A description of the King's royal palace and gardens at Loo together with A short account of Holland in which there are some observations relating to their diseases / by Walter Harris ...

The INTRODUCTION.

NOTHING does give Posterity so Noble an Idea of former Times, as the Magnificence of their Buildings. The Remains we still have of the Roman Greatness in their Publick Structures are enough to merit our highest admiration. The Ruins of their Amphitheatres as they are now to be seen, their immense Obelisks, their prodigious sAquoeducts, their splendid Palaces and Temples, their subterranean Catacombs, and even their Via Appia, and Flaminea, or their Causeways that were made near Two thousand Years ago, when Rome was a Republick, with a Stone so hard, and so firmly laid, as still to remain entire a good way in many Places, are all Objects so conspicuous, and so durable in their kinds, that some of

them are like to continue to the end of the World everlasting Monuments of the just Veneration due to Ancient Times, of their admirable Skill, if not Per∣fection in Architecture; and in a word, as undoubted Testimonies of the Splendor and Magnificence of the Greatest People that ever were recorded in History.

What can give us such a representation of the Pomp and Grandeur of the Kings of Aegypt, as the Wonder∣ful Pyramids there to be seen, and the illustrious Ruins of Grand Cairo and Alexandria!

Our English indeed have bestowed their Munisicence chiefly in lasting Monuments of their Piety, in erect∣ing abundance of the Noblest Cathedrals that can any∣where be seen. And England may deservedly glory not only in the slately Cathedrals she built at home, as well as in her Palaces, Universities, and other Pub∣lick and Private Buildings, but hath lest in France the lasting Evidences of her Magnificence, by erecting those stately Nostredames at Paris, at Amiens, at Rouen, &c. at a time when great part of France was under the English Dominion, and when the rest of it did as much dread the English Power and Courage, as themselves have of late years been a Terror to all their Neigh∣bours. Nay at this present time, by the Publick Au∣thority (to our Honour and Renown be it spoken) there is now erecting, and almost finished, in her Me∣tropolis, one of the most Spacious and Magnificent Cathe∣drals that ever yet was built in the World; and the which, in the judgment of Travellers, is like to emu∣late in its Structure, even Saint Peter's at Rome, and Sancta Sophia at Constantinople.

His Majesty is possessed of many Noble and Stately Palaces both at home and abroad. Kensington and Hampton-Court are too well known to be more than

mentioned. His Castle of Windsor may dispute for Ex∣cellency in many respects with most of the Royal Pa∣laces in Europe. And at Winchester there is another of His Majesty's Palaces, in a most admirable Situation for Health as well as Pleasure, that wants but little of being finished. I cannot but wish this last were nearer to London, or were thereby better situated for His Ma∣jesty's Convenience. For I have sensibly experienced the benefit of that Healthful Situation, having had the Happiness to be Educated in the College at Winchester; where in Seven Years time I never knew one of the Seventy Children of that College to dye, although it be seated in the lowest, and consequently the most un∣healthy part of that City. And others have assured me, that in Fifty Years past, there have not died above four or five of that Excellent Seminary of Learn∣ing, and most of those too by Violent Accidents, not by Epidemical Diseases. The which is a Considera∣tion worthy of the thoughts of such Parents, who would do their utmost to preserve their Posterity, and are desirous to breed their Children in the best School in England.

In the Low Countries, in Brabant, and elsewhere, His Majesty's Ancient Hereditary Palaces are dispersed in great number. The Royal Palace and Gardens at Loo are the Subject of the ensuing Discourse. I will only mention Dieren, an Ancient Seat of the most Illustrious House of Nassaw, five Leagues from Loo; Honslaer-Dike, two Leagues from the Hague; Soestdike, not far from Utrecht; the Castle of Breda, made much more Illu∣strious of late by His Majesly; Ryswick the auspicious Place of Treaty of Peace, and now rendred everlast∣ingly famous by the conclusion of a Peace so Happy and so Honourable to the greatest part of Europe. All

which Palaces (except the last, where the King has never resided, it being so near the Hague) do remain nobly furnished for His Majesty's reception, and have Gardens belonging to them that might merit a distinct Description.

For Buildings or themselves, howsoever Noble and Great, do appear very deficient without the Ornament and Conveniencies of a Garden. Italy, the Garden of the World, and the great Repository of Rarities and Antiquities, does now as much glory and pride her self in the Pomp, and Ornaments, and Conveniencies belonging to her Gardens, as in any of her so much celebrated Curiosities. It is certainly one of the most innocent and sweetest Diversions that can be desired; it gives easy opportunities for Retirement and Contem∣plation, and conduces to the obtaining a chearful tranquillity of mind, and to the preservation of a healthful temper of Body. It is a delight and satissa∣ction to which some of the Greatest Princes and Noble∣men in all Ages have had recourse, after they had been satiated and cloy'd with the pleasures and Vanities of the World, or had been tired with the Crosses and Disappointments, the Vexations and Troubles, which do necessarily attend all Conditions of Life. And if there be any tolerable share of Happiness and Content to be any where enjoyed by an Innocent Man, out of the hurry and noise of the World, a compleat and spaci∣ous Garden, furnished with variety of Walks and Groves, and adorned with Fountains, Cascades, Grottoes, &c. must do very much towards the obtaining even a Para∣dise upon Earth.

The Gardens of Loo are become so famous and re∣markable to all the Provinces near them, that Curious Persons from divers Parts of Germany, as well as out

of all the United Provinces, do frequently resort thi∣ther to satisfy their Curiosity. I will not here enlarge in their praise and admiration, but leave it to the Reader to make a true judgment of them from the De∣scription it self, which is at lest natural and plain, and as perspicuous as the nature of such Descriptions (sometimes necessarily intricate through the great va∣riety of matter) will admit, though indeed very de∣stitute of the ornaments and flourishes that are usually made in the describing Great Things, to make them ap∣pear Greater than they really are.