MEDIEVAL GARDENS 



gardens may possibly account for the compara- 

 tive accuracy with which the early miniaturists 

 painted such beasts as lions, bears, and leopards, 

 which otherwise they might have had no chance 

 of studying. 



One of the greatest delights of the garden 

 was the bower in which the warm months were 

 passed. Here meals were taken, and merry 

 pastimes enjoyed, as long as daylight lasted. 

 Hither came tumblers and dancing-girls, and 

 sometimes performing animals. A poor captive 

 bear would be made to stumble over the rough 

 roads for miles in order to go through its 

 grotesque antics before some joyous company 

 of dames and gallants. But spring and youth 

 was the time to be gay, and nothing came amiss 

 to these light-hearted folk. 



The bower was also the " privy playing 

 place," and all care was taken to make its leafy 

 screen grow close and thick. Perhaps one of 

 the most interesting references to a green arbour 

 interesting because of the romance which was 

 the cause of its mention is in a poem by King 

 James I. of Scotland, telling of sad years in prison, 

 which ended in love and liberty. James, whilst 

 still a young man, was imprisoned in Windsor 

 Castle, and writing to solace himself with some- 

 thing more tangible than the mere contemplation 

 of his beloved one, and to while away time, 

 describes the garden with " herbere green," 

 which he saw through the barred window of 

 his prison-house. Leaning his head against the 



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