1687.
“Then they all kneeled down, and Dr. Pudsey offered a petition, containing the reasons of their proceedings, which His Majesty refused to receive, and said, ‘You have been a stubborn and turbulent College. I have known you to be so this twenty-six years. You have affronted me in this. Is this your Church of England loyalty? One would wonder to find so many Church of England men in such a business. Go back, and show yourselves good members of the Church of England. Get ye gone; know I am your King, and I command you to be gone. Go and admit the Bishop of Oxon, Head-Principal—(what do you call it) of your College.’
“One standing by said ‘President.’
“K.—‘I mean President of the College. Let him know that refuses it. Look to’t. They shall find the weight of their Sovereign’s displeasure.’
“The Fellows went away, and being gone out were recalled.
“K.—‘I hear you have admitted a Fellow of your College since ye received my inhibition. Is this true? Have you not admitted Mr. Holden, Fellow?’
“Dr. P.—‘I think he was admitted Fellow, but we conceive—.’ The Dr. hesitating, another said, ‘May it please Your Majesty, there was no new election or admission since Your Majesty’s inhibition, but only the consummation of a former election. We always elect to one year’s probation, then the person elected is received or rejected for ever.’
“K.—‘The consummation of a former election! It was downright disobedience, and is a fresh aggravation. Get you gone home, and immediately repair to your Chapel, and elect the Bishop of Oxon, or else you must expect to feel the heavy hand of an angry King.’
“The Fellows offered their petition again, on their knees.
“K.—‘Get ye gone, I will receive nothing from you till you have obeyed me, and elected the Bishop of Oxford.’