or only the slightest, personal acquaintance with either of them.

Hard as the living may have been, and dull the routine of college life in those days, there is plenty of evidence extant to prove that the students indulged occasionally in the fun and frolic natural to youth. Nashe, who took his B.A. degree at St. John's College, in 1584, doubtless referred to some real incident of University life, in which Gabriel Harvey, his long-time enemy, was concerned, when, after exclaiming in his characteristic manner, 'I have terms, if I be vext, laid in steep in aquafortis and gunpowder,' he proceeds to pour his corrosive flood of acrimonious verbosity over the head of the offending Harvey, that 'son of a rope-maker,' as he loved to term him, for having 'had'st thy hood turned over thy ears when thou wert a Batchelor, for abusing of Aristotle, and setting him upon the school-gates painted with ass's ears on his head.' 70

Robert Greene, also a contemporary at St. John's, avers that deeds of much darker hue were not infrequently committed by Cantabs in his days, and he confesses to having been one of the worst offenders himself, but his catchpenny confessions and trumpery tracts, scribbled off for the purpose of obtaining a few shillings for the temporary relief of his chronic necessities, do not deserve the notice or notoriety they have received. That many of the University decrees and college regulations were set at nought there is abundant testimony; that in some

colleges matters of costume were treated after the inclination or vanity of the wearer, instead of in accordance with rule, was self-evident; and that irregularities of many kinds were prevalent was notorious; but there is no proof that the criminalities hinted at by Robert Greene existed. Greene was so generally untruthful, and his descriptions so luridly coloured, that they need not be seriously regarded as typical pictures of University life. statement that, after he had graduated B.A., he mixed with 'Wags as lewd as myself, with whom I consumed the flower of my youth," need not be accepted as the behaviour of Cantabs in general, and still less of Marlowe in particular.

His

The greatest trouble and grief to the authorities was caused by theological differences. On the one hand, says a historian, all serious people complained that 'nicknaming and scoffing at religion and the power of godliness,' and 'debauched and atheistical' principles, prevailed to an extent that seemed strange in a University of the Reformed Church'; whilst, on the other hand, the more zealous churchman had special cause of complaint in the increase of puritanical opinions and practices, more particularly in certain colleges, where the heads and senior members were puritanically inclined.

It was represented that upon Fridays and Fastdays, the victualling houses prepared a good store of meat 'for all scholars that will come or send unto them'; that in the churches, both on Sundays and

other days, there was little decency of behaviour, and the regular forms of prayer were in many cases avoided; instead whereof we have such private fancies and several prayers of every man's own making vented among us... that our young scholars are thereby taught to prefer the private spirit before the public, and their own invented and unapproved prayers before the Liturgy of the Church.' In Trinity College it was found that the scholars 'lean or sit or kneel at prayers, every man in a several posture as he pleased; at the name of Jesus few will bow; and when the Creed is repeated, many of the boys, by some men's directions, turn to the west door.'

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In most of the colleges something was always discoverable by critical observers calling for animadversion. Some of the collegians were too puritanical and others too free-thinking. 'Atheist' was the favourite appellation to bestow upon every one whose theological views did not coincide with the speaker's, or the writer's, as the case might be. Roman Catholic so styled Protestant and Protestant termed Roman Catholic so, whilst all Dissenters from the Church as by State established, obtained the same cognomen. The result of all this was that the students who thought for themselves became Freethinkers, or Roman Catholics, or Puritans, as they were led by their natural instincts, or were influenced by their favourite authors or leaders.

In the midst of all this conflict of opinion and seething mass of speculative theology what was Marlowe doing? The attainment of his B.A. degree naturally allowed him somewhat more licence of word and deed than in his undergraduate days, but, if he intended to commence Master of Arts, there was still much to be done, and without it his original idea of taking Holy Orders might have to be abandoned.

By the original statutes of the University those students who intended to advance beyond the B.A. degree were required to reside three more years there, and during that time to go through certain higher courses of study, and perform certain fresh Acts in the Public Schools and colleges. These regulations having been complied with, the scholars were, after being examined and after having performed certain other formalities, ceremoniously created Masters of Arts.

It was not often possible, as authorities admit, 'consistently with the demands of the public service for men of education, that all scholars who had taken their B.A. degree should thereafter continue to reside as punctually as before during the three additional years required for their M.A. degree hence, despite of oaths, there had been gradual relaxations,' but, although these relaxations may have commenced in Marlowe's time, there is really nothing to show that he did not continue residence in his college until the expiration of the six years or

so allotted to him. It is possible that during the whole of that period he may not have been the immaculate plodding scholar that the most exacting tutor might have desired, but there is nothing known or shown to the contrary. That he was a devoted student, thirsting after knowledge infinite' his labours prove, whilst the degrees he acquired show also that he conformed with the rules and regulations of the University.

Marlowe's academic studies must have been alternated and supplemented by translations from Latin poets, and in the composition of English verse, for which latter he had but few models to follow. Chaucer and his following were too antiquated; the dramatists, predecessors or contemporaries, were too stilted, rough, and essentially unpoetic to attract him ; whilst Spenser had done nothing to make himself known to him as yet. Naturally, he turned to the Latin and Greek poets, and for a time must have lovingly studied both them and their versification. His translation of Ovid's Elegies has indeed been thought to be due to this early period of his career, and some of his poetic productions must have been executed during his residence at Cambridge; the Amores was doubtless one of the earliest.

Dyce considers 'this version of the Amores does little credit either to Marlowe's skill as a translator, or to his scholarship,' yet is forced to acknowledge that it 'is occasionally spirited and flowing.' Fortunately, Marlowe's reputation, if not enhanced by the post