OF GARDENING IN 1685 



manners of life, by what they have observed of In praise 

 the meaner and baser sort of mankind; and of c ii mate O f 

 company amongus, because they wanted them- England 

 selves, perhaps, either fortune or birth, either 

 quality or merit, to introduce them among the 

 good. 



I must needs add one thing more in favour 

 of our climate, which I heard the king say, and 

 I thought new and right, and truly like a king 

 of England, that loved and esteemed his own 

 country: 'twas in reply to some of the company 

 that were reviling our climate, and extolling 

 those of Italy and Spain, or at least of France : 

 he said, he thought that was the best climate, 

 where he could be abroad in the air with pleas- 

 ure, or at least without trouble and inconven- 

 ience, the most days of the year, and the most 

 hours of the day; and this he thought he could 

 be in England, more than in any country he 

 knew of in Europe. And I believe it is true, 

 not only of the hot and cold, but even among 

 our neighbours in France, and the Low Coun- 

 tries themselves; where the heats or the colds, 

 and changes of seasons, are less treatable than 

 they are with us. 



The truth is, our climate wants no heat to 

 69 



