CHAPTER X 



GARDENING UNDER WILLIAM AND MARY 



" When lavish Art her costly work had done. 

 The honour and the prize of bravery 

 Was by the garden from the Palace won." 



Cowley. 



A GOOD idea of the number of gardens existing in England 

 in the time of William and Mary may be gathered 

 from the diary of Celia Fiennes, 1 who travelled on horseback 

 through the country. In every county, and at almost every 

 stage of her journey, she mentions or describes some garden 

 more or less notable. The fountains, or " waterworks," were 

 perhaps the most characteristic feature in the larger gardens, 

 and of these she gives many elaborate descriptions. At 

 Chatsworth there were fountains innumerable, one a Willow 

 tree " which rains from each leaf," and there was also a basin 

 in the middle " of one garden that's very large and by sluces 

 besides the images severall pipes plays out y e water : about 

 30 large and small pipes altogether, some fflush it up that it 

 ffrothes like snow." At Wilton there was a grotto with pipes 

 concealed apparently all round and over the roof, which sent 

 forth a sort of shower-bath which " washes y e spectators." 

 Again, at Bradby, Lord Chesterfield's house, " In one garden 

 there are 3 fountaines wherein stands great statues. Each 

 side on their pedistalls is a dial, one for y e sun, y e other a clock 

 W* by y e water worke is moved and strikes y e hours, and 

 chimes y e quarters, and when they please play Lilibolaro on 

 y e chimes. All this I heard when I was there." 

 These waterworks, introduced first in Tudor times, were now 



1 Through England on a Side-Saddle in the Time of William and Mary, 



1888. 



201 



