Originally published in 1954, this work is a history of university representation in England from its beginning in 1604, when King James first gave the two universities the right to send two members each to the House of Commons, to the close of the Convention Parliament of 1688-89. It takes up the question of electoral procedures in university elections, and describes the election campaigns and the political issues in which the universities were involved, the individual university members and their careers. A careful analysis is made from time to time to determine the trends of university politics and personnel throughout the great events of the century. Such matters as royal domination, and freedom of election in the university constituencies, contributions made by university members to public service and to learning (or their failure to contribute) are constantly kept before the reader. It deals with university representation as part of the history of a century that is one of the most notable in England's constitutional development.

Millicent Barton Rex (1905-1966) was born in Pennsylvania, USA, and educated at Wellesley College where she graduated with honours. Later from Columbia University she obtained MA and PhD degrees. English History, Local American history, and education had been her chief interests and she had contributed articles and reviews to American historical and educational journals and a study of Sir Charles Firth to Some Modern Histories of Britain. The awarding of the grant of the Vassie James Hill Fellowship by the American Association of University Women for the year 1945-6 enabled her to start on the fundamental research for this present book. At the time of original publication, she was Head of the History Department at the Madeira School, one of the top college preparatory schools in America.