A venture into modern history on the part of a medievalist perhaps calls for a word of explanation. The imminence of the 450th anniversary of the college's foundation, falling in 1961, persuaded the council to invite me to survey once again the history of the college. After seeking to discharge that responsibility, I am more than ever convinced that the history of St John's is still to be written on the scale and in the detail the subject warrants. Time made it essential for me to concentrate upon a few main themes: upon the history of the college as a place of education and a community of human beings, and upon the relationship of the college to the changing society of the last four centuries. This is, therefore, a partial and provisional essay; and for that reason, for the convenience of those who wish to go deeper, I have added to it a short bibliography and notes indicating some of the main sources I have used. These I have placed at the end in order that they do not distract those who are willing to rest content with that part of the college's story I have sought to tell with a certain brevity.

Even in going so far as I have done, I have incurred many obligations. I must put first my indebtedness to members of the college staff: to Mr A. E. Martin, chief clerk; to Mr W. T. Thurbon and Mr R. B. Badcock in the bursary; to Mr N. Buck and his assistants in the college library; and to Miss B. Warboys, the senior tutor's secretary.