The LIBRARY (fituated on the East Side of the Quadrangle) confifts of two Rooms, one over the other, 70 Feet long and 22 broad; both of them well furnished with Books, particularly fome valuable Manufcripts. From hence we pass through the middle Gate into the GARDEN-COURT, which widens by Breaks as we approach the Garden. This Court is feparated from the Garden, by an Iron Gate and Palisade which extend 130 Feet in Length, and admit of an agreeable Profpect of the Garden through them. In the Garden is a beautiful Mount well difpofed, behind which and on the North Side are fome curious and uncommon Shrubs and Trees. The whole is furrounded by a Tertas. Great Part of the Garden, as well as fome Parts of the College, is encompass'd by the City Wall, which ferves as a Fence to the College, and is to be traced with its Battlements and Baftions along the North and South Boundaries of the College. At the South Eaft Corner of the Garden we enter the BowLING-GREEN; which is neat and commodious. Opposite to the Entrance is a Pavilion; on the Right flowering Shrubs, and a Row of Elms to fhade the Green, and on the Left a Row of Sycomores, which are a great Curiofity, being incorporated from one End of the Row to the other. Having conducted our Reader to the furtheft Part of the College, we would recommend a View of the Building from the Mount; whence the Garden Court, in particular, has a very grand Effect: For from thence the Wings appear properly display'd, and the whole is feen at a convenient Diftance. The Perfpective View annexed was taken from thence. In In a small Court belonging to the Warden's Lodgings, and adjoining to the Lane leading to Queen's College, is a very ancient Mulberry Tree; which before the fevere Winter in 1739, was fawn afunder; and after having lain at length on the Ground (being intended for Fuel) above a full Year, it was raifed up on a Stone-pitch'd Area against a Wall; with no other View but to remove the Inconvenience of its lying in the Way: But it foon began to put forth luxuriant Branches, and it has now large Limbs, and bears great Quantities of Fruit every Year. The laft Curiofity we shall mention, is a beautiful elliptic Arch which is turned over the above Lane, for the Convenience of the Warden to pafs into his Garden without coming out at the College Gate. The Lane it is thrown over does not turn at Right-Angles from that leading to the College, but runs obliquely; which renders the Contrivance of it the more artful and uncommon. A curious Obferver will, nevertheless, if he examines the Ribs of the Arch, difcover that they form ftraight Lines from the Abutments on one Side to thofe on the other, notwithstanding the Whole in a Front-view seems a-twist. This College was founded by William Longe, a Native of Wykeham in Hampshire, from whence he obtained the Name of William of WYKEHAM. His extraordinary Integrity recommended him to the higheft Truft and Favours of King Edward the Third. When young he was employ'd by that King in most of the Building at that Time carried on by the Crown, particularly in the rebuilding Windfor Caftle in the magificent Form in which it now appears. He was foon advanced to fome of the the most confiderable Preferments in the Church, and in 1367 was confecrated Bishop of Winchester, in the 43d Year of his Age. His Advancement in the State kept Pace with his Preferment in the Church. In 1364 the King granted him 20 s. per Day out of the Exchequer. He was made Keeper of the Privy Seal in 1364; and Chancellor of England, Sept. 17, 1367. Froiffart says of Wykeham, that he was fo much in favour with King Edward III. that every thing was done by him and nothing was done without him. ; The Foundation Stone was laid March 5th, 1379, and it was finished on April 14, 1986. when the Warden and Fellows took Poffeffion of it. In the Year following, St. Mary's College near Winchester was begun, and was finished and inhabited in the Year 1393, by a Warden, ten Fellows, three Chaplains, three Clerks, and fixteen Chorifters as also two Mafters and seventy Boys, out of whom a certain Number were to be annually elected as a Supply to New College. Both which Colleges this pious and munificent Founder faw completed, making ample Provifion for the fupport of each, and giving them fo regular and perfect a Body of Statutes, that many fucceeding Founders have compiled from them. And having furvived many Years, he enlarged his Will with coftly Legacies of Jewels, Plate, Money, and Books, to be diftributed throughout the feveral Diocefes in which he was preferred, or had temporal Poffeffions, at his Deceafe. He died Sept. 27, 1404. when he was 80 Years of Age. The University Sermon is preached here every Lady-Day and Trinity-Sunday in the Ante-Chapel. Another |