John's College. At the end of two
years he transferred himself to Trinity Hall, with a view to economy and
the pursuit of the law--the two frequently go together. He received his
degree of B. A. in 1617, and his M. A. in 1620, having relinquished the
law for the arts.
During this time he was assumed to be in receipt of a quarterly
allowance of ten pounds--a not illiberal provision, the pound being then
five times its present value; but as the payments were eccentric, the
master of arts was in recurrent distress. If this money came from his
own share of his father's estate, as seems likely, Herrick had cause for
complaint; if otherwise, the pith is taken out of his grievance.
The Iliad of his financial woes at this juncture is told in a few
chance-preserved letters written to his "most careful uncle," as he
calls that evidently thrifty person. In one of these monotonous and
dreary epistles, which are signed "R. Hearick," the writer says: "The
essence of my writing is (as heretofore) to entreat you to paye for
my use to Mr.
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