In August, James nominated to the Presidency of Magdalen, Parker, Bishop of Oxford, with whose character the reader is already acquainted. His unpopularity with Protestants had now been increased by the publication not only of his reasons for abrogating the test introduced to exclude Papists, but by his excusing the doctrines of Transubstantiation, and his vindicating the Romanists from the charge of idolatry. To nominate Parker offended the University for two reasons. No vacancy, in fact, existed, since Hough could claim office by virtue of his College election; besides, the Bishop had never been a Fellow of either of the Colleges specified in the Statutes. In September the King himself visited Oxford, determined to subdue the refractory body. The interview has been often described; the following account, substantially the same as that given in the _State Trials_[195] is preserved in MS. in the Record Office. “The Lord Sunderland sent orders to the Fellows of Magdalen College to attend the King on Sunday last, at eleven o’clock, or at three in the afternoon. “They waited accordingly. Dr. Pudsey, Speaker. “_K._--‘What’s your name? Are you Dr. Pudsey?’ “_Dr. P._--‘Yes, may it please your Majesty.’ “_K._--‘Did you receive my letter?’ “_Dr. P._--‘Yes, Sir, we did.’ “_K._--‘Then you have not dealt with me like gentlemen: you have done very uncivilly by me, and undutifully.’ [Sidenote: 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.’