How to Treat the Freshmen, 1367

Luttrell Psalter, f. 157v

We have learned from certain important and noteworthy persons…  that there are some students who compel (or try to compel) the new students arriving at the university… – both by brazen and evil seizure of their books and other belongings, and by threats and other scams they have devised – to pay, against their will, a penalty for their freshman state (their recent and happy arrival at the aforementioned university!)… by taking them to the tavern and, as a sheep is led to the slaughter, compelling them to join in. And so the decency of conduct which should flourish in the studious, and their gravity of manners and integrity of reputation, is defiled shamefully, and carousals, inebriations, disgusting words, promiscuities, all-nighters both in taverns and around the city at night, housebreakings, and other things we will not mention, ensue. And the reputation of the whole school and all its students is tarnished among prelates and princes and other good and honest people… Let them cease hereafter and utterly, under penalty of excommunication.

Statute of the University of Orléans

Say it with me now: I will not ransom the freshmen’s books to make them pay for parties.