being jeer'd in too free a manner by one of his plowmen, replied in a pet, Why, how now, ſirrah? methinks you have a good ſtock; and ſo went home in the dumps: but we read of no bloodſhed, nor expulſion from his ſervice.
Notwithſtanding what ſome wiſe heads have thought to the contrary, I cannot ſee the great unreaſonableneſs of ſuch publick licences as theſe at particular ſeaſons: for why ſhould a poor undergraduate be called an idle raſcal, and a good for nothing blockhead, for being perhaps but twice at chapel in one day; or for coming into college at ten or eleven a clock at night; or for a thouſand other greater trifles than theſe; whilſt the greyheaded doctors may indulge themſelves in what debaucheries, and corruptions they pleaſe, with impunity, and without cenſure? Methinks it could not do any great hurt to the univerſities, if the old fellows were to be jobed at leaſt once in four or five years for their irregularities, as the young ones are every day, if they offend.
Indeed, ſome of my predeceſſors have us'd the old gentlemen too roughly, and run their chriſtian patience quite out of breath. One of theſe academical pickleherrings ſcurrilouſly affronted the learned preſident of St. John's college (in defiance of the ſtatute de contumeliis compeſcendis) by ſhaking a box and dice in the theatre, and calling out to him by name, as he came in, in this manner, Jacta eſt alea, doctor, Seven's the main, in alluſion to a ſcandalous report handed about by the doctors's enemies, that he was guilty of that infamous practice, and had loſt great ſums of other people's money at dice; which ſtory all, who have the honour to be acquainted with that profound divine, know to be a moſt groundleſs and impudent defamation.
Several ſuch indignities as theſe having been offer'd to the grave fathers of the univerſity, (the
