I04 THE PRAISE OF GARDENS 



Paris. I took coach and went to see the famous Jardine Royale, which 



1644, Feb. 8. .g ^^ enclosure walled in, consisting of all varieties of ground for 

 planting and culture of medical simples. It is well chosen, having 

 in it hills, meadows, wood and upland, naturall and artificial and 

 is richly stor'd with exotic plants. In the middle of the Parterre 

 is a faire fountaine. 



In another more privat garden towards the Queene's apart- 

 ment is a walk or cloister under arches, whose terrace is 

 paved with stones of a great breadth ; it looks towards the 

 river, and has a pleasant aviary, fountaine, stately cypresses, 

 etc. . . . 

 The _ I finished this day with a walk in the great garden of the 



Thuillenes. xhuilleries, which is rarely contrived for privacy, shade, or 

 1644, Feb. 27. ' •'. r 11 • n 1 • 



company, by groves, plantations of tall trees, especially that in 



the middle, being of elmes, another of mulberys. There is a 



labyrinth of cypresse, noble hedges of pomegranates, fountains, 



fishponds, and an aviary. Here is an artificial echo, redoubling 



the words distinctly, and it is never without some faire nymph 



singing to it. Standing at one of the focus's, which is under a 



tree, or little cabinet of hedges, the voice seems to descend from 



the clouds ; at another, as if it were underground. This being at 



the bottom of the garden, we were let into another which being 



kept with all imaginable accuratenesse as to the orangery, precious 



shrubes, and rare fruites seem'd a paradise. From a terrace in 



this place we saw so many coaches, as one would hardly think 



could be maintained in the whole City, going, late as it was in 



the year, towards the course, which is a place adjoyning, of neere 



an English mile long, planted with four rows of trees, making a 



large circle in the middle. This course is walled about, neere 



breast high, with squared freestone, and has a stately arch at the 



entrance, with sculpture and statues about it, built by Mary di 



Medices. Here it is that the gallants and ladys of the Court take 



the ayre and divert themselves, as with us in Hide Park, the circle 



being capable of containing an hundred coaches to turne com- 



modiously, and the larger of the plantations for five or six coaches 



a brest. 



