88 THE PRAISE OF GARDENS 



WILLIAM TF you looke into our gardens annexed to our houses, how 

 RISON woonderfullie ^is their beauty increased, not onelie with 

 floures, which Col(u)mella calleth Terrena sydera^ saieng : 



Pingit et in varios terrestria sydera flares, 



and varietie of curious and costlie workmanship, but also with 

 rare and medicinable hearbes sought up in the land within 

 these fortie yeares : so that in comparison of this present, the 

 ancient Gardens were but dunghils and laistowes to such as 

 did possesse them. How art also helpeth nature, in the dailie 

 colouring, dubling and inlarging the proportion of our floures, 

 it is incredible to report, for so curious and cunning are our 

 Gardeners now in these daies, that they presume to doo in 

 maner what they list with nature, and moderate hir course in 

 things as if they were hir superiours. It is a world also to 

 see how manie strange hearbs, plants, and annuall fruits, are 

 dailie brought unto us from the Indies, Americans, Taprobane 

 Canarie lies, and all parts of the world : the which, albeit that 

 in respect of the constitutions of our bodies they doo not grow 

 for us, because that God hath bestowed sufficient commodities 

 upon everie countrie for hir owne necessitie ; yet for delectation 

 sake unto the eie, and their odoriferous savours unto the nose, 

 they are to be cherished, and God to be glorified also in them, 

 because they are his good gifts, and created to doo man help 

 and service. . . . 



For mine owne part, good reader, let me boast a little of 

 my garden, which is but small, and the whole Area thereof 

 little above 300 foot of ground, and yet, such hath beene my 

 good lucke in purchase of the varietie of simples, that notwith- 

 standing my small abilitie, there are verie neere three hundred 

 of one sort and other conteined therein, no one of them being 

 common or usuallie to bee had. If therefore my little plot, 

 void of all cost in keeping, be so well furnished, what shall 

 we thinke of those of Hampton Court, Nonesuch, Tibaults, 

 Cobham garden, and sundrie other apperteining to diuerse citizens 



