BRAMSHILL 245 



While the great hall, or the magnificent state- 

 rooms with their mantelpieces of Italian marbles, 

 running up to the exquisite ceilings covered with 

 intricate mouldings and pendant bosses of mar- 

 vellous workmanship, their fine tapestries, their 

 rich furniture, which forms a complete history 

 of English furniture from the Elizabethan to 

 the Victorian period, follow his precepts closely 

 that " you cannot have a perfect palace unless you 

 have two several sides ; . . . the one for feasts 

 and triumphs, and the other for dwelling." 

 Still more is the " royal ordering of gardens " 

 brought to our minds, as we wander through 

 an archway leading from the troco ground to 

 the square walled garden on the east front, its 

 walls draped with Climbing Roses, Wistaria, 

 and Honeysuckle, and the borders beneath 

 them ablaze with colour. It would be difficult 

 for any modern gardener to improve on the 

 great philosopher's scheme for " gardens for all 

 the months in the year, in which, severally, 

 things of beauty may be then in season ; " or 

 on his suggestions as to the sweet-scented 

 flowers to plant about a house. Of the Musk 

 Rose and the Sweet-briar there is no lack at 



