EARLY ri'DOR GARDENS. 



77 



where Leland saw the cut trees. In the thirteenth century there 

 were made in some of the monasteries " mounds " of earth 

 against the garden-walls, to enable the inmates to peer over 

 them into the outer world. During the following centuries, 

 "mounds" or " mounts," of smiple construction, were frequently 

 to be found in the gardens, but in Tudor times, the " mount " 

 became a much more important accessory than formerly. 

 They were usually made of earth covered with fruit or other 



ULD VEW WALK AND MOUNT ROCKINGHAM. 



trees. Mounts were generally thrown up in " divers corners " 

 of the orchard, and were ascended by "stairs of precious 

 workmanship," or a spiral path planted on either side with 

 shrubs, cut in quaint shapes, or with sweet-smelling herbs and 

 flowers. At Rockingham, there remains a specimen of one form 

 of mount. A great terraced-mound of earth, covered with turf 

 and a few trees, is raised against a part of the high wall which 

 surrounds the garden and behind which the keep formerly stood. 



