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The ceremonies of the “creation” of Masters and Doctors on Commencement Day, by which the degree was “made perfect,” is now a mere signing of lists, or a reading of names (as Dr Tanner remarks, Historical Register, p. 186), but it was formerly a proceeding of considerable solemnity. Gunning, in his Reminiscences (1, 26), describes a Commencement Sunday at Cambridge:
The College walks were crowded. Every doctor in the University wore his scarlet robes during the whole day. All the noblemen appeared in their splendid robes, not only at St Mary's and in the College Halls, but also in the public walks. Their robes (which are now [1785] uniformly purple) at that time were of various colours, according to the tastes of the wearers–purple, white, green, and rose-colour, were to be seen at the same time. The people from the neighbouring villages then never ventured to pass the rails which separate the walks from the high road. The evening of Commencement Tuesday, if not the most numerous, was always the most splendid assemblage at Pot Fair, when the merits of the steward and the events of the Ball formed the chief subjects of conversation.
The steward just mentioned was chosen by the ladies from among the noblemen, who generally took their degree on the Monday.
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