Page:Terræ-filius- or, the Secret History of the University of Oxford.djvu/95

 erected; for here is that famous apartment, by idle wits and buffoons nick-named, i.e. the place of or  of colleges and halls, where they meet and debate upon all extraordinary affairs, which occur within the precincts of their juridiction. This room of tate, or academical council-chamber is adorn'd with a fine pourtrait of her late majety Queen, which was preented to this aembly by a jolly fox-hunter in the neighbourhood, out of the tender regard which he bore to her pious memory, and to the reverend of the univerity, who preide there; for which benefaction they have admitted him into their company, and allow him the honour to moak a pipe with them twice a week.

This Room is alo handomely waincotted; which is aid to have been done by order of a certain worthy gentleman, who went to Oxford for a without any claim or recommendation; and therefore, to upply that defect, promied to become a benefactor, if they would make him a graduate; accordingly, as it is aid, workmen were employed in great hate, and the, let they hould be behind hand in gratitude, in as great hate, clapp'd a  upon his back; but the tory unfortunately concludes, that when the  was created, the benefactor ran away, and left the good-natur'd  to pay the joiners themelves.

But what is it to me, who paid for it? or by what means it came to make uch a figure, as it now does, both within doors and without? It becomes me better, as an hitorian, to acquaint poterity what ues it is put to, and what momentous affairs are tranacted within its walls. I ask pardon therefore, and proceed.

Here as I aid before, all the weighty buines of the univerity is ettled: if any ermon is preached, if any publick peech or oration is deliver'd in