304 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK III. ing tlie most, at Long-Leats, the stately palace of lord viscount 

 '"""""y^ Weymouth ; at Badminton, the duke of Beaufort's princely seat in 

 Glovicestershire ; at Ackdown-park, in Berks, a most delightful soHtude, 

 from the centre of a large wood belonging to the lord Craven ; and in 

 Worcestershire, at West wood, the mansion of sir John Packington ; 

 besides those mentioned by Dr. Plot in his Natural History of Stafford- 

 shire, with many others ; most of which have been graphically plotted 

 and designed (together with the seats, gardens, fountains, piscinas, plan- 

 tations, avenues, vistas, and prospects about them) by Mr. KnifF, in near 

 one hundred copperplates ; a most laudable undertaking, and becoming 

 the encouragement of those noble persons, who would do honour to 

 themselves, their families, and the whole nation. 



But these incomparable amenities and undertakings will best of aU be- 

 come the inspection and care of the noble owners, lieutenants, rangers, 

 and ingenious gentlemen, when they delight themselves as much in the 

 goodliness of their trees, as other men generally do in their dogs and 

 horses, for races and hunting ; neither of which recreations is comparable 

 to that of planting, either for virtue or pleasure, were things justly 

 considered according to their true estimation : not that I am of so morose 

 a humour, that I reprove any of these noble and manly diversions, 

 seasonably used ; but because I would court the industry of great and 

 opulent persons to profitable and permanent delights: for, suppose 

 that ambition were changed into a laudable emulation, who should best, 

 and with most artifice, raise a plantation of trees, that should, by their 

 direction and encouragement, have all the proper ornaments, and per- 

 fections their nature is susceptible of ; such as ^Elian sums up, lib. iii. 

 cap. xiv. iuyeiisTq, oi xXdBoi, xoc) yi xo^-n 'ttoAAv^, &c. kindand gentlelimbs, plenty 

 of large leaves, an ample and fair body, profound or spreading roots, 

 strong against impetuous winds, (for so I affect to read it,) extensive and 

 venerable shade, and the like : methinks this were as much a subject of 

 glory as could be fancied of the kind : and comparable, I durst pronounce 

 preferable, to any of their recreations ; and how goodly an ornament to 

 their demesnes and dwellings, let their own eyes be the judges. 



One encouragement more I would reinforce from an history I have 

 read of a certain frugal and most industrious Italian nobleman, who, after 

 his lady was brought to bed of a daughter, (considering that wood and 



