To the theatre is added the fiuaoua Sheldonian Print-
ing Hoxisa This being at the Act, and at the first time
of opening the theatre {Acts being formferly kept in
St. Mary's Church, which might be thought indecent,
that being a place set apart for the immediate wor-
ship of God, and was the inducement for building
this noble pile), it was now resolved, to keep thp
present Act in it, and celebrate its dedication with
the greatest splendour and formality that might be,;
and, therefore, drew a world of strangers, and other
company, to the Univeraity, from all parts of the
nation.
' The Vice-Chancelior, heads of houses, and doc-
tors, being seated in magisterial seats, the Vice-
Chancellor's chair and desk, proctors, &a, covered
with brocatelle (a kind of brocade) and doth of gold,
the University Registrar read the founder's grant
and gift of it to the university for their scholastic
exercises upon these aoleinn occasions. Then followed
Dr. South, the university's orator, in an eloquent
speech,, which was very long and not without some
malicious and indecent, reflections on the RoyaJ
Society, as underminers . of the imiversity; which
was very foolish and untrue, as well as unreason-
able. But, to let that pass from an ill-natured man,
the rest was in praise of the archbishop and the in-
genious architect. This ended, after loud music

D.q,t,:scbyGOOQlC



164 ANNAia OP OXFORD.
