I believe he fights hard against his inclinations, but they are too strong for him.

If war breaks out I fear that, some day, he will be missing.
"He will, of course, go down south, where he will be unknown; and where, when the hair on his tonsure has grown, he can well pass as a man-at-arms, and take service with some warlike lord.

I trust that it may not be so, but he will assuredly make a far better man-at-arms than he will ever make a good monk." The next morning, after practising for two hours with sword and pike, Oswald went down, at eight o'clock, to the monastery, and was conducted to friar Roger's cell.

The latter at once began his instruction, handing him a piece of blackened board, and a bit of chalk.
"Now," he said, "you must learn to read and write, together.

There are twenty-six letters, and of each there is a big one and a little one.
The big ones are only used at the beginning of a sentence--that is where, if you were talking, you would stop to take breath and begin afresh--and also at the first letter of the names of people, and places.
"The first letter is 'A'.