God
Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed it is the
purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment
to the spirits of man; without which, buildings and palaces
are but gross handiworks; and a man shall ever see, that
when ages grow to civility and elegancy, men come to build
stately sooner than to garden finely; as if gardening
were the greater perfection.
I
do hold it, in the royal ordering of gardens, there ought
to be gardens, for all the months in the year; in which
severally things of beauty may be then in season. For
December, and January, and the latter part of November,
you must take such things as are green all winter: holly;
ivy; bays; juniper; cypress-trees; yew; pine-apple-trees;
fir-trees; rosemary; lavender; periwinkle, the white,
the purple, and the blue; germander; flags; orange-trees;
lemon-trees; and myrtles, if they be stoved; and sweet
marjoram, warm set. There followeth, for the latter part
of January and February, the mezereon-tree, which then
blossoms; crocus vernus, both the yellow and the grey;
primroses; anemones; the early tulippa; hyacinthus orientalis;
chamairis; fritellaria. For March, there come violets,
specially the single blue, which are the earliest; the
yellow daffodil; the daisy; the almond-tree in blossom;
the peach-tree in blossom; the cornelian-tree in blossom;
sweet-briar. In April follow the double white violet;
the wallflower; the stock-gilliflower; the cowslip; flower-delices,
and lilies of all natures; rosemary-flowers; the tulippa;
the double peony; the pale daffodil; the French honeysuckle;
the cherry-tree in blossom; the damson and plum-trees
in blossom; the white thorn in leaf; the lilac-tree. In
May and June come pinks of all sorts, specially the blushpink;
roses of all kinds, except the musk, which comes later;
honeysuckles; strawberries; bugloss; columbine; the French
marigold, flos Africanus; cherry-tree in fruit; ribes;
figs in fruit; rasps; vineflowers; lavender in flowers;
the sweet satyrian, with the white flower; herba muscaria;
lilium convallium; the apple-tree in blossom. In July
come gilliflowers of all varieties; musk-roses; the lime-tree
in blossom; early pears and plums in fruit; jennetings,
codlins. In August come plums of all sorts in fruit; pears;
apricocks; berberries; filberds; musk-melons; monks-hoods,
of all colors. In September come grapes; apples; poppies
of all colors; peaches; melocotones; nectarines; cornelians;
wardens; quinces. In October and the beginning of November
come services; medlars; bullaces; roses cut or removed
to come late; hollyhocks; and such like. These particulars
are for the climate of London; but my meaning is perceived,
that you may have ver perpetuum, as the place affords.
And
because the breath of flowers is far sweeter in the air
(where it comes and goes like the warbling of music) than
in the hand, therefore nothing is more fit for that delight,
than to know what be the flowers and plants that do best
perfume the air. Roses, damask and red, are fast flowers
of their smells; so that you may walk by a whole row of
them, and find nothing of their sweetness; yea though
it be in a moming's dew. Bays likewise yield no smell
as they grow. Rosemary little; nor sweet marjoram. That
which above all others yields the sweetest smell in the
air is the violet, specially the white double violet,
which comes twice a year; about the middle of April, and
about Bartholomew-tide. Next to that is the musk-rose.
Then the strawberry-leaves dying, which yield a most excellent
cordial smell. Then the flower of vines; it is a little
dust, like the dust of a bent, which grows upon the cluster
in the first coming forth. Then sweet-briar. Then wall-flowers,
which are very delightful to be set under a parlor or
lower chamber window. Then pinks and gilliflowers, especially
the matted pink and clove gilliflower. Then the flowers
of the lime-tree. Then the honeysuckles, so they be somewhat
afar off. Of beanflowers I speak not, because they are
field flowers. But those which perfume the air most delightfully,
not passed by as the rest, but being trodden upon and
crushed, are three; that is, burnet, wild-thyme, and watermints.
Therefore you are to set whole alleys of them, to have
the pleasure when you walk or tread.
For
gardens (speaking of those which are indeed princelike,
as we have done of buildings), the contents ought not
well to be under thirty acres of ground; and to be divided
into three parts; a green in the entrance; a heath or
desert in the going forth; and the main garden in the
midst; besides alleys on both sides. And I like well that
four acres of ground be assigned to the green; six to
the heath; four and four to either side; and twelve to
the main garden. The green hath two pleasures: the one,
because nothing is more pleasant to the eye than green
grass kept finely shorn; the other, because it will give
you a fair alley in the midst, by which you may go in
front upon a stately hedge, which is to enclose the garden.
But because the alley will be long, and, in great heat
of the year or day, you ought not to buy the shade in
the garden, by going in the sun through the green, 
therefore
you are, of either side the green, to plant a covert alley
upon carpenter's work, about twelve foot in height, by
which you may go in shade into the garden. As for the
making of knots or figures, with divers colored earths,
that they may lie under the windows of the house on that
side which the garden stands, they be but toys; you may
see as good sights, many times, in tarts. The garden is
best to be square, encompassed on all the four sides with
a stately arched hedge. The arches to be upon pillars
of carpenter's work, of some ten foot high, and six foot
broad; and the spaces between of the same dimension with
the breadth of the arch. Over the arches let there be
an entire hedge of some four foot high, framed also upon
carpenter's work; and upon the upper hedge, over every
arch, a little turret, with a belly, enough to receive
a cage of birds: and over every space between the arches
some other little figure, with broad plates of round colored
glass gilt, for the sun to play upon. But this hedge I
intend to be raised upon a bank, not steep, but gently
slope, of some six foot, set all with flowers. Also I
understand, that this square of the garden, should not
be the whole breadth of the ground, but to leave on either
side, ground enough for diversity of side alleys; unto
which the two covert alleys of the green, may deliver
you. But there must be no alleys with hedges, at either
end of this great enclosure; not at the hither end, for
letting your prospect upon this fair hedge from the green;
nor at the further end, for letting your prospect from
the hedge, through the arches upon the heath.
