CHAP. I. The situation of a Garden of pleasure , with the nature of soyles , and how to amend the defects that are in many sorts of situations and grounds .

THE seuerall situations of mens dwellings , are for the most part vnauoideable and vnremoueable ; for most men cannot appoint forth such a manner of situation for their dwelling , as is most fit to auoide all the inconueniences of winde and weather , but must bee content with such as the place will afford them ; yet all men doe well know , that some situations are more excellent than others : according therfore to the seuerall situation of mens dwellings , so are the situations of their gardens also for the most part . And although diuers doe diuersly preferre their owne seuerall places which they haue chosen , or wherein they dwell . As some those places that are neare vnto a riuer or brooke to be best for the pleasantnesse of the water , the case of transportation of themselues , their friends and goods , as also for the fertility of the soyle , which is seldome bad neare vnto a riuers side ; And others extoll the side or top of an hill , bee it small or great , for the prospects sake ; And againe , some the plaine or champian ground , for the euen leuell thereof : euery one of which , as they haue their commodities accompanying them , so haue they also their discommodities belonging vnto them , according to the Latine Prouerbe , Omne commodum fert suum incommodum . Yet to shew you for euerie of these situations which is the fittest place to plant your garden in , and how to defend it from the iniuries of the cold windes and frosts that may annoy it , will , I hope , be well accepted . And first , for the water side , I suppose the North side of the water to be the best side for your garden , that it may haue the comfort of the South Sunne to lye vpon it and face it , and the dwelling house to bee aboue it , to defend the cold windes and frosts both from your herbes , and flowers , and early fruits . And so likewise I iudge for the hill side , that it may lye full open to the South Sunne , and the house aboue it , both for the comfort the ground shall receiue of the water and raine descending into it , and of defence from winter and colds . Now for the plaine leuell ground , the buildings of the house should be on the North side of the garden , that so they might bee a defence of much sufficiency to safeguard it from many iniurious cold nights and dayes , which else might spoyle the pride thereof in the bud . But because euery one cannot so appoint his dwelling , as I here appoint the fittest place for it to be , euery ones pleasure thereof shall be according to the site , cost , and endeauours they bestow , to cause it come nearest to this proportion , by such helpes of bricke or stone wals to defend it , or by the helpe of high growne and well spread trees , planted on the North side thereof , to keepe it the warmer . And euery of these three situations , hauing the fairest buildings of the house facing the garden in this manner before specified , besides the benefit of shelter it shall haue from them , the buildings and roomes abutting thereon , shall haue reciprocally the beautifull prospect into it , and haue both sight and sent of whatsoeuer is excellent , and worthy to giue content out from it , which is one of the greatest pleasures a garden can yeeld his Master . Now hauing shewed you the best place where this your garden should be , let me likewise aduise you where it should not be , at least that it is the worst place wherein it may be , if it be either on the West or East side of your house , or that it stand in a moorish ground , or other vnwholsome ayre ( for many , both fruits , herbes , and flowers that are tender , participate with the ayre , taking in a manner their chiefest thriuing from thence ) or neare any common Lay-stalles , or common Sewers , or else neare any great Brew-house , Dye-house , or any other place where there is much smoake , whether it be of straw , wood , or especially of sea-coales , which of all other is the worst , as our Citie of London can giue proofe sufficient , wherein neither herbe nor tree will long prosper , nor hath done euer since the vse of sea-coales beganne to bee frequent therein . And likewise that it is much the worse , if it bee neare vnto any Barnes or Stackes of corne or hey , because that from thence will continually with the winde bee brought into the garden the strawe and chaffe of the corne , the dust and seede of the hey to choake or pester it . Next vnto the place or situation , let mee shew you the grounds or soyles for it , eyther naturall or artificiall . No man will deny , but the naturall blacke mould is not only the fattest and richest , but farre exceedeth any other either naturall or artificiall , as well in goodnesse as durability . And next thereunto , I hold the sandy loame ( which is light and yet firme , but not loose as sand , nor stiffe like vnto clay ) to be little inferiour for this our Garden of pleasure ; for that it doth cause all bulbous and tuberous rooted plants to thriue sufficiently therein , as likewise all other flower-plants , Roses , Trees , &c. which if it shall decay by much turning and working out the heart of it , may soone be helped with old stable manure of horses , being well turned in , when it is old and almost conuerted to mould . Other grounds , as chalke , sand , grauell , or clay , are euery of them one more or lesse fertill or barren than other ; and therefore doe require such helpes as is most fit for them . And those grounds that are ouer dry , loose , and dustie , the manure of stall fedde beasts and cattell being buried or trenched into the earth , and when it is thorough rotten ( which will require twice the time that the stable soyle of horses will ) well turned and mixed with the earth , is the best soyle to temper both the heate and drinesse of them . So contrariwise the stable dung of horses is the best for cold grounds , to giue them heate and life . But of all other sorts of grounds , the stiffe clay is the very worst for this purpose , for that although you should digge out the whole compasse of your Garden , carry it away , and bring other good mould in the stead thereof , and fill vp the place , yet the nature of that clay is so predominant , that in a small time it will eate out the heart of the good mould , and conuert it to its owne nature , or very neare vnto it : so that to bring it to any good , there must bee continuall labour bestowed thereon , by bringing into it good store of chalke , lime , or sand , or else ashes eyther of wood or of sea-coales ( which is the best for this ground ) well mixed and turned in with it . And as this stiffe clay is the worst , so what ground soeuer commeth nearest vnto the nature thereof , is nearest vnto it in badnesse , the signes whereof are the ouermuch moysture thereof in Winter , and the much cleauing and chapping thereof in Summer , when the heate of the yeare hath consumed the moysture , which tyed and bound it fast together , as also the stiffe and hard working therein : but if the nature of the clay bee not too stiffe , but as it were tempered and mixed with sand or other earths , your old stable soyle of horses will helpe well the small rifting or chapping thereof , to be plentifully bestowed therin in a fit season . Some also do commend the casting of ponds and ditches , to helpe to manure these stiffe chapping grounds . Other grounds , that are ouermoist by springs , that lye too neare the vpper face of the earth , besides that the beds thereof had need to be laid vp higher , and the allies , as trenches and furrowes , to lye lower , the ground it selfe had neede to haue some good store of chalke-stones bestowed thereon , some certaine yeares , if it may be , before it be laid into a Garden , that the Winter frosts may breake the chalke small , and the Raine dissolue it into mould , that so they may bee well mixed together ; than which , there is not any better manure to soyle such a moist ground , to helpe to dry vp the moysture , and to giue heate and life to the coldnesse thereof , which doth alwayes accompany these moist grounds , and also to cause it abide longer in heart than any other . For the sandy and grauelly grounds , although I know the well mollified manure of beasts and cattell to be excellent good , yet I know also , that some commend a white Marle , and some a clay to be well spread thereon , and after turned thereinto : and for the chalkie ground , è conuerso , I commend fatte clay to helpe it . You must vnderstand , that the lesse rich or more barren that your ground is , there needeth the more care , labour , and cost to bee bestowed thereon , both to order it rightly , & so to preserue it from time to time : for no artificiall or forc't ground can endure good any long time , but that within a few yeares it must be refreshed more or lesse , according as it doth require . Yet you shall likewise vnderstand , that this Garden of pleasure stored with these Out-landish flowers ; that is , bulbous and tuberous rooted plants , and other fine flowers , that I haue hereafter described , and assigned vnto it , needeth not so much or so often manuring with soyle , &c. as another Garden planted with the other sorts of English flowers , or a Garden of ordinary Kitchin herbes doth . Your ground likewise for this Garden had neede to bee well cleansed from all annoyances ( that may hinder the well doing or prospering of the flowers therein ) as stones , weedes , rootes of trees , bushes , &c. and all other things cumbersome or hurtfull ; and therefore the earth being not naturally fine enough of it selfe , is vsed to bee sifted to make it the finer , and that either through a hurdle made of sticks , or lathes , or through square or round sieues platted with fine and strong thin stickes , or with wyers in the bottome . Or else the whole earth of the Garden being course , may be cast in the same manner that men vse to try or fine sand from grauell , that is , against a wall ; whereby the courser and more stony , falling downe from the fine , is to betaken away from the foote of the heape , the finer sand and ground remaining still aboue , and on the heape . Or else in the want of a wall to cast it against , I haue seene