[368] The allowance per head per week for food or “commons” was at Michaelhouse 12d. in 1324, and no more was allowed in the xvi c. at Christ’s and S. John’s. The allowance at Jesus College was 4d. a week in excess of this, and this was the sum which Archbishop Arundel had sanctioned for fellows’ commons earlier in the century (1405). Peterhouse statutes made no provision, but the Bishop of Ely as visitor restricted commons to 14d. a week in 1516. Mullinger, Hist. Univ. Camb. p. 461.
[369] Undergraduates have perhaps shown a tendency to get out of hand since the day a few years back when some of the dons invited an expression of their opinion, apparently expecting that a serious question affecting the university would receive illustration from a little hooliganism.
[370] In June 1905 there were 647 tripos candidates, 146 for the Natural Sciences, 127 for History, 111 Classics, 95 Law, 63 Mathematics, 28 Mechanical Science, 25 Theology, 13 Modern Languages, 5 Moral Sciences, 5 Economics, 1 Oriental Languages. The year before Natural Sciences was also at the top of the poll with 131 graduates; the Classical came next with 112, the Mathematical 67, History 63. Some 30% therefore take Natural or Mechanical Sciences, and some of the mathematical students stay on for scientific work. The far larger number of men now take the First Part of the Mathematical, Classical, or Natural Sciences tripos in their third year, which gives them the B.A., and do not proceed to the Second Part. For the proportion of First and Second classes obtained cf. vi. p. 356 n.
It was, however, only very gradually that the classical and other triposes worked their way to an equality in popularity with the mathematical. It was not till 1884, after the division of the tripos, that the classical men were slightly in excess of the mathematical (see chap. iii.).
[371] On the other hand Oxford has had 9 wins in succession.
[372] The wearing of the surplice in chapel on Sundays and holidays by all undergraduates, scholars, and bachelors, is a very interesting historical survival at Cambridge, which has successfully resisted the attacks of Puritanism. It is worn by all members of a college on ‘white nights’ (vigils and feasts), and is the ancient dress of the canon and of clerks of all grades at divine service.
[373] “Scarlet days” are Easter, Christmas, Ascension, Whitsunday, Trinity Sunday, All Saints, the first Sunday in November (when benefactors are commemorated) and Commencement Tuesday (the next before June 24). The vice-chancellor may appoint other days.
[374] Everett, On the Cam. Everett’s father was United States ambassador at the Court of S. James’, and he himself was a graduate of Trinity College.
[375] Wolsey, son of a well-to-do Suffolk butcher, was sent to Oxford, but Thomas Cromwell, who was the son of a blacksmith, probably was not educated at a university.
[376] The New Sect of Latitude-men, 1662.