DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16632#0476
England in the Time of the Renaissance
447
Entire Hedge . . . 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 Coloured Glass, gilt, for the Sun to play upon.
But this Hedge I intend to be raised upon a Bank, not steep, but gently slope, ... set
all with Flowers ... on either side Ground enough for diversity of Side Alleys."
The trees are to be of different kinds, and some of them fruit-trees. The walks are
enclosed by hedges, and there is a mound at each end for the sake of getting a view over
the wall. In these avenues one can walk if shade is wanted, for the mam garden itself
must not be too full of bushes, but should be open and airy, while on both sides there
ought to be rather sunny walks with fruit-trees and pretty arbours. This part should be
intersected by wide dignified paths, and round the beds there may be a very low hedge
and little pyramids. "I, for my part, do not like Images cut out in Juniper, or other
Garden Stuff; they be for Children."
In the centre there is to be a large mound, with spiral paths, wide and easy of ascent,
and on the top "some fine Banqueting House with some Chimneys neatly cast." Water
is a great ornament whether as an artistic fountain or as a bath, and the chief requisite
is that the water shall always be kept clean, "for Pools mar all." Marble or gilt statues
may be good, but are of secondary importance.
The third division of Bacon's garden is what he calls "the Heath." This is to be half
as big as the main garden, and as far as possible is to be of a natural wildness.
Trees I would have none in it, but some Thickets made only of Sweetbriar, 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 Peri-
winkle; 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 Bears-Foot; and
the like Low Flowers, being withal Sweet and Sightly. Part of which Heaps, to be with Standards, of
little Bushes, pricked upon their Top, and Part without. The Standards to be Roses; Juniper; Hollies;
Bear-Berries (but here and there, because of the Smell of their Blossom); Red Currants; Gooseberries;
Rosemary; Bays; Sweetbriar; and such like. But these Standards, to be kept with Cutting, that they
grow not out of Course.
This description must be compared with that of an important Italian garden of
about the same time, if one is to see how entirely the two chief factors m the south, viz.
stone building and (all-important) water are kept in the background by Bacon. In a
country like Italy it is stone building that keeps house and garden united, and the arrange-
ments for water are the connecting link between architecture and the world of plants. But
all that Bacon asks for as extra trimmings—mostly frames or glass—is undeniably barbaric
m its character; and this is all the more evident if compared with his refined taste in the
arrangement of the plants themselves, where there is always delicacy in details. Refine-
ment, rest and peace are the secret of the ideal, but in a real garden it would have been
hard to find the proportions quite satisfactory. In any case, the very high hill in the middle
must have made an uncomfortable break in the great parterre, and a fountain with sculpture
would have been more attractive; but the raised side-paths round the middle garden are
a happy thought.
The entrance with the closely-mown lawn points the way to the English style, for
447
Entire Hedge . . . 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 Coloured Glass, gilt, for the Sun to play upon.
But this Hedge I intend to be raised upon a Bank, not steep, but gently slope, ... set
all with Flowers ... on either side Ground enough for diversity of Side Alleys."
The trees are to be of different kinds, and some of them fruit-trees. The walks are
enclosed by hedges, and there is a mound at each end for the sake of getting a view over
the wall. In these avenues one can walk if shade is wanted, for the mam garden itself
must not be too full of bushes, but should be open and airy, while on both sides there
ought to be rather sunny walks with fruit-trees and pretty arbours. This part should be
intersected by wide dignified paths, and round the beds there may be a very low hedge
and little pyramids. "I, for my part, do not like Images cut out in Juniper, or other
Garden Stuff; they be for Children."
In the centre there is to be a large mound, with spiral paths, wide and easy of ascent,
and on the top "some fine Banqueting House with some Chimneys neatly cast." Water
is a great ornament whether as an artistic fountain or as a bath, and the chief requisite
is that the water shall always be kept clean, "for Pools mar all." Marble or gilt statues
may be good, but are of secondary importance.
The third division of Bacon's garden is what he calls "the Heath." This is to be half
as big as the main garden, and as far as possible is to be of a natural wildness.
Trees I would have none in it, but some Thickets made only of Sweetbriar, 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 Peri-
winkle; 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 Bears-Foot; and
the like Low Flowers, being withal Sweet and Sightly. Part of which Heaps, to be with Standards, of
little Bushes, pricked upon their Top, and Part without. The Standards to be Roses; Juniper; Hollies;
Bear-Berries (but here and there, because of the Smell of their Blossom); Red Currants; Gooseberries;
Rosemary; Bays; Sweetbriar; and such like. But these Standards, to be kept with Cutting, that they
grow not out of Course.
This description must be compared with that of an important Italian garden of
about the same time, if one is to see how entirely the two chief factors m the south, viz.
stone building and (all-important) water are kept in the background by Bacon. In a
country like Italy it is stone building that keeps house and garden united, and the arrange-
ments for water are the connecting link between architecture and the world of plants. But
all that Bacon asks for as extra trimmings—mostly frames or glass—is undeniably barbaric
m its character; and this is all the more evident if compared with his refined taste in the
arrangement of the plants themselves, where there is always delicacy in details. Refine-
ment, rest and peace are the secret of the ideal, but in a real garden it would have been
hard to find the proportions quite satisfactory. In any case, the very high hill in the middle
must have made an uncomfortable break in the great parterre, and a fountain with sculpture
would have been more attractive; but the raised side-paths round the middle garden are
a happy thought.
The entrance with the closely-mown lawn points the way to the English style, for