British Curiosities in Nature and Art (1713)
SECT. XXII.
Curiosities in
Cambridgeshire.
. . .
Trinity College] One of the
noblest Foundations in either University founded by King Henry VIII. 1546, for 65 Fellows, and 91 Scholars.
It hath a very Magnificent Library, Built
by Thomas Rotheram Bishop
of York, Lord Chancellor of England; and by him and Cuthbert Tunstal Bishop of
Durham,
furnished with choice Books, and hath been since supplyed with the Libraries, of
Archbishops, Parker, Grindal, and Bancroft. This Library is a stately Structure, and very Beautiful, the
Stair-case Wainscoted with Cedar; (and there are Marble Steps) the
enrichments whereof are so Natural that the leaves shake at every blow you give
the Wainscot, and within is an Original picture of Bishop Hacket, and
several fine manuscript Missals; and
a great Collection of valuable Medals, Ancient and
Modern, and other rareties.
The first Court is a Square, large and stately, for
they tell you it is a Foot square larger, than Christ’s at Oxford;
in this Court, stands the
Chapel, the neatest and (except Kings) the greatest and noblest in
the University; the Altar-piece is
Beautiful adorned with Columns: and the portraicts of our Saviour, and the blessed
Virgin; St. John
Baptist, and his Mother Elizabeth. The Roof is curiously painted, in
imitation of Carved work, in Relievo; the Area is black and white Marble, in a
very pretty Figure; the Organ is a Finished piece, made by Mr. Bernard Smith, and cost 1500
l.