DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49977#0152
130
A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND.
made divers great pools, he begs him to procure one skilful
therein, as certain banks he has made that year about a great
pool, have given way through unskilfulness of the workmen.” *
The pools at Loseley must have been some time in existence,
as on December 21st, 1581, Henry Sledd, Queen Elizabeth’s
fishmonger, wrote to Sir William More, offering to buy some
carp out of his pond. He offers from I2d. to i8d. a piece,
according to their size, and adds, “Yf I see they be more
worthe .... I will mend the pryse.” t
Of the first kind of fountain there were many examples in
the finest gardens at the time when Bacon wrote. Frederick,
Duke of Wurtemberg, describes the one he saw at Hampton
Court, in 1592 J :—“ In the middle of the first and principal
court stands a splendid high and massy fountain, with an
ingenious water-work, by which you can, if you like, make
the water to play upon the ladies and others who are standing
by, and give them a thorough wetting.” Of this same fountain
Norden wrote in 1598, “Queen Elizabeth hathe of late caused
a very beautiful fountaine there to be erected in the second
court, which graceth the Pallace, and serveth to great and
necessarie use; the fountaine was finished in 1590, not without
great charge.” Another of the same sort was to be seen at
Whitehall, and is described by Hentzner, in 1598:—“A jet
d’eau with a sundial, which, while strangers are looking at it
a quantity of water forced by a wheel which the gardener turns
at a distance, through a number of little pipes, plentifully
sprinkles those that are standing round.” Hentzner also visited
Nonsuch, and notices several fountains. In the “ privy gardens ”
were two “ that spurt water one round the other like a pyramid
upon which are perched small birds that stream water out of
their bills.” In the “ Grove of Diana,” was one “with Actaeon
turned into a stag as he was sprinkled by the goddess and her
nymphs,” and a “pyramid of marble full of concealed pipes
which spurt upon all that come near.” The word “jet d’eau”
* MS. letter at Loseley, Surrey.
t Ibid.
f Translation, 1602—printed in England as Seen by Foreigners. By
Brenchley Rye, 1865.
A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND.
made divers great pools, he begs him to procure one skilful
therein, as certain banks he has made that year about a great
pool, have given way through unskilfulness of the workmen.” *
The pools at Loseley must have been some time in existence,
as on December 21st, 1581, Henry Sledd, Queen Elizabeth’s
fishmonger, wrote to Sir William More, offering to buy some
carp out of his pond. He offers from I2d. to i8d. a piece,
according to their size, and adds, “Yf I see they be more
worthe .... I will mend the pryse.” t
Of the first kind of fountain there were many examples in
the finest gardens at the time when Bacon wrote. Frederick,
Duke of Wurtemberg, describes the one he saw at Hampton
Court, in 1592 J :—“ In the middle of the first and principal
court stands a splendid high and massy fountain, with an
ingenious water-work, by which you can, if you like, make
the water to play upon the ladies and others who are standing
by, and give them a thorough wetting.” Of this same fountain
Norden wrote in 1598, “Queen Elizabeth hathe of late caused
a very beautiful fountaine there to be erected in the second
court, which graceth the Pallace, and serveth to great and
necessarie use; the fountaine was finished in 1590, not without
great charge.” Another of the same sort was to be seen at
Whitehall, and is described by Hentzner, in 1598:—“A jet
d’eau with a sundial, which, while strangers are looking at it
a quantity of water forced by a wheel which the gardener turns
at a distance, through a number of little pipes, plentifully
sprinkles those that are standing round.” Hentzner also visited
Nonsuch, and notices several fountains. In the “ privy gardens ”
were two “ that spurt water one round the other like a pyramid
upon which are perched small birds that stream water out of
their bills.” In the “ Grove of Diana,” was one “with Actaeon
turned into a stag as he was sprinkled by the goddess and her
nymphs,” and a “pyramid of marble full of concealed pipes
which spurt upon all that come near.” The word “jet d’eau”
* MS. letter at Loseley, Surrey.
t Ibid.
f Translation, 1602—printed in England as Seen by Foreigners. By
Brenchley Rye, 1865.