266 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 



In 1 6 lo, just at the time James I. brought them into 

 notice, a mulberry was "set in Fairfield's Court." In 

 1605 seats were set " about the trees in Hare's Court"; 

 thus all the courts were more or less little gardens. 

 In 1 5 10 a chamber is assigned to some one "in the 

 garden called le Olyvaunte." This was probably the 

 Elephant, from a sign carved or painted to distinguish 

 a particular house facing it. There was similarly " le 

 Talbott," probably from a greyhound sign, in another 

 court. The houses facing the Great Garden apparently 

 had steps descending into it from the chief rooms, 

 and it was a special privilege to have your staircase 

 opening on to it. Thus, "May 1573, Mr. Wyott and 

 Mr. Hall, licensed to have ' a steeyrs ' (stairs) from 

 their chamber into the garden." The Great Garden 

 was constantly being encroached on as new chambers 

 were built. Entries in the records with regard to per- 

 mission to build into the garden often occur ; for 

 instance — 



" 1 58 1. Thomas Compton ... to build . . . within 

 the compass of the garden or little Court . . . from the 

 south corner of the brick wall of the said garden . . . 

 57 feet . . . and from the said wall into the garden 

 22 feet." 



On one occasion a license to build was exceeded, and 

 the offence further aggravated by cutting down " divers 

 timber trees." The offender was at first put out of 

 commons, and fined ^^20, which was afterwards mitigated 

 to £^, with the addition of a most wise proviso, that 

 "he shall plant double the number of trees he caused 

 to be cut down." Would that the fault of felling 

 timber always met with the same punishment ! 



When houses were put on the site of the present 



