ENGLISH PLEASURE GARDENS 



Improved 

 conditions 

 in the 

 thirteenth 

 and four- 

 teenth cen- 

 turies. 



especially celebrated by the ancient Mussulman writers, 

 and its European naturalization is said to date from 

 this period. Another variety known as the rose of 

 Provence was brought back by Thibaut IV, Count of 

 Champagne, to Provins, where it grew until recently 

 in the suburbs of the town. The name of the rose 

 of Damascus, or damask rose, also .^betokens its Eastern 

 origin. Not long ago Syrian daffodils still grew upon 

 the ancient site of Horseley Castle, and Armenian 

 violets survived in several places. Many other exotics, 

 now considered almost as native plants since they are 

 so familiarly known in Europe, were the fruit of 

 Crusaders' pilgrimages in the East. . 



At the close of the thirteenth and the beginning of 

 the fourteenth century the connection between France 

 and England was very intimate. The French language 

 was spoken by the upper classes in both countries ; and 

 as to manners and customs in general, and their gar- 

 dens in particular, the same fashions prevailed, although 

 the French were somewhat in advance of the English. 

 The description of a French garden in the twelfth cen- 

 tury would answer for an English one during the two 

 following centuries. Under the rule of the Plantage- 

 nets the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans had become 

 fused into the English nation. The great lords of both 

 races generally dwelt in peace with each other, if not 

 always with their kinsfolk across the Channel, and as 



