228 History of Universities
he had commenced master. At Paris the B.A. candidate was
examined by a board chosen by his own Nation. Before,
during, and after the examination he was required to take
about forty oaths, some of them to the effect that he had
attended certain lectures and read certain books, and would
read others in the near future. He even had to swear that
he would not attempt to bribe the examiners, and that if
he were “flunked” he would not attempt to assassinate the
examiners I ɪ In contrast to the informality with which we
take degrees nowadays, the medieval or renaissance candi-
date for the baccalaureate had to go through an incredible
number of ceremonies, and give up a very large sum in fees
to bedels, proctors, and all sorts of university officials who
were supported by such means. The only way that a poor
student might circumvent these fees was for him to pass the
examinations for a rich student who paid for both; and the
universities had to tolerate this practice before other means
were provided.
The main ceremony of taking the B.A. was “determina-
tions”—a sort of gala disputation, for which the bachelor
hired his master’s lecture hall. Fresh straw and free drinks
were provided to attract an audience, two friendly sophisters
were selected to serve as foils to the young man’s talents,
and the bachelor was stimulated to do his best by the knowl-
edge that archdeacons, cathedral provosts, and even greater
magnates might be there to get a line on rising young talent.
At the conclusion of this exhibition, the bachelor’s friends
escorted him in triumphal procession to his lodgings, where a
ɪ The “patriotic societies” that are endeavoring to have teachers’ and
students’ oaths required in the United States can derive little comfort from
the history of oaths in the medieval universities. Even in an era when every-
one believed in hell, perjury became a commonplace, and students cheerfully
swore that they had attended lectures they had never heard of, read books that
they never opened, as well as promising to perform acts that they had no
intention of doing.