Probably few undergraduates know under what strict rules the students of Harvard College in early times were governed. From a number of the oldest records and orders of the College overseers, many of them partly destroyed, Albert Matthews '82, who is editing the history of Harvard before 1750 for the Massachusetts Historical Society, has collected and summarized the laws which a student had to obey at that period.

In the first place, no one was permitted to go to another town without the "License of ye Overseers," nor could he be a member of the "Artillery or traine-Band." About 1650 several special orders of the College were passed: "No Scholar shall buy sell, or exchange anything to ye value of six-pence without ye allowance of his parents, guardians or tutors. The scholars shall never use their Mother-tongue except in public exercises of oratory, where they are called to make them in English. No scholar whatever, without the acquaintance and leave of ye President and his Tutor shall be present at any of ye Publike Civil meetings or Concourse of people; nor shall he take tobacco unless permitted by ye President with ye consent of his parents or guardians, and on good reason first given by a Physitian and then in a sober and private manner." Another rule was made providing punishment for the Seniors' practice of sending the Freshmen on errands, and otherwise making use of them. On Saturday evening the students were required to retire to their chambers at sunset, "and not necessarily leave them," and for all disorders they were severely punished, sometimes expelled.

Everyone was required to be in his room, studying, by 9 o'clock and "to this End, the Tutors frequently visited their chambers (especially in their several districts) after 9, and at other studying times, to quicken them to their business."

Further, "No scholar shall unnecessarily frequent any tavern or Victualling House in Cambridge to eat or Drink there without leave from ye President or one of the Tutors." Immediately after this order was repealed a number of eating houses, probably exceeding the present multitude, sprang up and did an excellent business.

At this period there is also mentioned the first public debates. "The Undergraduates shall in their course declaim publicly in the Hall, in one of ye three Learned Languages. The Senior Sophisters shall dispute publicly in the Hall once a week till the tenth of March. Resident Bachelours shall dispute in the Hall once a fortnight (from ye tenth of September to the tenth of March) on such questions as the President directs." The celebrations at these events caused the following order: "If any scholar be guilty of drunkenness, he shall be fined 5 shillings and make a public confession. No undergraduate shall keep by him brandy, rum, or any other distilled spirituous liquors; nor shall he use any such mixt drinks as punch or Flip."