Letter II. By the King.
Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. And of late being informed, to our no little marvel and discontentation, that a great part of the youth of that our University with contentious factions and manner, daily combining together, neither regarding their duty to us their Sovereign Lord, nor yet conforming themselves to the opinions and orders of the virtuous, wise, sage, and profound learned men of that University, wilfully to stick upon the opinion to have a great number of regents and non-regents to be associate unto the doctors, proctors, and Bachelors of Divinity, for the determination of our question; which we believe hath not been often seen, that such a number of right small learning in regard to the other, should be joined with so famous a sort, or in a manner stay their seniors in so weighty a cause: which as we think should be no small dishonour to our University there, but most especially to you the seniors and rulers of the same, assuring you that this their unnatural and unkind demeanour is not only right much to our displeasure, but much to be marvelled of, upon what ground and occasion they being our mere subjects, should show themselves more unkind and wilful in this matter, than all other universities both in this and in all other regions do. Finally, we trusting in the dexterity and wisdom of you and other the said discreet and substantial learned men of that University, be in perfect hope, that ye will condemn and frame the said young persons unto good order and conformity, as it becometh you to do. Wherefore we be desirous to hear with incontinent diligence, and doubt you not we shall regard the demeanour of everyone of the University, according to their merits and deserts. And if the youth of the University will play masteries, as they begin to do, we doubt not but that they shall well perceive that non est bonum irritare crabrones.
Given under, etc.