92 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND. 



Another contemporaiy ^vriter, describing the place, says of 

 it : " The Palace itself is so encompassed with parks, full of deer, 

 delicious gardens, groves ornamented with trellis work, cabinets 

 of verdure, and walks so embowered by trees, that it seems 

 to be a place pitched upon by Pleasure herself to dwell in 

 along with Health."* Henry VHI. never quite completed 

 Nonsuch, but it was held for a time by Henry FitzAlan, Earl 

 of Arundel, who continued to carry out the King's designs. 

 Queen Elizabeth, Anne, Queen of James I., and Henrietta 

 Maria, all paid visits to the place, but did not stay there for long. 

 The parliamentary survey of the palace and gardens, made in 

 1650, shows there were several walled gardens, divided by 

 thick thorn hedges, also alleys, a wilderness, and privy garden, 

 and a large kitchen-garden. There was also a terrace in front of 

 the house, and a " handsome bowling-green." The whole was 

 rather Italian in style, with many fountains and statues. 

 Charles H. gave the place to the Duchess of Cleveland, who 

 pulled it down, and the destruction of this once magnificent 

 palace was completed by her grandson, the Duke of Grafton, 

 who cut down the trees and destroyed the park.t 



While such progress was being made in the decoration and 



laying-out of the flower-garden, the fruit and kitchen-gardens 



were not altogether neglected. Besides such fruits as were 



already in common use, others were introduced, and those 



indigenous in the country, were improved. The strawberry was 



largely planted, and carefully cultivated : — 



"If frost do continue take this for a lawe 



The strawberies look to be covered witli strawe 

 Laid overly trim, upon crotchis and bows 

 And after uncovered as weather allows." ;]; 



From the following verse, in September's husbandrie, it is clear 



where the strawberry plants were procured : — 



" Wife unto thy garden and set me a plot 

 With strawbery rootes of the best to be got. 

 Such growing abroade, among thornes in the wood 

 Wei chosen and picked proove excellent good." 



* Nichols, Progress of^ Queen Elizabeth. 



f Camden's Brita)inia. Ed. Gough, 1806. 



X Tusser, Fiiw Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. 



