142 



During the reign of Charles the I, and the Protectorship. 

 I am not aware any particular Gardens \^ere laid out, but it is 

 certain there was no alteration of taste. The domestic wars of 

 the period at all events would check its improvement. Come- 

 nius in his " JanuaTrilinguis" published at Oxford durinjr that 

 period, describes a pleasure Garden as containing a green 

 grass platt set about with choice and rare flowers and plants ; 

 pleasant walks and bowers bounded by pleached, i. e. topiary, 

 work J trickling fountains and jets d'eau. 



During the residence of Charles the II. at the court of France, 

 he became enamoured of the French style of ornamental Gar- 

 dening, introduced at that period by Le Notre. I know of no 

 prominent features of this style different from that of previous 

 years, or that are not to be found for the most part in the Gar- 

 dens of declining Rome, except unlimited expense. The alleys 

 were increased in length — the jets d'eau made of greater power 

 — the most expensive and grateful plants profusely employed — 

 the parterre enlarged — the statues made of costly materials, 

 by the best Sculptors. But still alleys, jets d'eau, mazes, par- 

 terres, and statues, dipt trees, and mathematical formed bor- 

 ders are there as in previous ages. Versailles was formed by 

 Le Notre at an expense of 200,000,000 francs. The water 

 works, which are not played off more than eight or ten times a 

 year, cost, it has been calculated, about ^^200 per hour.* 



Charles the II. sent for M. M. Perrault and Le Notre. The 

 latter came and superintended the planting of Greenwich and 

 St. James's Parks; but the other declined the monarch's invi- 

 tation. Charles had formed a grand design for the grounds at 

 Hampton Court, of which the Semicircle was the commence- 

 ment, but it was not completed. The Canal in St. James's 

 Park was dug by the orders of the same Monarch. The cen- 

 tral walk of the same Park he had paved with Cockle shells, and 



* Keil's Horticultural Tour, p 409. 



