St. John's College, CambridgeScott, Robert Forsyth
History
St. John's College, Cambridge
Scott, Robert Forsyth
St. John's College (University of Cambridge) -- History
Of the individuals who make up the stream of youthful life which has
ebbed and flowed through the College gate there is but little official
record. An Admonition Book exists, in which more than a century ago
those who were punished for graver offences against discipline signed
the record of their sentence and promised amendment. One youth admits
over a trembling signature that he was "admonished by the Master, before
the Seniors, for keeping strangers in my chamber till twelve o' the
clock, and disturbing the Master by knocking at his gate in an
irreverent manner at that hour for the keys of the gate." When the
College gate was closed it may be explained that the keys were placed in
the Master's keeping. We are, however, left in ignorance of what passed
in that chamber until the midnight hour. Yet no doubt the student in
past days had his amusements as well as his successor of the present
day--rougher perhaps, but not less agreeable to him.
In Bishop Fisher's statutes archery was encouraged as a pastime, and we
know from Ascham's writings that he indulged in it. In the sixteenth
century the College built a tennis-court for the use of its members.
John Hall, who entered the College in 1646, recommended "shittlecock" as
fit for students--"it requires a nimble arme with quick and waking eye."
We hear of horse matches and cock-fighting, but in terms of disapproval.
Football is mentioned in 1574, when the Vice-Chancellor directed that
scholars should only play upon their own College ground. In 1595 "the
hurtful and unscholarly exercise of football" was forbidden, except
within each College and between members of the same College. Certain
general orders for the discipline of the undergraduates, which gave rise
to much controversy about 1750, forbade cricket between the hours of
nine and twelve in the morning. In 1763 the Vice-Chancellor required
that no scholar, of whatever rank, should be present at bull-baiting. We
read in the eighteenth century of "schemes" or water-parties on the
river, but these appear to have been more of the nature of picnics than
exercises of skill. Riding was probably very common, the student
arriving on his nag, perhaps selling it and using the proceeds as a
start in his new life. The phrase "Hobson's choice" took its rise from
the rule in the livery stables of Hobson the carrier that a man who
hired a hack had to take the one that stood nearest to the stable door.
In later days stage-coaches supplied a more regular means of
conveyance. Students leaving Cambridge for the North betook themselves
to Huntingdon, and were housed at the George Inn there till places could
be found for them in the coaches. The landlord of the George sending
over to Cambridge to let it be known that one batch were gone and that
another might come over.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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