e Hall, and only
became known as college in 1856. There was a strong ecclesiastical
tendency in this foundation; six out of the twenty fellows were to be
priests when elected. The foundation now consists of a master and
fifteen fellows, besides scholars, of whom three receive emoluments from
the endowment of Lady Clare. The old college buildings were in great
part destroyed by fire in 1521; the present buildings date from 1638 to
1715, and are admirable examples of their period. They surround a very
beautiful quadrangle, and the back towards the river is also fine.
Unconfirmed tradition indicates the poet Chaucer as an _alumnus_ of this
college; other famous men associated with it were Hugh Latimer the
martyr, Ralph Cudworth, one of the "Platonists," and Archbishop
Tillotson.

_Corpus Christi College_ (commonly called Corpus) stands on the east
side of Trumpington Street. The influence of medieval gilds in
Cambridge, the character of which was primarily religious, was
exceedingly strong. About the beginning of the 14th century there is
first mentioned the gild of St Mary, which was connected with Great St
Mary's church. The gild was at this time prosperous, but about 1350,
when the idea of the foundation of a college by the gilds was matured,
the fraternity of St Mary lacked the means to proceed save by
amalgamating with another gild, that of Corpus Christi. The age of this
institution, whose church was St Benedict's or St Bene't's, is not
known. By the two gilds, therefore, the "House of Scholars of Corpus
Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary" was founded in 1352, the foundation
being the only instance of its kind. In early times it was commonly
known as St Bene't's from the church connected with the Corpus gild
which stands over against the college, and served as its chapel for
nearly three centuries. The foundation consists of a master and twelve
fellows, with scholars of the old and later foundations. The ancient
small quadrangle remains, and is of historical rather than architectural
interest. The great quadrangle dates from 1823-1825. The library
contains the famous collection of MSS. bequeathed by Archbishop Matthew
Parker, _alumnus_ of the college, in the 16th century.

_Downing College_ is in the southern part of the town, to the east of
Trumpington Street. Sir George Downing, baronet, of Gamlingay Park, who
died in 1749, left estates to various relations, who died without issue.
In this event, Downing's will