- Clenennau letters and papers 444 [RESTRICTED ACCESS]
- File
- [c.1600].
The recipient will receive by the bearer a suit of apparel and 40s. which he is to deliver to his tutor. He is to write how he profits from his studies, what authors his tutor reads to him, and what he spends weekly. He is to have care to serve God and to live as sparingly as he can. He is to consider his parents' means and great charge of children, insomuch that the writer cannot maintain any of the recipient's brothers at the University. 'Therefore prayse God that thou hast carefull parents to place thee in Oxenford, a famous University, the fountayne and wellhead of all learning. Keepe company with honest students who aphore evill courses as drinking and takeing toebacko to their own losse and discredit of their friends and parents whoe sent them to the University for better purposes'. The writer urges his son to be present at declamations and disputations and other exercises. He wishes him especially to be attentive to hear good sermons and to learn how to make brief notes and abridgements by figures and ciphers to express a whole sentence as the preacher delivereth. Any scholar having a swift hand may profit this way in receiving and observing all good sermons he hears. He should always have his paper book and ink ready to write what he likes best of sermons as well as other declamations and disputations. He is to call on his tutor or Mr Dr Ellis for any books or other necessities he wants. Wishes to know whether his son has received Owen's Epigrams by Edward ap William and what has become of his russet coat? His mother will provide him with a winter suit about Michaelmas and what other necessaries he wants he must write at large that they may be provided. 'I will allow you noe servitor. You may serve yourself and spare 6d. a weeke. Take heed least you be gulde by the buttler that he sett downe in his booke more for bread and beere than you call for. Speake noe Welsh to any that can speake English, noe not to your bedfellows, that therby you may attaine and freely speak Englishe tongue perfectly [sic]. I hadd rather that you shuld keepe company with studious, honest Englishmen than with any of your own countrymen who are more prone to be idle and riotous than the English'. Draft.