It is, I believe, the first time that a chapter on the women’s colleges has anywhere appeared, and certainly the first time that such a chapter forms part of an account of the University. I have taken pains to authenticate the description here given, for events which occurred thirty--even twenty--years back are now fading out of remembrance and some of those who took part in them are no longer with us. A first and last chapter on the origin of universities and on the sister universities have been omitted for the purposes of this volume. The pleasantest part of my task still remains to be performed--to thank all those, both in and out of Cambridge, who have kindly afforded me facilities, have obtained information on innumerable points, or lightened my labours by lending books. In addition to this welcome assistance my thanks are specially due to Mr. J. Willis Clark, late fellow of Trinity, and Registrary of the University, for sparing time to read the proof sheets of Chapters I. and II.--for sparing time and not sparing trouble; to the Master of Peterhouse and to Dr. A. W. Verrall (fellow and late tutor of Trinity) for reading the proof sheets of portions of Chapter II. and portions of Chapter III.; to Mr. C. W. Moule fellow and librarian of Corpus Christi, Mr. Ellis H. Minns assistant-librarian, and late fellow, of Pembroke, to Miss M. G. Kennedy, and to the Mistress of Girton; to the Assistant Keeper of MSS. at the British Museum, and the Librarian at Lambeth; to Lord Francis Hervey and Sir Ernest Clarke who kindly supplied some annotated references to the school at Bury from the Curteys Register, and last but not least to the Rev. H. F. Stewart (chaplain of Trinity) and Mrs. Stewart, the former of whom has been good enough to read portions of the proof sheets of Chapter IV. For any opinions expressed I am, of course, alone responsible. M. A. R. T. _February 1907._ Contents CHAPTER I THE ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE The northern schools--legends--the town--the river--the fen monasteries--the school of glomery--the religious orders--the jurisdiction of Ely--the clerk and the religious. School and university--Stourbridge fair--the university in the xiii century--foundation of endowed scholars--hostels.....1-51 CHAPTER II THE COLLEGES