He answered, "At the university of Salamanca." This was no new instance of his mendacity and effrontery.

His Salamanca degree had been, during many years, a favourite theme of all the Tory satirists from Dryden downwards; and even on the Continent the Salamanca Doctor was a nickname in ordinary use, [394] The Lords, in their hatred of Oates, so far forgot their own dignity as to treat this ridiculous matter seriously.

They ordered him to efface from his petition the words, "Doctor of Divinity." He replied that he could not in conscience do it; and he was accordingly sent back to gaol, [395] These preliminary proceedings indicated not obscurely what the fate of the writ of error would be.

The counsel for Oates had been heard.

No counsel appeared against him.