1

LETTER CCXXVI.

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5    Wheras the great excess and disorder of Apparell
6hath not only impoverished the Realme, but hath bene
7a special cause of many other vices and evil examples
8in all degrees; for the due reformation whereof it is

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9godly provided for in all persons and places, if due
10execution were had accordingly: for want wherof,
11many have greatly exceeded the prescription of Law,
12and left the ancient, grave, and comely apparell generally
13used of all scholars in both Universities heretofore;
14whereby they were known and reverenced, every
15man in his degree, both in the University and withoute,
16in Court and City; by wearing of that comely, decent,
17and wonted apparell; the due consideration whereof, is
18referred by her Majesties Proclamation to the Chancellors
19of both Universities, supposing that their commandement
20will work a perfect reformation of all disorders
21in both the said Universities. Wherefore these
22are straitly to charge and command you the Vicechancellor
23and Hedds of the Colleges in the University of
24Cambridge, that the Statutes and Orders made in your
25University for the special apparell to be worne of all
26degrees of scholars, made sithens her Majestie's most
27gracious raigne, be duely observed and kept, and that
28no hatt be worne of any Graduate or Scholer within
29the University, except it be when he shall journey out
30of the Town, the same Graduate or Scholar having
31his name in any Table, or being in commons in any
32House of Learning in the said University; except in
33the time of his sicknes. And that all Scholers being
34Graduats upon the charges of any Howse, do wear a
35square cap of clothe, and lykewise scholers of Howses
36that be no Graduats, and all other Scholers that have
37taken no degree of Scholers, and do lyve upon their

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38own charges, do weare in the said University a round
39clothe cap. Saving that it may be lawful for the sons
40of Noblemen, or the sons and heirs of Knights, to
41wear round caps of velvet, but no hats. And also that
42every such aforesaid Scholer, being a Graduate, shall
43wear abroad in the University, going out of his College,
44a gown and a hoode of clothe, according to the
45order of his Degree. Provided that it shall be lawfull
46for every Doctor of Divinity, and for the Master of
47any College, to weare a scarlett tippet, or a tippet of
48velvet, according to the antient customs of the realme,
49and of the said University: the which gown, tippet,
50and square cap, the said Doctors and Hedds shall be
51lykewise bound to weare when they shall resorte either
52to the Courte or to the City of London.
53    And that the excess of Shirtbands and Ruffs exceeding
54one inche and halfe (saving for the sonns of
55Noblemen), the fashion and colore of other then white,
56be avoyded presently.
57    And no Scholer nor Fellowe of the foundation of
58any Howse of Learninge do weare either in the Universitye
59or without, so long as he retaine the livings
60of a Fellowe or Scholer, any hose, stockings, dubletts,
61jackets, coats, or jerkins, or any other kinde of garment
62of velvet, satten, or silke, or in the faceing of the
63same shall have above one quarter of a yard of silke,
64or shall use any other light kynde of colore, or cutts,
65or gards, or fashion, which shall be forbidden by the
66Chancellors, or in their absence by the Vicechancellor

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67and the more part of the Hedds of either of the said
68Universities.
69    And that no Scholer do weare any longe locks of
70heare upon his hedd, but that he be notted, polled, or
71rounded after the accustomed manner of the gravest
72scholers of the said University, under the pain of six
73shillings and eight pence for everye tyme that any graduate
74Fellow, Scholer, Pensioner, or Sizer shall offende
75in any of the foresaid Orders. The forfeycture
76for every publique offence committed without the College
77to be collected, immediatelye after the offence
78done, by the bedells or other Officers therunto appoynted
79within the said University, and to be payd
80either to the Chancellor, or in his absence to the Vicechancellor
81of the said University, to th'onlye use of
82the same, and by him to be accompted for at his general
83accompts for his yeare.
84    And the punishments and forfeytures of all the
85aforesaid offences by any of the aforenamed Students
86within any of the Colleges or Halls in the said University,
87to be taken by the Hedds and Sub-Hedds of
88the said Colleges and Halls where such offence is committed,
89and to be converted to the use of the said College
90or Hall.
91    And thes Orders, together with all other good Orders
92heretofore taken for exercises of Learning within
93the aforesaid University, I require you and every of
94you duely to observe and precisely to kepe according
95to your Oath and duties, as you will retaine my favour

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96and would have me to continue my careful government
97over you: which I assuer you I will cast off,
98yf I fynde not a due and spedye reformation of all disorders
99among you: for her Majesty looketh for the
100same, both at myne and your hands, and that forthwith.
101So I bid you hartelye farewell, from my House
102in the Strand, this 7^th. of Maye 1588.
103