two Doctors to the Archdeacon, the presenting Doctor being required to have satisfied himself by private examination of his presentee’s fitness.  Early on the morning of the Examination, after attending a Mass of the Holy Ghost, the candidate appeared before the assembled College and was assigned by one of the Doctors present two passages (puncta) in the Civil or Canon Law as the case might be.  He then retired to his house to study the passages, in doing which it would appear that he had the assistance of the presenting Doctor.  Later in the day the Doctors were summoned to the Cathedral, or some other public building, by the Archdeacon, who presided over but took no active part in the ensuing examination.  The candidate was then introduced to the Archdeacon and Doctors by the presenting Doctor or Promotor as he was styled.  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.

  The Examination concluded, the votes of the Doctors present
  were taken by ballot and the candidate’s fate determined by the
  majority, the decision being announced by the Archdeacon.

(2) Let us pass to the great and famous University of Paris.  At Paris

In 1275, if not earlier, a preliminary test (or ‘Responsions’) was instituted to ascertain the fitness of those who wanted to take part in the public performance.  At these ‘Responsions’ which took place in the December before the Lent in which the candidate was to determine, he had to dispute in Grammar and Logic with a Master.  If this test was passed in a satisfactory manner, the candidate was admitted to the Examen Baccalariandorum, Examination for the Baccalaureate, which was conducted by a board of Examiners appointed by each Nation for its own candidates.  The duty of the Examiners was twofold, firstly to ascertain by inspecting the schedules given by his Masters that the candidate had completed the necessary residence and attended Lectures in the prescribed subjects, and secondly to examine him in the contents of his books.