earth fined by it selfe in this manner : Hauing made the floore or vpper part of a large plat of ground cleane from stones , &c. let there a reasonable round heape of fine earth be set in the midst thereof , or instead thereof a large Garden flower-pot , or other great pot , the bottome turned vpwards , and then poure your course earth on the top or head thereof , one shouell full after another somewhat gently , and thereby all the course stuffe and stones will fall downe to the bottome round about the heape , which must continually be carefully taken away , and thus you may make your earth as fine as if it were cast against a wall , the heape being growne great , seruing in stead thereof . Those that will not prepare their grounds in some of these manners aforesaid , shall soone finde to their losse the neglect thereof : for the trash and stones shall so hinder the encrease of their roots , that they will be halfe lost in the earth among the stones , which else might be saued to serue to plant wheresoeuer they please .

CHAP. II. The frame or forme of a Garden of delight and pleasure , with the seuerall varieties thereof .

ALthough many men must be content with any plat of ground , of what forme or quantity soeuer it bee , more or lesse , for their Garden , because a more large or conuenient cannot bee had to their habitation : Yet I perswade my selfe , that Gentlemen of the better sort and quality , will prouide such a parcell of ground to bee laid out for their Garden , and in such conuenient manner , as may be fit and answerable to the degree they hold . To prescribe one forme for euery man to follow , were too great presumption and folly : for euery man will please his owne fancie , according to the extent he designeth out for that purpose , be it orbicular or round , triangular or three square , quadrangular or foure square , or more long than broad . I will onely shew you here the seuerall formes that many men haue taken and delighted in , let euery man chuse which him liketh best , or may most fitly agree to that proportion of ground hee hath set out for that purpose . The orbicular or round forme is held in it owne proper existence to be the most absolute forme , containing within it all other formes whatsoeuer ; but few I thinke will chuse such a proportion to be ioyned to their habitation , being not accepted any where I think , but for the generall Garden to the Vniuersity at Padoa . The triangular or three square is such a forme also , as is seldome chosen by any that may make another choise , and as I thinke is onely had where another forme cannot be had , necessitie constraining them to be therewith content . The foure square forme is the most vsually accepted with all , and doth best agree to any mans dwelling , being ( as I said before ) behinde the house , all the backe windowes thereof opening into it . Yet if it bee longer than the breadth , or broader than the length , the proportion of walkes , squares , and knots may be soon brought to the square forme , and be so cast , as the beauty thereof may

diagrams of formal pleasure gardens

bee no lesse than the foure square proportion , or any other better forme , if any be . To forme it therfore with walks , crosse the middle both waies , and round about it also with hedges , with squares , knots and trayles , or any other worke within the foure square parts , is according as euery mans conceit alloweth of it , and they will be at the charge : For there may be therein walkes eyther open or close , eyther publike or priuate , a maze or wildernesse , a rocke or mount , with a fountaine in the midst thereof to conuey water to euery part of the Garden , eyther in pipes vnder the ground , or brought by hand , and emptied into large Cisternes or great Turkie Iarres , placed in conuenient places , to serue as an ease to water the nearest parts thereunto . Arbours also being both gracefull and necessary , may be appointed in such conuenient places , as the corners , or else where , as may be most fit , to serue both for shadow and rest after walking . And because many are desirous to see the formes of trayles , knots , and other compartiments , and because the open knots are more proper for these Out-landish flowers ; I haue here caused some to be drawne , to satisfie their desires , not intending to cumber this worke with ouer manie , in that it would be almost endlesse , to expresse so many as might bee conceiued and set downe , for that euery man may inuent others farre differing from these , or any other can be set forth . Let euery man therefore , if hee like of these , take what may please his mind , or out of these or his own conceit , frame any other to his fancy , or cause others to be done as he liketh best , obseruing this decorum , that according to his ground he do cast out his knots , with conuenient roome for allies and walkes ; for the fairer and larger your allies and walkes be , the more grace your Garden shall haue , the lesse harme the herbes and flowers shall receiue , by passing by them that grow next vnto the allies sides , and the better shall your Weeders cleanse both the beds and the allies .

