iam of Waynflete had also
enjoined those who partook of his bounty to have a particular regard to
moral character in choosing their head; and, even if he had left no such
injunction, a body chiefly composed of divines could not with decency
entrust such a man as Farmer with the government of a place of
education.

The Fellows respectfully represented to the King the difficulty in which
they should be placed, if, as was rumoured, Farmer should be recommended
to them, and begged that, if it were His Majesty's pleasure to
interfere in the election, some person for whom they could legally
and conscientiously vote might be proposed. Of this dutiful request no
notice was taken. The royal letter arrived. It was brought down by one
of the Fellows who had lately turned Papist, Robert Charnock, a man of
parts and spirit, but of a violent and restless temper, which impelled
him a few years later to an atrocious crime and to a terrible fate. On
the thirteenth of April the society met in the chapel. Some hope was
still entertained that the King might be moved by the remonstrance which
had been addressed to him. The assembly therefore adjourned till the
fifteenth, which was the last day on which, by the constitution of the
college, the election could take place.

The fifteenth of April came. Again the Fellows repaired to their chapel.
No answer had arrived from Whitehall. Two or three of the Seniors, among
whom was Smith, were inclined to postpone the election once more rather
than take a step which might give offence to the King. But the language
of the statutes was clear. Those statutes the members of the foundation
had sworn to observe. The general opinion was that there ought to be no
further delay. A hot debate followed. The electors were too much excited
to take their seats; and the whole choir was in a tumult. Those who were
for proceeding appealed to their oaths and to the rules laid down by the
founder whose bread they had eaten. The King, they truly said, had no
right to force on them even a qualified candidate. Some expressions
unpleasing to Tory ears were dropped in the course of the dispute;
and Smith was provoked into exclaiming that the spirit of Ferguson had
possessed his brethren. It was at length resolved by a great majority
that it was necessary to proceed immediately to the election. Charnock
left the chapel. The other Fellows, having first received the sacrament,
proceeded to give their voices. The choice fell o