A sensible, affectionate, humorous, religious father, occupying a position of authority, and greatly respected, a mother and three elder sisters to make much of his bright wit and early adventures, a comfortable yet simple home, and an atmosphere of piety, learning, and good fellowship.

What more is wanted, or can be desired?
The "Boatswains" and "Cabin-boys" of Bishop Parker's fancy were in the neighbourhood, no doubt, and as stray companions for a half-holiday must have had their attractions; but it is unnecessary to attribute Andrew Marvell's style in controversy to his early acquaintance with a sea-faring population, for he is far more likely to have picked it up from his great friend and colleague, the author of _Paradise Lost_.
Marvell's school education over, he went up to Cambridge, not to his father's old college, but to the more splendid foundation of Trinity.
About the date of his matriculation there is a doubt.

In Wood's _Athenae Oxonienses_ there is a note to the effect that Marvell was admitted "in matriculam Acad.Cant.Coll.

Trin." on the 14th of December 1633, when the boy was but twelve years old.

Dr.Lort, a famous master of Trinity in his day, writing in November 1765 to Captain Edward Thompson, of whom more later on, told the captain that until 1635 there was no register of admissions of ordinary students, or pensioners, as they are called, but only a register of Fellows and Foundation Scholars, and in this last-named register Marvell's name appears as a Scholar sworn and admitted on the 13th of April 1638.