THE royal and ancient foundation of Trinity College—as it is termed in the University bidding prayer—is the largest collegiate foundation at either of the ancient English Universities, and few, if any, visitors to Cambridge leave without walking through its Courts. This booklet is written in the belief that there are many such visitors who would like to know rather more about the College than can be learnt from a stroll round its buildings. It is hoped also that some of its members will be interested in possessing an outline of its history, and an account of the life of their predecessors in former times. In this and the next chapter, I describe briefly the buildings and walks, and in subsequent chapters I give a sketch of the history of the Society.

I may commence by reminding a reader who is a stranger to the place that the College is the home of a large Society, and, though its Courts are generally open to any one, the interiors of its public buildings can be visited only at times when they are not being used by its members ; the hours at which they are open may be learnt by inquiry at the Porter's Lodge. For this reason I will describe first those parts which are generally accessible, leaving to another chapter the description of the interiors which are accessible only at stated hours.

Probably a stranger visiting the town will approach the College by Trinity Street from the direction of King's Parade.