Welsh students at Oxford, Cambridge and the inns of court during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries
Between c.1540 and 1640 at least 2500 Welsh students entered Oxford and Cambridge universities and the inns of court in London. Oxford had attracted many Welshmen in the middle ages, and continued to receive the majority, who were at their greatest proportion to the total student body in the 1590s. The popularity of Cambridge and the inns emerged after 1600, centring on the admission of wealthier students. Relative to population, North Wales counties were better represented. Approximately twoâfifths of registered university Welsh entrants graduated B.A. or higher, and about oneâfifth of the inns' Welsh intake became barristers. Areal affinities figured significantly in Welsh associations with particular inns and colleges. Some colleges offered scholarships and fellowships to the Welsh, and new endowments strengthened these links. The presence of Welsh officials represented another bond, while the cautions and guarantor schemes, especially at the inns, further embodied areal ties. Kindred loyalties also counted. This influx in admissions coincided with advances in Welsh schooling, which leading social groups supported. Important university bequests followed to assist Welsh students, notably at Jesus College,
Griffith, W. P.
History
Welsh students at Oxford, Cambridge and the inns of court during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Between c.1540 and 1640 at least 2500 Welsh students entered Oxford and Cambridge universities and the inns of court in London. Oxford had attracted many Welshmen in the middle ages, and continued to receive the majority, who were at their greatest proportion to the total student body in the 1590s. The popularity of Cambridge and the inns emerged after 1600, centring on the admission of wealthier students. Relative to population, North Wales counties were better represented. Approximately twoâfifths of registered university Welsh entrants graduated B.A. or higher, and about oneâfifth of the inns' Welsh intake became barristers. Areal affinities figured significantly in Welsh associations with particular inns and colleges. Some colleges offered scholarships and fellowships to the Welsh, and new endowments strengthened these links. The presence of Welsh officials represented another bond, while the cautions and guarantor schemes, especially at the inns, further embodied areal ties. Kindred loyalties also counted. This influx in admissions coincided with advances in Welsh schooling, which leading social groups supported. Important university bequests followed to assist Welsh students, notably at Jesus College,
welsh student oxford cambridge court welsh student enter oxford cambridge university court london oxford attract many middle_age continue receive majority great proportion total student body popularity cambridge emerge centre admission wealthy student relative population north_wales counties well represent register university welsh graduate high fifth welsh become areal affinity figure significantly welsh association particular college college offer scholarship fellowship welsh new endowment strengthen link presence welsh official represent another bond caution scheme especially embodied areal tie loyalty also count influx admission coincide advance welsh schooling lead social_group support important university bequest follow assist welsh student notably jesus college