an's child to come by a fellowship (though he be never so good a scholar
and worthy of that room). Such packing also is used at elections that not
he which best deserveth, but he that has most friends, though he be the
worst scholar, is always surest to speed, which will turn in the end to
the overthrow of learning. That some gentlemen also whose friends have
been in times past benefactors to certain of those houses do intrude into
the disposition of their estates without all respect of order or statutes
devised by the founders, only thereby to place whom they think good (and
not without some hope of gain), the case is too evident: and their attempt
would soon take place if their superiors did not provide to bridle their
endeavours. In some grammar schools likewise which send scholars to these
universities, it is lamentable to see what bribery is used; for, ere the
scholar can be preferred, such bribage is made that poor men's children
are commonly shut out, and the richer sort received (who in time past
thought it dishonour to live as it were upon alms), and yet, being placed,
most of them study little other than histories, tables, dice, and trifles,
as men that make not the living by their study the end of their purposes,
which is a lamentable hearing. Beside this, being for the most part either
gentlemen or rich men's sons, they often bring the universities into much
slander. For, standing upon their reputation and liberty, they ruffle and
roist it out, exceeding in apparel, and banting riotous company (which
draweth them from their books unto another trade), and for excuse, when
they are charged with breach of all good order, think it sufficient to say
that they be gentlemen, which grieveth many not a little. But to proceed
with the rest.

Every one of these colleges have in like manner their professors or
readers of the tongues and several sciences, as they call them, which
daily trade up the youth there abiding privately in their halls, to the
end they may be able afterward (when their turn cometh about, which is
after twelve terms) to shew themselves abroad, by going from thence into
the common schools and public disputations (as it were "_In aream_") there
to try their skill, and declare how they have profited since their coming
thither.

Moreover, in the public schools of both the universities, there are found
at the prince's charge (and that very largely) fine professors and
readers, that is to say, of divinit