2o6 JOHN EVELYN 



the water neere 40 feet high, and having about it a 

 multitude of statues and basines, and is a surprising 

 object ; but nothing is more esteem'd than the cascade 

 falling from the greate stepps into the lowest and 

 longest walke from the Mount Parnassus, which con- 

 sists of a grotto, or shell-house on the summit of the 

 hill, wherein are divers water-workes and contrivances 

 to wet the spectators ; this is covered with a fayre 

 cupola, the walls paynted with the Muses, and statues 

 placed thick about it, whereof some are antiq and 

 good. In the upper walks are two perspectives, seem- 

 ing to enlarge the allys. In this garden are many 

 other contrivances. The Palace, as I said, is not 

 extraordinary. The outer walles onely paynted a 

 fresca. In the Court is a Volary, and the statues of 

 Charles IX. Hen. III. IV. and Lewis XIII. on 

 horseback, mezzo-relievod in plaster. In the garden 

 is a small chapell ; and under shelter is the figure of 

 Cleopatra, taken from the Belvidere original, with 

 others. From the tarrace above is a tempest well 

 paynted, and there is an excellent prospect towards 

 Paris, the meadows, & river. 



At an inn in this village is an host who treats all 

 the greate persons in princely lodgings for furniture 

 and plate, but they pay well for it, as I have don. 



