118 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND. 



display was creating and developing, When any pageant or 

 " revells " took 'place, additions were made to the arbours or 

 banqueting-houses in the garden, to accommodate the guests. 

 In June, 1554, " certaine banqueting-houses of Bowes (= boughs] 

 and other devices of pleasure," were to be made at Oatlands, 

 and Sir Thomas Cawarden, as "Master of the Tents and Toyles," 

 received a royal command to superintend their erection as he had 

 " good experience heretofore in lyk things." * The following 

 extracts show some of his past experiences, both what he had to- 

 do, and the cost of carrying it out.t "4th year of Edward VI. 

 Banketing-houses 2, the one in Hyede Parke conteynenge in 

 length 57 feet and in bredth 21 feet of assize with a halpace 

 staier (step for dai's) conteining the bredth the one way 60 foote 

 and the other way 30 foote and over the same a type or turret 

 garnished. One other house in Marybone Parke conteyninge 

 in length 40 foote the same adjoined framed, made and wrought 

 of tymber, brick, and lyme, with their raunges and other necessary 

 utensyles therto insident, and to the like accustomed, And 6 

 standinges whereof were in either of the said parkes, 3 all of 

 tymber garnished with boughes and flowers every (one) of them 

 conteynenge in length 10 foote and in bredth 8 foote * * ' 

 Employed on the above works for 22 days, at all hours a space 

 to eat and drynke excepted." Carpenters and bricklayers id. the 

 hour, labourers id. the hour plasterers nd. a day, painters 7d. 

 and 6d. a day. " Charges for cutting boughs in the wood at 

 Hyde Park for trimming the banquetting-house, gathering rushes, 

 flags, and ivy." ..." Taylors for sewing the roof, &c. : basket 

 makers working upon windows. Total cost, 169 . 7 . 8." 



In Stow's Annals another of these banqueting-houses is 

 described. It was made in 1581, at Whitehall, " for certaine 

 Ambassadors out of France." It was round, being 332 feet in 

 circumference, and was built on the S.W. of the palace near the 

 river. Over the canvas roof, painted like clouds, "this house 

 was wrought most cunningly with ivy and holly, with pendants 

 made of wicker rods garnished with bay, rue, and all manner 

 of strange flowers garnished with spangles of gold . . . beautiful 



* MSS. belonging to M. More Molyneux. Loseley, Surrey. j" Ibid. 



