HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GARDENING. 5 



many of her sons over the world as gardeners. In his poem of the 

 " Quair," written early in the fifteenth centmy, the poet speaks of — 



** A garden fair, and in the comeris set, 



Ane herbere green with wandes long and small. 

 Eailit about, and so with treeis set 

 "Was all the place, and hawthorn hedges knet, 

 That lyfe was non, walkying there forbye 

 That might within scarce any wight espye, 

 So thicke the bewis and the leves grene." 



8. Toward the end of the fifteenth and in the early part of the six- 

 teenth century, the wise and politic Henry VII. had nearly succeeded in 

 rooting out the feuds of the Eoses red and white, and a long reign of 

 comparative repose had no doubt prepared the people for the revival of 

 gardening with the other arts of civilization, which took place in the suc- 

 ceeding reign of Henry VIII. The royal gardens of Nonsuch were laid out 

 by this monarch with the greatest magnificence. " Nonsuch," says its 

 historian Hentzner, " is so encompassed with parks, delicious gardens, 

 groves ornamented with trellis-work, cabinets of verdure, and walks so 

 embowered by trees, that it seems to be a place pitched upon by Plea- 

 sure herself to dwell in along with Health. In the pleasure and artificial 

 gardens are many columns and pyramids of marble ; two fountains spout 

 water one round the other like a pjTamid, upon which are perched small 

 birds that stream water out of their bills. In the grove of Diana is 

 a very agreeable fountain, with Actseon turned into a stag as he was 

 sprinkled by the goddess and her nymphs. There is besides another 

 pyramid of marble with concealed pipes, wliich spirt upon all who come 

 within their reach ;" so that it may well claim pre-eminence, and justify 

 the poet, who tells us — 



" This, which no equal hath in art or fame, 

 Britons deservedly do Nonsuch name." 



9. During Elizabeth's reign, Holland and Hatfield House were both 

 laid out. Of the former, part of the original plan still remains ; of Hat- 

 field, Hentzner says, " the gardens are surrounded by a piece of water 

 with boats rowing through the alleys of well-cut trees and laby- 

 rinths made with gi-eat labour." Mazes and labyrinths and concealed 

 pipes, by means of which visitors might find themselves lost one minute, 

 and deluged with water at the next, seems, indeed, to have been the 

 taste of that day — a jocular sort of hospitality " more honoured in the 

 breach than the observance." 



10. During the reign of James I., Theobalds was laid out. "A large 



