academical lol-poops
Decay of learning. Before the warr wee had scholars that made a thorough search in scholasticall and polemicall divinity, in humane authors, and naturall philosophy. But now scholars studie these things not more than what is just necessary to carry them throug the exercises of their respective colleges and the Universitie. Their aime is not to live as students ought to do, viz. temperat, abstemious, and plaine and grave in the apparell; but to live like gent., to keep dogs and horses, to turne their studies and coleholes into places to receive bottles, to swash it in apparell, to weare long periwigs, etc.; and the theologists to ride abroad in grey coats with swords by their sides.
- The word ‘lol-poop’ is taken from slightly earlier in the book, and indicates, according to the OED, ‘A lazy, idle drone.’ This seems a rather cranky way of referring to the warden of a college, but Wood was apparently a cranky sort of fellow.[↩]