e University sermon were
in the eighteenth century fined sixpence, and the sizars were expected
to mark the absentees. The sizar at Cambridge had, however, always a
better status than the servitor at Oxford, and in the days when
scholarships were strictly limited as to locality, a sizarship was
something of the nature of what at the present day we should describe as
an entrance scholarship or exhibition, the assistance given consisting
in a reduction of expenses rather than in actual direct emolument. At
the present time there is no difference in status among members of the
College; the foundation scholars, however, having special seats in
Chapel and a separate table in Hall if they choose to make use of it.

Until 1882 the condition of celibacy attached to all fellowships in the
College; Queen Elizabeth held strong views on the matter, even
discouraging the marriage of Masters. The necessity of taking orders was
somewhat relaxed in 1860. The system had its advantages--it tended to
produce promotion; for the natural inclination of mankind to marry,
vacated fellowships; the disadvantage was that men with a real taste for
study or teaching had no certain career before them. The question of
allowing Fellows to marry was raised in the eighteenth century, but met
with little support and much opposition. Even in the middle of the
nineteenth century a University Commission inclined to the view that
celibacy was inseparable from the collegiate system.

[Illustration: THE "BRIDGE OF SIGHS"]

The clerical restriction had the effect of chiefly confining selection
to College offices to those who were in orders. These in due course
went off to benefices in the gift of the College, these acting as a
species of pension. One form of benefaction frequently bestowed by past
members was the gift of an advowson; one or two benefactors left
estates, the revenues from which were to accumulate, and with the sums
so raised advowsons were to be purchased. Presentation to livings went
by seniority of standing, and this practice, with the restriction on
marriage, gave rise to the belief, still prevalent in many parishes
where the College is patron, that the College on a vacancy always
chooses for the next incumbent "the oldest bachelor." It seems probable,
without any minute statistical inquiry, that most of the Fellows left
the College before the age of forty. A few remained on for life.

It is difficult now to reconstruct a picture of the Hi