HISTORY & DESCRIPTION OF STYLES 5 



But the chief requirements of a Tudor gentleman 

 still remain. "Theobalds/' laid out by Lord 

 Burleigh, was considered very fine, and we have 

 contemporary descriptions of it : "It is large 

 and square, having all its walls covered with 

 fillery and a beautiful jet d'eau in the centre. 

 The Parterre hath many pleasant walks, many of 

 which are planted on the sides with espaliers, and 

 others arched over. Some of the trees are limes 

 and elms, and at one end is a small mount called 

 the Mount of Venus, which is placed in the midst of 

 a labyrinth, and is upon the whole one of the most 

 beautiful spots in the world." Hatfield was laid 

 out early in King James* reign, and still retains 

 many of the best characteristics of Tudor taste. 

 The square privy garden with its formal beds 

 and fountain, clipped yew hedge and surrounding 

 alleys of pleached limes, is below the west terrace. 

 The forecourt with its great gates makes a fitting 

 entrance to such a house. The gardens on the 

 east side of the house were added by Lord Cecil, 

 and are a succession of terraces: first an ela- 

 borate parterre, then the indispensable bowling 

 green, and on a lower level still the maze. 



An interesting and characteristic detail of this 

 period is the painted railing that was set round 

 flower beds, and among the accounts for Hampton 

 Court there are entries for the painting of such 

 rails " with white and greene in oyle." 



The planning of the Tudor garden was tlxe 



