informed him that he must furnish three propositions, generally of a moral or metaphysical nature, which he was prepared to maintain in debate. Three students of equal standing, from other colleges, were then elected by the Proctor to appear as 'Opponents.' On the day appointed the Respondents and Opponents met in the Public Schools, and under the presidency of a Master of Arts, and in the presence of an audience of graduates, began the discussion.

A Latin thesis on the selected subject was read by the Respondent, and was answered, to the best of his ability and in the best Latin he could command, by one after the other of the Opponents. When all the speakers had finished they were dismissed by the President, or 'Moderator' as he was called, with such remarks on their performance as he deemed necessary, and the 'Act' was over.

When a student had passed through two of these exhibitions of argumentative skill he underwent an examination by the officials of his own college, and, if successful, was 'sent up' as a candidate for the B.A. degree. The selected candidates from all the colleges were then examined for three days, usually in the week before Ash Wednesday, in the Public Schools, before the Proctors and other members of the University. Those who succeeded in passing this examination were furnished by their colleges with a supplicat to the Vice-Chancellor and Senate, praying that they might be admitted ad respondendum quæstioni. A few days later the candidates from

each college, headed by one of their Fellows, went up to the public schools, where they had to answer questions out of Aristotle's Prior Analytics, and then became 'determiners.' Between then and Palm Sunday they underwent a further course of exercises, and on this last-named day their probation ended, and they were pronounced Bachelors of Arts.67

Needless to say that many of the students never attained to this dignity, but after a year or two forsook the University for other occupations. It is a proof of Marlowe's perseverance, as well as ability, that he passed through the ordeal successfully, and in 1584, apparently as early as it was possible for him to have done so, obtained his B.A. degree. The Grace Book thus records the fact: Chrōs. Marlyn, ex coll. corp. chris. was admitted ad respondendum questioni.' His supplicat spells the name 'Marlin.' Thos. Harris signs as Prelector.68

Although there were, as already pointed out, certain vacations at Christmas and Easter, it was not usual for the students to leave the University at those times. The difficulties of travelling, and, probably, the youth of most of the collegians, caused the enforcement of much strictness in residence, and it was only during the long vacation that scholars from far-away homes had a chance of visiting friends or relatives. Archbishop Parker had, indeed, made a proviso in his agreement with Corpus Christi College that none of his scholars was to be absent

SHOWING THE B.A.'S OF THAT YEAR IN THEIR SENIORITY.

MARLOWE IS NO. 199

PLATE XV.

above a month in the year, and then only with leave; and the provisions of the University did not permit of a student being away from his college above one month in the year (during the half of which time only was he to have his allowance), without the special leave of the Master and Fellows.

Although this restriction, like so many others which the wisdom or experience of Founders had made, was gradually allowed to lapse or become obsolete, it is not probable that lads in the days of Marlowe had the power, even if they had the inclination, to disregard it. That he contrived to return home to Canterbury from year to year until he attained his first degree is almost certain, but it is equally certain that there is no record of his journey, or his home-coming, or of his reception in his native city. His sister Joan was married in 1583 to John Moore, who was in the same kind of business as her father, and in the same year John Marlowe took as a new apprentice Elnas (sic but perhaps Elias) Martyn or Marlyn. No further record of the family is discoverable for some few years.

69

At Cambridge Kit doubtless formed acquaintanceship with members of other colleges than his own. The suggestion that he then became friendly with Thomas Nashe, the subsequent bitter satirist, and with Robert Greene, the future author, has no evidence to support it; and although his name has so often been coupled with theirs, it will be seen later on that in all probability he never had any,