Page:A Catalogue of Graduates who have Proceeded to Degrees in the University of Dublin, vol. 2.djvu/14

 viii INTRODUCTION. vested in the Provost and major part of the Fellows the power of transacting everything about the conferring of Degrees, and consequently that of framing University Statutes, or, as they are called, ConsuetuJines sen ReguLo Universitatis Dublini- ensis, pro soleuniore collatione graduum. Under this grant. Temple drew up his Statutes for that piu-pose [i.e. pro soleu- niore graduum collatione], and so must the author of these Eeguke (whoever he was) have done. Acting under tliis authority, which being derived from the Crown may be called Royal, Statutes so made seem to me not to require any further confirmation or interference. Accordingly, I know no instance where the Crown interfered in making or changing any of them. Acts of Parliament indeed imposed certain oaths at Commencements, &c., but this was not making any new law or Statute, and in the Testimonium is mentioned as additional to the exercises imposed per leges et consuetudines.'" (Barrett MSS. 355.) The propriety and reasonableness of these Regulse are clearly shown by Dr. Todd in the Introduction to the Book of Grraduates, p. xviii. n. ; p. xxix., pp. xxxii. xxxiii. They were recognised as the 'leges Academioe' in the Statutes of King Charles I., cap. v. They have been recognised not only by the Crown but by the Legislature. The Charter of King Charles I. is dated a.d. 1637. It is important to bear in mind how matters stood at the time when this Charter was granted. The ' Universitas ' designed by the Charter of Queen Elizabeth had been constituted by the Pro- vost and Fellows of the College in pursuance of its provisions. The Senate was governed by a code of regulations drawn up and approved under the power impliedly granted, A period of gestation (if I might so say) had been required before the Uni- versity could thus have been brought to the birth. As the design was that it should come from the womb of the College, privileges had been conferred on the studiosi, and powers given to the Provost and Fellows of the College, by which proision was made for the constitution and continuance of a proper staff of University ofl&cers, and of a body of accredited teachers. It