CHAP. III. The many sorts of herbes and other things , wherewith the beds and parts of knots are bordered to set out the forme of them , with their commodities and discommodities .

IT is necessary also , that I shew you the seuerall materials , wherewith these knots and trayles are set forth and bordered ; which are of two sorts : The one are liuing herbes , and the other are dead materials ; as leade , boords , bones , tyles , &c. Of herbes , there are many sorts wherewith the knots and beds in a Garden are vsed to bee set , to shew forth the forme of them , and to preserue them the longer in their forme , as also to be as greene , and sweete herbes , while they grow , to be cut to perfume the house , keeping them in such order and proportion , as may be most conuenient for their seuerall natures , and euery mans pleasure and fancy : Of all which , I intend to giue you the knowledge here in this place ; and first , to begin with that which hath beene most anciently receiued , which is Thrift . This is an euerliuing greene herbe , which many take to border their beds , and set their knots and trayles , and therein much delight , because it will grow thicke and bushie , and may be kept , being cut with a paire of Garden sheeres , in some good handsome manner and proportion for a time , and besides , in the Summer time send forth many short stalkes of pleasant flowers , to decke vp an house among other sweete herbes : Yet these inconueniences doe accompany it ; it will not onely in a small time ouergrow the knot or trayle in many places , by growing so thicke and bushie , that it will put out the forme of a knot in many places : but also much thereof will dye with the frosts and snowes in Winter , and with the drought in Summer , whereby many voide places will be seene in the knot , which doth much deforme it , and must therefore bee yearely refreshed : the thicknesse also and bushing thereof doth hide and shelter snayles and other small noysome wormes so plentifully , that Gilloflowers , and other fine herbes and flowers being planted therein , are much spoyled by them , and cannot be helped without much industry , and very great and daily attendance to destroy them . Germander is another herbe , in former times also much vsed , and yet also in many places ; and because it will grow thicke , and may be kept also in some forme and proportion with cutting , and that the cuttings are much vsed as a strawing herbe for houses , being pretty and sweete , is also much affected by diuers : but this also will often dye and grow out of forme , and besides that , the stalkes will grow too great , hard and stubby , the rootes doe so farre shoote vnder ground , that vpon a little continuance thereof , will spread into many places within the knot , which it continually they be not plucked vp , they will spoile the whole knot it selfe ; and therefore once in three or foure yeares at the most , it must be taken vp and new set , or else it will grow too roynish and cumbersome . Hyssope hath also been vsed to be set about a knot , and being sweet , will serue for strewings , as Germander : But this , although the rootes doe not runne or creep like it , yet the stalkes doe quickly grow great aboue ground , and dye often after the first yeares setting , whereby the grace of the knot will be much lost . Marierome , Sauorie , and Thyme , in the like manner being sweete herbes , are vsed to border vp beds and knots , and will be kept for a little while , with cutting , into some conformity ; but all and euery of them serue most commonly but for one yeares vse , and will soone decay and perish : and therefore none of these , no more than any of the former , doe I commend for a good bordering herbe for this purpose . Lauander Cotton also being finely slipped and set , is of many , and those of the highest respect of late daies , accepted , both for the beauty and forme of the herbe , being of a whitish greene mealy colour , for his sent smelling somewhat strong , and being euerliuing and abiding greene all the Winter , will , by cutting , be kept in as euen proportion as any other herbe may be . This will likewise soone grow great and stubbed , notwithstanding the cutting , and besides will now and then perish in some places , especially if you doe not strike or put off the snow , before the Sunne lying vpon it dissolue it : The rarity & nouelty of this herbe , being for the most part but in the Gardens of great persons , doth cause it to be of the greater regard , it must therfore be renewed wholly euery second or third yeare at the most , because of the great growing therof . Slips of Iuniper or Yew are also receiued of some & planted , because they are alwayes green , and that the Iuniper especially hath not that ill sent that Boxe hath , which I will presently commend vnto you , yet both Iuniper and Yew will soon grow too great and stubbed , and force you to take vp your knot sooner , than if it were planted with Boxe . Which lastly , I chiefly and aboue all other herbes commend vnto you , and being a small , lowe , or dwarfe kinde , is called French or Dutch Boxe , and serueth very well to set out any knot , or border out any beds : for besides that it is euer greene , it being reasonable thicke set , will easily be cut and formed into any fashion one will , according to the nature thereof , which is to grow very slowly , and will not in a long time rise to be of any height , but shooting forth many small branches from the roote , will grow very thicke , and yet not require so great tending , nor so much perish as any of the former , and is onely receiued into the Gardens of those that are curious . This ( as I before said ) I commend and hold to bee the best and surest herbe to abide faire and greene in all the bitter stormes of the sharpest Winter , and all the great heates and droughts of Summer , and doth recompence the want of a good sweet sent with his fresh verdure , euen proportion , and long lasting continuance . Yet these inconueniences it hath , that besides the vnpleasing sent which many mislike , and yet is but small , the rootes of this Boxe do so much spread themselues into the ground of the knot , and doe draw from thence so much nourishment , that it robbeth all the herbes that grow neare it of their sap and substance , thereby making all the earth about it barren , or at least lesse fertile . Wherefore to shew you the remedy of this inconuenience of spreading , without either taking vp the Boxe of the border , or the herbes and flowers in the knot , is I thinke a secret knowne but vnto a few , which is this : You shall take a broad pointed Iron like vnto a Slise or Chessill , which thrust downe right into the ground a good depth all along the inside of the border of Boxe somewhat close thereunto , you may thereby cut away the spreading rootes thereof , which draw so much moisture from the other herbes on the inside , and by this meanes both preserue your herbes and flowers in the knot , and your Boxe also , for that the Boxe will be nourished sufficiently from the rest of the rootes it shooteth on all the other sides . And thus much for the liuing herbes , that serue to set or border vp any knot . Now for the dead materials , they are also , as I said before diuers : as first , Leade , which some that are curious doe border their knots withall , causing it to be cut of the breadth of foure fingers , bowing the lower edge a little outward , that it may lye vnder the vpper crust of the ground , and that it may stand the faster , and making the vpper edge either plain , or cut out like vnto the battlements of a Church : this fashion hath delighted some , who haue accounted it stately ( at the least costly ) and fit for their degree , and the rather , because it will be bowed and bended into any round square , angular , or other proportion as one listeth , and is not much to be misliked , in that the Leade doth not easily breake or spoile without much iniury , and keepeth vp a knot for a very long time in his due proportion : but in my opinion , the Leade is ouer-hot for Summer , and ouer-cold for Winter . Others doe take Oaken inch boords , and sawing them foure or fiue inches broad , do hold vp their knot therewith : but in that these boordes cannot bee drawne compasse into any small scantling , they must serue rather for long outright beds , or such knots as haue no rounds , halfe rounds , or compassings in them . And besides , these boordes are not long lasting , because they stand continually in the weather , especially the ends where they are fastned together will soonest rot and perish , and so the whole forme will be spoyled . To preuent that fault , some others haue chosen the shanke bones of Sheep , which after they haue beene well cleansed and boyled , to take out the fat from them , are stucke into the ground the small end downewards , and the knockle head vpwards , and thus being