THE ELIZABETHAN FLOWER GARDEN 105 



tumble-down or overgrown remains of one in the corner of 

 some, perchance, neglected garden could possibly do : 



" And over him Art, striving to compare 



With Nature, did an arbour green dispread, 



Fram'd of wanton ivy, flow'ring fair, 



Through which the fragrant eglantine did spread 



His prickUng arms, entrail'd with roses red 



Which dainty odours round about them threw : 



And all within with flow'rs was garnished. 



That, when mild Zephyrus amongst them blew, 

 Did breathe out bounteous smells and painted colour shew." 



Book II., Canto V ., 29. 



The maze was another feature which now became prominent 

 in many gardens. " There be some that set their mazes with 

 Lavender, cotton spike, majoram and such like, or Isope and 

 Time, or quickset, privet, plashed fruit trees. "^ Lawson gives 

 directions for making mazes, and says : " When they are well 

 formed of a man's height, your friend may perhaps wander in 

 gathering berries till he cannot recover himself without your 

 help." Thomas Hill gives two designs for mazes, though he 

 says they are not " for any necessary commodotie in a garden, 

 but rather" . . ."that who so listeth having such room 

 in their garden may place the one of them ... in that void 

 place . . . that may best be spared for the only purpose to sport 

 in them at times." Many people, on the mention of the word 

 "maze," will think at once of the well-known example at 

 Hampton Court, which affords so much amusement to thou- 

 sands of Londoners and hohday-makers ; but that was not laid 

 out till a very much later date, probably in the year 1700. 



Trees cut in fantastical shapes were frequently to be found 

 between the hedges, dotted about and arranged so as to form 

 vistas and walks. Bacon advises in " ordering of the ground 

 within the great hedge "... that " it be not too busy or full 

 of work," or, in more modern language, not too elaborate, and 

 he adds, " I, for my part, do not hke images cut out in juniper 

 or other garden stuff — they be for children. Little low hedges 

 round like welts, with some pretty pyramids, I like well, and 

 in some places, fair columns." 



The idea that cut trees were generally yews is very prevalent, 

 ^ Thomas Hill. 



