CHAPTER IV 



ELIZABETHAN AND STUART GARDENS 



JOHN Edtuaied as a S2irgeo7i — siiperititended Lord Burghleys garden for twenty 



GERARDE years — lived in Holborn, where he had a large physic garden — in his yotdh 

 (i545"^^°7)- took a voyage to the Baltic — he dixw up letter for Lord Burleigh to University 

 of Ca77ibridge^ reconwiending that a physic garden be established there, with 

 hi7nself at its head, to encourage ' the facultie of sijupling. ' 1 596, published 

 catalogue of his garden in Holborn, and itt 1 597, his 'Herbal,' the woodcuts 

 from Frankfiirt, having served for the ' Kreuterbuch ' of Taberncemontaitus 

 {folio, 1588).! 



A MONG the manifold creatures of God (right Honorable and 

 ''*■ my singular good Lord) that have in all ages diversly enter- 

 tained many excellent wits, and drawen them to the contemplation 

 of the divine wisedome, none hath provoked mens studies more, 

 or satisfied their desires so much, as plants have done, and that 

 upon just and woorthie causes : For if delight may provoke mens 

 labour, what greater delight is there than to behold the earth 

 apparelled with plants, as with a robe of imbroidered worke, set 

 with orient pearles, and garnished with great diversitie of rare 

 and costlie jewels ? If this varietie and perfection of colours may 

 affect the eie, it is such in herbes and flowers, that no Apelles, no 

 Zeuxis ever could by any art expresse the like : if odours, or if 

 taste may worke satisfaction, they are both so soveraigne in plants, 

 and so comfortable, that no confection of the Apothecaries can 

 equall their excellent vertue. But these delights are in the outward 

 senses : the principal delight is in the minde, singularly enriched 

 with the knowledge of these visible things, setting foorth to us 

 the invisible wisedome and admirable workmanship of almightie 

 God. The delight is great, but the use greater, and joyned often 



^ See Illustration in Appendix. 

 62 



