INTRODUCTION. . 11 



So thick the bowis and the levesgrene 



Berchudit all, the alleyes all that there were ; 

 And myddis every herbere might be sene 

 The scharpe grene swete juiiipere 

 Growing so fair, with branches here and there, 

 That, as it seymt to alyfe without, 

 The bowis spred the herbere all about" 



The Quair. 



Henry VIII. ordered the formation of his gar- 

 den at Nonsuch about the year 1509, and Leland 

 says it was a " Nonpareil." Hentyner assures us 

 of its perfect beauty, describing one of its marble 

 basins as being set round with "lilac trees, which 

 trees bear no fruit, but only a pleasant smell." 



The pleasure-gardens at Theobalds, the seat of 

 Lord Burleigh, were a unique, according to the 

 report of Lyson. In it were nine knots exqui- 

 sitely made, one of which was set forth in likeness 

 of the king's arms. "One might walk two myle 

 in the walks before he came to an end." 



Queen Elizabeth was extremely fond of flowers, 

 and her taste ever influenced that of her court. 

 Gillifloweis, carnations, tulips, Provence and musk 

 roses, were brought to England in her reign. 



William III. loved a pleasaunce or pleasure- 

 garden ; but he introduced the Dutch fashion of 

 laying them out, which is still horrible in our eyes. 

 His queen superintended in person all her ar- 

 rangements in the flower-garden, an amu'sement 

 particularly delightful to her. In those days, 

 * knottes and mazes" were no longer the pride of a 

 parterre, with a due allowance of " pleasant and 

 fair fishponds." 



Queen Anne remodeled the gardens at Kensing- 

 ton, and did away with the Dutch inventions. 

 Hampton Court was also laid out in a more perfect 

 state in her reign, under the directron of Wise. 