For
the ordering of the ground, within the great hedge, I
leave it to variety of device; advising nevertheless,
that whatsoever form you cast it into, first, it be not
too busy, or full of work. Wherein I, for my part, do
not like 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 upon frames of carpenter's work. I would
also have the alleys, spacious and fair. You may have
closer alleys, upon the side grounds, but none in the
main garden. I wish also, in the very middle a fair mount,
with three ascents, and alleys, enough for four to walk
abreast; which I would have to be perfect circles, without
any bulwarks or embossments; and the whole mount to be
thirty foot high; and some fine banqueting-house, with
some chimneys neatly cast, and without too much glass.
For
fountains, they are a great beauty and refreshment; but
pools mar all, and make the garden unwholesome, and full
of flies and frogs. Fountains I intend to be of two natures:
the one that sprinkleth or spouteth water; the other a
fair receipt of water, of some thirty or forty foot square,
but without fish, or slime, 
or
mud. For the first, the ornaments of images gilt, or of
marble, which are in use, do well: but the main matter
is so to convey the water, as it never stay, either in
the bowls or in the cistern; that the water be never by
rest discolored, green or red or the like; or gather any
mossiness or putrefaction. Besides that, it is to be cleansed
every day by the hand. Also some steps up to it, and some
fine pavement about it, doth well. As for the other kind
of fountain, which we may call a bathing pool, it may
admit much curiosity and beauty; wherewith we will not
trouble ourselves: as, that the bottom be finely paved,
and with images; the sides likewise; and withal embellished
with colored glass, and such things of lustre; encompassed
also with fine rails of low statuas. But the main point
is the same which we mentioned in the former kind of fountain;
which is, that the water be in perpetual motion, fed by
a water higher than the pool, and delivered into it by
fair spouts, and then discharged away under ground, by
some equality of bores, that it stay little. And for fine
devices, of arching water without spilling, and making
it rise in several forms (of feathers, drinking glasses,
canopies, and the like), they be pretty things to look
on, but nothing to health and sweetness.
For
the heath, which was the third part of our plot, I wish
it to be framed, as much as may be, to a natural wildness.
Trees I would have none in it, but some thickets made
only of sweet-briar and honeysuckle, and some wild vine
amongst; and the ground set with violets, strawberries,
and primroses. For these are sweet, and prosper in the
shade. And these to be in the heath, here and there, not
in any order. I like also little heaps, in the nature
of mole-hills (such as are in wild heaths), to be set,
some with wild thyme; some with pinks; some with germander,
that gives a good flower to the eye; some with periwinkle;
some with violets; some with strawberries; some with cowslips;
some with daisies; some with red roses; some with lilium
convallium; some with sweet-williams red; some with bear's-foot:
and the like low flowers, being withal sweet and sightly.
Part of which heaps, are to be with standards of little
bushes pricked upon their top, and part without. The standards
to be roses; juniper; hory; berberries (but here and there,
because of the smell of their blossoms); red currants;
gooseberries; rosemary; bays; sweetbriar; and such like.
But these standards to be kept with cutting, that they
grow not out of course.
For
the side grounds, you are to fill them with variety of
alleys, private, to give a full shade, some of them, wheresoever
the sun be. You are to frame some of them, likewise, for
shelter, that when the wind blows sharp you may walk as
in a gallery. And those alleys must be likewise hedged
at both ends, to keep out the wind; and these closer alleys
must be ever finely gravelled, and no grass, because of
going wet. In many of these alleys, likewise, you are
to set fruit-trees of all sorts; as well upon the walls,
as in ranges. And this would be generally observed, that
the borders wherein you plant your fruit-trees, be fair
and large, and low, and not steep; and set with fine flowers,
but thin and sparingly, lest they deceive the trees. At
the end of both the side grounds, I would have a mount
of some pretty height, leaving the wall of the enclosure
breast high, to look abroad into the fields.
For
the main garden, I do not deny, but there should be some
fair alleys ranged on both sides, with fruit-trees; and
some pretty tufts of fruit-trees; and arbors with seats,
set in some decent order; but these to be by no means
set too thick; but to leave the main garden so as it be
not close, but the air open and free. For as for shade,
I would have you rest upon the alleys of the side grounds,
there to walk, if you be disposed, in the heat of the
year or day; but to make account, that the main garden
is for the more temperate parts of the year; and in the
heat of summer, for the morning and the evening, or overcast
days.
For
aviaries, I like them not, except they be of that largeness
as they may be turfed, and have living plants and bushes
set in them; that the birds may have more scope, and natural
nestling, and that no foulness appear in the floor of
the aviary. So I have made a platform of a princely garden,
partly by precept, partly by drawing, not a model, but
some general lines of it; and in this I have spared for
no cost. But it is nothing for great princes, that for
the most part taking advice with workmen, with no less
cost set their things together; and sometimes add statuas
and such things for state and magnificence, but nothing
to the true pleasure of a garden.
