n of the
colleges, but for ease of reference these are dealt with in alphabetical
order. The main street which traverses the town from south to north,
parallel to, and at a short distance from the river, is known
successively as Trumpington Street, King's Parade, Trinity Street, St
John's Street and Bridge Street. The majority of the colleges lie on
either side of this street, and chiefly between it and the river. Those
of St John's, Trinity, Trinity Hall, Clare, King's and Queens' present
the famous "backs" towards the river, which is crossed by a series of
picturesque bridges leading to the gardens and grounds on the opposite
bank.

_Christ's College_ is not among the group indicated above; it stands
farther to the east, in St Andrew's Street. It was founded in 1505 by
the Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. It incorporated God's
House, which had been founded by William Bingham, a cleric of London, in
1439, had been removed when the site was required for part of King's
College, and had been refounded with the countenance of Henry VI. in
1448. This was a small house, but the Lady Margaret's endowment provided
for a master, twelve fellows and forty-seven scholars. Edward VI. added
another fellowship and three scholarships and the present number of
fellows is fifteen. There are certain exhibitions in election to which
preference is given to schools in the north of England--Giggleswick,
Kirkby Lonsdale, Skipton and Sedbergh. The buildings of Lady Margaret's
foundation were in great part faced in classical style in the 17th
century; a building east of the old quadrangle is also of this period,
and is ascribed to Inigo Jones. The rooms occupied by the foundress
herself are preserved, though in an altered condition, as are those of
the poet Milton, who was educated here, and with whom the college has
many associations. In the fine gardens is an ancient mulberry tree
believed to have been planted by him. Among illustrious names connected
with this college are John Leland the antiquary, Archdeacon Paley,
author of the _Evidences_, and Charles Darwin, while Henry More and
others of the school of Cambridge Platonists in the 17th century were
educated here.

_Clare College_ lies close to the river, south of Trinity Hall. In 1326
the university erected a hall, known as University Hall, to accommodate
a number of students, and in 1338 Elizabeth de Burgh, countess of
Clare, re-endowed the hall, which took the name of Clar