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professor Shirley, Mr. Luard, professor Mayor, and professor Stubbs, the 'Documents' published by the Royal Commission,-the papers relating to points of minuter interest in the publications of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society,— and the histories of separate colleges, especially Baker's History of St. John's College in the exhaustive and admirable edition by professor Mayor,—have afforded not less valuable aid in connexion with the corresponding periods in England.

But contributions thus varied and voluminous to the literature of the subject, while forestalling labour in one direction have also not a little augmented the necessity for patient enquiry and careful deliberation in arriving at conclusions; and the responsibility involved might have altogether deterred the author from the attempt, had he not at the same time been able to have recourse to assistance of another but not less valuable kind. From the time that he was able to make his design known to those most able to advise in the prosecution of such a work, he has been under constant obligations to different members of the university for direction with respect to sources of information, for access to records, and for much helpful criticism. Among those who have evinced a kindly interest in the work he may be permitted to name Henry Bradshaw, Esq., M.A., fellow of King's College and university librarian; William George Clark, Esq., M.A., senior fellow of Trinity College and late public orator; the Rev. John Eyton Bickersteth Mayor, M.A., senior fellow of St. John's College, and professor of Latin; John Edwin Sandys, Esq., M.A., fellow and tutor of St. John's College; and Isaac Todhunter, Esq., M.A, F.R.S., late fellow of St. John's College; as gentlemen to whom he is indebted not only for the revision and correction

of large portions of the work, either in manuscript or when passing through the press, but also for numerous suggestions and a general guidance which have served to render the volume much less faulty and defective than it would otherwise have been.

For facilities afforded, or for information and assistance in matters of detail, his acknowledgements are also due to the authorities of Peterhouse, and of Pembroke, Corpus Christi, and Queens' Colleges; to J. Willis Clark, Esq., M.A., late fellow of Trinity College; to W. A. Cox, Esq., M.A., fellow of St. John's College; to the late professor De Morgan; to E. A. Freeman, Esq., D.C.L.; to the Rev. E. L. Hicks, M.A., fellow and librarian of Corpus Christi College, Oxford; to the Rev. S. S. Lewis, M.A., fellow and librarian of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; to the Rev. H. R. Luard, M.A., registrary of the university; to the Rev. P. H. Mason, M.A., senior fellow and Hebrew lecturer of St. John's College; to M. Paul Meyer, formerly editor of the Revue Critique; to the Rev. W. G. Searle, M.A., historian and late fellow of Queens' College; to professor Stubbs; to the Rev. C. Wordsworth, M.A., fellow of Peterhouse; and to W. Aldis Wright, Esq., M.A., senior bursar and late librarian of Trinity College.

Finally his grateful acknowledgements are due to the Syndics of the University Press, during the last three years, for encouragement and assistance most liberally extended in relation to the publication of the present volume.

In conclusion, the author cannot but express his sense that his work, notwithstanding these advantages, must still appear very far from being a complete and satisfactory treatment of the subject, even within the period it comprises. He can only hope that, with all its defects, it may yet be recognised as partially supplying a long existing want; and at

a time when those few restrictions that have been supposed to hinder a perfectly free intercourse between the university and the country at large either have been entirely removed or seem likely soon to disappear, it will be no small reward if his efforts should conduce, in however slight a degree, to a more accurate knowledge of the past history, and a livelier interest in the future prospects, of one of the most ancient, most important, and most widely useful of the nation's institutions.

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