GARDENS OF VARIOUS NATIONS. 589 



poppies, and narcissus. The rose was from a very early time a 

 favourite flower of the English : in the ancient conveyances it was 

 a common occurrence to render annually one for quit- rent. The lily 

 too, we gather from other sources, was grown in 1276 in the Royal 

 Garden at Westminster. About the same time many kinds of fruits 

 were cultivated in this country, amongst which were cherries, mul- 

 berries, pears, apples, vines, quinces, medlars, gooseberries, strawberries, 

 raspberries, peaches, and almonds, as well as culinary vegetals, such 

 as cabbages, peas, beans, lettuces, rocket, mustard, and various kinds 

 of herbs, watercresses, hops, onions, garlic, leeks, and probably beets. 



Still, there is very little known of the plans of the early English 

 gardens. Doubtless there was but little skill shown in them, though 

 one authority informs us that in the twelfth century beautiful gardens 

 were attached to the houses of the citizens of London, but in what 

 their beauty consisted is by no means clear. Yet both Blenheim 

 and Woodstock existed at the same period. From the early English 

 illuminated MSS. large gardens are represented as being supplied 

 with a pond or well, and sometimes also, though rarely, with even 

 fountains and grottoes. In the " Romaunt of the Rose," Chaucer 

 describes a garden, which was a perfect square, and which 



" Enclosed was, and walled wele, 

 With hie walles embatailed, 

 Portrayed without, and well entayled 

 With many a riche portraiture." 



Possibly much of the descriptive part of it, and of the trees and 

 plants which are enumerated as growing in this imaginative garden, 

 was founded on fact. There was another and a real garden, of the 

 fourteenth century, in Holborn, belonging to the Earl of Lincoln, 

 by whom it was kept up for profit as well as for recreation. From 

 an account in the office of the Duchy of Lancaster the sum of 

 9 2s. 3^., equal at the present day to 135, was raised during the 

 year for the sale of the surplus fruit. The only flowers that are 

 mentioned are roses, and what were sold of these amounted to 

 3^. 2d. The fruit-trees in this garden consisted of apples, pears, 



