SCOTTISH GARDENS 



covered with blew caps, the Table being more then halfe 

 furnished with great platters of porredge, each having a little 

 peece of sodden meate ; And when the Table was served, the 

 servants did sit downe with us, but the upper messe in steede 

 of porredge, had a Pullet with some prunes in the broth. 

 And I observed no Art of Cookery, or furniture of Houshold 

 stuffe, but rather rude neglect of both, though my selfe and 

 my companion, sent from the Governour of Barwicke about 

 bordering affaires, were entertained after their best manner. 

 . . . Their bedsteads were like Cubbards in the wall, with 

 doores to be opened and shut at pleasure, so as we climbed 

 up to our beds. They use but one sheete, open at the sides 

 and top, but close at the feete, and so doubled." l 



It may well be imagined that, luxury being so 

 scant within doors, little care was bestowed in furnish- 

 ing the garden with anything except kitchen stuff; 

 but when I was last at Carnock ample amends had 

 been made in that respect by the lady of the castle, 

 who is an enthusiastic gardener. The property 

 passed to the Shaw Stewarts by marriage in the 

 eighteenth century; the present Sir Hugh and Lady 

 Alice lived at Carnock till he succeeded his father 

 in 1903, when they moved to Ardgowan and let 

 the old house. I know not what may be the 

 appearance of that garden now, but half-a-dozen 

 years ago it was a joy to behold. Every border 

 overflowed with blossom; alpine Erinus, saxifrages 

 and other clinging herbs clustered in crevices of 

 the old walls and in the chinks of the broad stone 



1 Itinerary, iv. 183 [ed. 1908]. Moryson's visit to Scotland took place between 

 1605 and 1617. 



158 



