Exhibition Item no. 4

Christ’s College Admissions Book

Milton’s entry, 12^th February 1624/5. Christ’s College Archives, T.1.

Milton was admitted to Christ’s College on 12^th February 1625 (or 1624 by the old way of reckoning, where the new year began on 26^th March). The admissions book records Milton’s matriculation to the college under the tutelage of William Chappell, the future bishop of Cork. Milton originally came to Cambridge planning to prepare for ordination, an intention he later abandoned. He remained in residence for seven years, interrupted by brief periods in London when the university was virtually shut down by the plague. He took his BA degree in 1628 and his MA in 1632.