When the freshmen of the past year were solemnly made seniors, and probationers were admitted fellows, similar ceremonies took place. At All Souls', for instance, on 14th January, those who were to be admitted fellows were brought from their chambers in the middle of the night, sometimes in a bucket slung on a pole, and so led about the college and into the hall, whilst some of the junior fellows, disguised perhaps, would sing a song in praise of the mallard, some verses of which I give: "The griffin, bustard, turkey and capon, Let other hungry mortals gape on, And on their bones with stomachs fall hard, But let All Souls' men have the mallard. Hough the blood of King Edward, by the blood of King Edward, It was a swapping, swapping mallard. "The Romans once admired a gander More than they did their best commander, Because he saved, if some don't fool us, The place that's named from the scull of Tolus. Hough the blood of King Edward, by the blood of King Edward, It was a swapping, swapping mallard. "Then let us drink and dance a galliard In the remembrance of the mallard, And as the mallard doth in the pool, Let's dabble, dive and duck in bowle.[27] Hough, etc." In any attempt to appreciate the kind and character of the mediæval students and the life which they led, it is necessary first of all to realise that the keynote of the early student life was poverty. It was partly for the benefit of poor scholars and partly for the benefit of their founders' souls, for which these scholars should pray, that the early colleges and chantries were founded. Morals, learning and poverty were the qualifications for a fellowship on Durham's foundation. Poverty, "the stepmother of learning," it is which the University in its letters and petitions always and truly represents as the great hindrance to the student "seeking in the vineyard of the Lord the pearl of knowledge." Books these poor seekers could not afford to buy, fees they could scarce afford to pay, food itself was none too plentiful. But the pearl for which the young student as he sat, pinched and blue, at the feet of his teacher in the schools, and the Masters of Arts, "When, in forlorn and naked chambers cooped And crowded, o'er the ponderous books they hung," alike were searching, was a pearl of great price. For learning spelt success. There was through learning a career open to the talents. The lowliest and neediest might rise, by means of a University education, to the highest dignity which the Church, and that was also the world, could offer.