90 



Parkinson's excellent portrait, by Marshall, appears in 

 the title page to his Theatrum Botanicum, in 1640. Some 

 one may now possess the original. In his Paradisus, 1635, 

 there is a very scurvy engraving of his healthy, and hearty- 

 looking old countenance. In this miserable cut, which is on 

 wood, the graver, Christopher Switzer, does not seem to 

 have had a strife "with nature to outdo the life? Marshall's 

 head is re-engraved for Richardson's Illustrations to Granger. 

 Parkinson rose to such a degree of reputation, as to be ap- 

 pointed Apothecary to King James. He was appointed her- 

 balist to Charles I. Dr. Pulteney speaks highly of both the 

 above works, particularly of the Theatrum. All the memo- 

 rials we have of the private history of this most industrious 



from inconveniences, as all that the especial roomes and prospects of the 

 house may be adorned, perfumed, and inriched with the delicate proportions, 

 odoriferous smells, and wholesome airs which shall ascend and vaporate from 

 the same." 



He then gives a variety of cuts of knots and mazes, and labyrinths, of 

 which he observes, that " many other adornations and beautifyings there are, 

 which belong to the setting forth of a curious garden, but for as much as 

 none are more rare or more esteemed than these I have set down, being the 

 best ornaments of the best gardens of this kingdome, I think them tastes 

 sufficient for every husbandman or other of better quality, which delighteth 

 in the beauty, and well trimming of his ground." He thus remarks: — "as 

 in the composition of a delicate woman, the grace of her cheeke is the mix- 

 ture of red and white, the wonder of her eye blacke and white, and the 

 beauty of her hand blew and white, any of which is not said to be beautiful] 

 if it consist of single or simple colours; and so in these walkes or alleyes the 

 all greene, nor the all yellow cannot be said to bee most beautifull, but the 

 greene and yellow, (that is to say, the untroade grasse, and the well knit 

 gravell) being equally mixt, give the eye both luster and delight beyond all 

 comparison." 



His description of the following flower is singular: " The Crowne Empc- 

 riall, is, of all flowers, both forraigne and home-bred, the delicatest, and 

 strangest: it hath the true shape of an imperiall crowne, and will be of divers 

 colours, according to the art of the gardener. In the middest of the flower 

 you shall see a round pearle stand, in proportion, colour, and orientnessc, 

 like a true naturall pearle, only it is of a soft liquid substance: this pearle, 



