Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/548

 544 SKELTON. pointed, and Skelton received this reward of merit in 1726. Baldwin, however, on other occasions did every thing in his power to make a college life uneasy to him; and Skelton, finding it impossible to gain his favour with out disgraceful compliances, resolved to take his degree at the statuteable period, and quit the college. This, how ever, his enemy still endeavoured to prevent, and, on some idle pretence, stopped his degree. Skelton's only remedy was now to wait patiently till the next commencement, which would take place in about half a year. As the time approached, he contrived to foil the provost at his own weapons, and knowing his tyran nical and capricious temper, played him a trick, which his biographer relates in the following manner. A few days before the commencement, he waited on the provost, “ and after paying his humble submission, said, ‘Mr. Provost, I am extremely obliged to you for stopping me of my degree last time, because it was what l wished for above a l l things, and I beg and beseech you may also stop me now, a s my friends are forcing me t o take i t , and quit the college, contrary t o my desire.’ ‘Ah, you dog,' h e replied, ‘what d o you mean? d o you wish t o stay here contrary t o your friends' consent: Take your degree, sirrah, and quit the college, o r I'll make you smart for it.” Skelton then began t o cry, and whine, and sob, saying how greatly distressed h e was a t getting this unfavourable answer. “Don’t b e growling here, sir, h e said, “but go about your business, I’ll not agree t o your request, you shall take your degree i n spite o f you, sirrah.' Upon this, Skelton, with sorrowful countenance, though with joy a t his heart, walked grumblingly out o f the room.” The consequence o f this was, that h e commenced B.A. i n July 1728, and had his name taken out o f the college books, May 31st following, two years before the natural expiration o f his scholarship. Notwithstanding this treatment, h e always spoke o f Dr. Baldwin a s i n many respects a n excellent provost. He was ordained i n 1729, and obtained a curacy. I n - 1