10 A BOOK OF ENGLISH GARDENS 



Augustinians at Cirencester, dying four years later. 

 Neckam's precious document, " De Naturis rerum " 

 (" Of the Natures of Things "), gives a most 

 interesting description of "a noble Garden," though 

 by the best authorities his account is considered 

 rhetorical. " The Garden," he declares, " should be 

 adorned with Roses and Lilies, Violets and Man- 

 drake, and the drowsy Poppy, the Daffodil all en- 

 noble a garden." Of fruits, Neckam says: "A 

 noble garden will give thee also Medlars, Quinces, 

 Warden - trees, Peaches, Pears, Pomegranates, 

 Lemons, Oranges, and Almonds." As can be seen 

 from this list, Neckam was apt to draw upon his 

 imagination, as many of these fruits could never 

 have braved the climate of England, though 

 possibly he may have seen them brought to the 

 monastic Garden at Cirencester by some foreign 

 friend or monk. 



Henry I. ordered the first English Park to be made 

 at Woodstock, and there the celebrated " Bower " 

 of Fair Rosamund was hidden by Henry II. A 

 legend of fantastic charm has been woven round 

 this hiding-place of the " Rose of the Cliffords." 

 The Bower was placed in the centre of a ^Labyrinth 

 and entirely concealed from view, being only to be 

 found by one knowing the secret. These Labyrinths 

 were not uncommon, and existed at a very early 

 date, developing into the Maze of later times, so 

 charmingly described by Thomas Hill (1563), who 



