had to content myself with the indication afforded by a single line, or an unfinished sketch. For instance, in the essay on The Library, the following passage occurs: At the beginning of this century, however, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, the Library of Trinity Hall was built and fitted with desks which still remain, and are furnished with a complete mechanism for chaining the books. This is the only example that I have been able to discover in Cambridge, and it is so curious that I proceed to describe it at length"; but the rest of the page is blank. These words, however, shewed me that my uncle had intended to deal with the medieval system of chaining books, and I have therefore done my best to work out the whole subject, as part of the history of library-fittings in general, for which he had left copious notes. His interest in woodwork is well known, and I hope that this essay will be found to be one of the most valuable, and at the same time popular, of the series. In other essays, I regret to say, completion has not been easy, and, in some, not even possible. In that on The Gateway, the whole subject of the wooden doors, with which the gateways were originally closed, has been of necessity omitted, because the materials to my hand were so fragmentary that it was impossible to ascertain how he had proposed to treat the subject, as I have explained in the text (Vol. III. p. 295); and the essay on The Style of Collegiate Buildings, which he had intended to turn into a history of the influence of the Renaissance on Architecture, has been left, for the same reason, in a wretchedly attenuated condition. In all my

additions and it will be seen that they extend to nearly two-thirds of the whole work in its present form-I

have strictly confined myself within the limits which the author had traced for his own guidance; remembering at the same time that he proposed to write not merely "the architectural" history, but "the architectural and social" history; by which epithets I understand that the modifications introduced into collegiate structures by the changing habits of those who use them are always to be borne in mind and noticed. I can only hope that I shall not be thought to have developed this part of my subject, which, as possessing a human interest, is naturally the most fascinating, with too great minuteness. All added matter has been distinguished by enclosure within square brackets.

I am not merely employing a conventional figure of speech when I say that I wish that some other person than myself had been selected to edit and complete so important a work as this. Archæology, like other sciences, especially in these days, when all knowledge is so highly specialised, demands a regular and definite training from those who aim at professing it, and my time, until this task was thrust upon me, had been fully occupied with other and wholly different pursuits. Hence I am afraid that the architectural portion of the work will have suffered through my inexperience, while in that which is strictly editorial I am conscious of numerous defects, more especially in the histories of the earlier colleges, which were finished before I had fully realised the best method of sorting and arranging the materials presented My anxiety to leave untouched what Professor Willis had written, whenever it was possible to do so, led me too frequently to forget that the work had not received his final revision, and that one of the clearest

to me.

of writers would have been specially careful to avoid confusion. Further, I have to apologise for a certain want of uniformity between the earlier and later volumes, chiefly in the spelling of proper names. This has arisen, in the main, from the unexpected length to which the work has extended, so that the earlier portions had to be printed off before the later portions were begun.

In preparing some of the more important illustrations of existing buildings, and parts of buildings, I have had the advantage of the artistic talent of my friend John O'Connor, Esq. I wish to draw attention to the beautiful views of Queens' College, of the Fountain and Nevile's Gate at Trinity College, and of the Bath at Christ's College, all of which are by him. The reproductions of the celebrated series of prints by David Loggan, the appearance of which will be considered, I imagine, to be a novel and interesting feature of the work, were, for the most part, executed, like the rest of the wood-engravings, by Mr F. Anderson, to whom my best thanks are due, not only for his professional skill, but for his courtesy in deferring to my wishes on all occasions.

The plans of the colleges have, as a general rule, been based on those prepared in connection with the Award Act of 1856, tested by actual measurements, and brought up to date. In this matter, however, where exact uniformity was not necessary, the plan of each college has been treated with reference to the particular case. In some, as at Trinity Hall and Emmanuel College, older plans have been reproduced; in others, as at Peterhouse and Eton College, entirely original surveys have

been prepared. The plan of the buildings of Trinity College is based upon one measured and drawn by Professor Willis before the Award Act plans were made; and those of the ground floor and first floor of the Schools Quadrangle were measured and drawn by myself. For some of the older colleges, where it seemed desirable to exhibit the original and the existing arrangements together, the former have been drawn on paper, and the latter on tracing-linen placed above it. This device was suggested by a work, called Paris à travers les Ages, published in parts by Messrs Hachette between 1875 and 1882.

A research such as I have had to undertake depended for its success upon the cooperation of all who have the charge of University and College records. From all these, both here, at Oxford, and at the British Museum and Public Record Office, London, I have experienced unvaried kindness, and I beg them to accept this collective expression of my gratitude. In addition to these, however, there are some to whom I am under such particular obligations, that I wish to mention them by name.

My warmest thanks are due, in the first place, to the Reverend D. J. Stewart, M.A., of Trinity College, one of her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools. Mr Stewart, himself an accomplished archeologist and skilful artist, was an intimate friend of Professor Willis, frequently assisting him in the examination and measurement of buildings, and in discussing with him the arrangement of his work on Cambridge. His help has therefore been of peculiar value to me, as it has enabled me to ascertain, in numerous doubtful cases, what method my

VOL. I.

d

uncle intended to have followed, had he been able to prepare his own work for press. Mr Stewart not only placed all his notes at my disposal in the kindest manner, and allowed me to consult him at all times since my work began, but has been at the trouble of reading the greater part of the proof-sheets, thereby saving me from many errors into which I should otherwise have fallen. The value of this help has been most conspicuous in the history of Jesus College Chapel, and in that of S. Benedict's Church.

I have also to acknowledge the help which I received from two friends, now, I regret to say, no more, the Reverend J. Lamb, M.A., Fellow of Gonville and Caius College; and the Reverend C. J. Evans, M.A., Fellow of King's College. The former added valuable notes to the history of his own college; the latter contributed the important essay on the Heraldry of King's College Chapel. Besides these, the Reverend G. F. Browne, B.D., formerly Fellow of S. Catharine's College, most kindly placed at my disposal the collections he had formed for the history of his college, and made valuable criticisms on my work; Professor C. C. Babington, M.A., of S. John's College, gave me much help in preparing the history of his own college, and, further, allowed me to use the illustrations which had been prepared for his own work on the old chapel, besides illustrations for other parts of the book; the accurate ground-plan of King's College Chapel, the plan of the Conference Chamber at Jesus College, and the section of the Gallery at Queens' College, were made for me by my friend W. H. St John Hope, M.A., of Peterhouse, now Secretary to the Society of Antiquaries;