

THE UNIVERSITY SEAL _To face p._1

(The seal dates from the fourteenth
century and is kept by the Proctors.)

THE CHANCELLOR RECEIVING A CHARTER FROM EDWARD III _To face p._19

(From the Chancellor's book, circ. 1375.)

MASTER AND SCHOLAR _To face p._34

(From the title-page of Burley's _Tractatus
de natura et forma_.)

THE BEDEL OF DIVINITY'S STAFF _To face p._50

PROCTOR AND SCHOLARS OF THE RESTORATION PERIOD _To face p._64

(From _Habitus Academicorum_, attributed
to D. Loggan, 1674.)

THE INTERIOR OF THE DIVINITY SCHOOL _To face p._79

[Illustration]

CHAPTER I

THE DEGREE CEREMONY

The streets of Oxford are seldom dull in term time, but a stranger who
chances to pass through them between the hours of nine and ten on the
morning of a degree day, will be struck and perhaps perplexed by their
unwonted animation. He will find the quads of the great block of
University buildings, which lie between the 'Broad' and the Radcliffe
Square, alive with all sorts and conditions of Oxford men, arrayed in
every variety of academic dress. Groups of undergraduates stand waiting,
some in the short commoner's gown, others in the more dig