set side to side , or end to end close together , they set out the whole knot therewith , which heads of bones although they looke not white the first yeare , yet after they haue abiden some frosts and heates will become white , and prettily grace out the ground : but this inconuenience is incident to them , that the Winter frosts will raise them out of the ground oftentimes , and if by chance the knockle head of any doe breake , or be strucke off with any ones foot , &c. going by , from your store , that lyeth by you of the same sort , set another in the place , hauing first taken away the broken peece : although these will last long in forme and order , yet because they are but bones many mislike them , and indeed I know but few that vse them . Tyles are also vsed by some , which by reason they may bee brought compasse into any fashion many are pleased with them , who doe not take the whole Tyle at length , but halfe Tyles , and other broken peeces set somewhat deepe into the ground , that they may stand fast , and these take vp but little roome , and keepe vp the edge of the beds and knots in a pretty comely manner , but they are often out of frame , in that many of them are broken and spoiled , both with mens feete passing by , the weather and weight of the earth beating them downe and breaking them , but especially the frosts in Winter doe so cracke off their edges , both at the toppes and sides that stand close one vnto another , that they must bee continually tended and repaired , with fresh and sound ones put in the place of them that are broken or decayed . And lastly ( for it is the latest inuention ) round whitish or blewish pebble stones , of some reasonable proportion and bignesse , neither too great nor too little , haue beene vsed by some to be set , or rather in a manner but laide vpon the ground to fashion out the traile or knot , or all along by the large grauelly walke sides to set out the walke , and maketh a pretty handsome shew , and because the stones will not decay with the iniuries of any time or weather , and will be placed in their places againe , if any should be thrust out by any accident , as also that their sight is so conspicuous vpon the ground , especially if they be not hid with the store of herbes growing in the knot ; is accounted both for durability , beauty of the sight , handsomnesse in the worke , and ease in the working and charge , to be of all other dead materials the chiefest . And thus , Gentlemen , I haue shewed you all the varieties that I know are vsed by any in our Countrey , that are worth the reciting ( but as for the fashion of Iawe-bones , vsed by some in the Low-Countries , and other places beyond the Seas , being too grosse and base , I make no mention of them ) among which euery one may take what pleaseth him best , or may most fitly be had , or may best agree with the ground or knot . Moreouer , all these herbes that serue for borderings , doe serue as well to be set vpon the ground of a leuelled knot ; that is , where the allies and foot-pathes are of the same leuell with the knot , as they may serue also for the raised knot , that is , where the beds of the knot are raised higher than the allies : but both Leade , Boordes , Bones , and Tyles , are only for the raised ground , be it knot or beds . The pebble stones againe are onely for the leuelled ground , because they are so shallow , that as I said before , they rather lye vpon the earth than are thrust any way into it . All this that I haue here set downe , you must vnderstand is proper for the knots alone of a Garden . But for to border the whole square or knot about , to serue as a hedge thereunto , euery one taketh what liketh him best ; as either Priuet alone , or sweete Bryer , and white Thorne enterlaced together , and Roses of one , or two , or more sorts placed here and there amongst them . Some also take Lauander , Rosemary , Sage , Southernwood , Lauander Cotton , or some such other thing . Some againe plant Cornell Trees , and plash them , or keepe them lowe , to forme them into an hedge . And some againe take a lowe prickly shrubbe , that abideth alwayes greene , described in the end of this Booke , called in Latine Pyracantha , which in time will make an euer greene hedge or border , and when it beareth fruit , which are red berries like vnto Hawthorne berries , make a glorious shew among the greene leaues in the Winter time , when no other shrubbes haue fruit or leaues .