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 ...

A Description of HIS MAJESTY'S Palace of Gardens of LOO: Together with Some Account of the People and Country.

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.

CHAP. I

Of the Situation of the Place and Gardens; of the Court before the Palace; a short view of the Palace it self; and a summary Account of all the Gardens in general.

HIS Majesty's Place and Gardens at Loo are situ∣ated on the cast-side of a large Sandy Heath, or in the Veluwe, a considerable part of the Province of Gelderland, one of the Seven United Provinces. The Heath is extended Southward unto the Rhine, and Northward unto the Zuyder, or South Sea; Westward it runs almost to Amersfort, or within less than two Leagues of it; and Eastward it is extended to the Issel, a considerable River that divides Overyssell from the Veluwe. Loo is three Leagues from Deventer, five from Harderwick on the South-Sea, five from Dieren, ano∣ther of His Majesty's Places, six from Arnheim, and twelve Leagues or Hours from Utrecht. It is an ex∣cellent Country for Hunting, and abounds with Staggs, some Roe-bucks, the Wild Boar, Foxes, Hares, and some Wolfs. It is no less excellent for Fowling, and has good store of Woodcocks, Partridges, Pheasants, &c. In a Wood near Loo, there is a Herniary for Hawking; and within a league of it North-cast, His Majesty has of late caused to be made an Excellent Decoy, which supplies his Family with good store of Ducks and Teale. And in the Heath beyond the Gardens, there are six Vi∣vers or large Fish-ponds, somewhat after the model or resemblance of those in Hide-Park, the one commu∣nicating with the other. You will sind them de∣scribed

at the end of this Treatise, in the Seventh Chapter.

The New Palace, lately built by His Majesty, is near unto the Old Hoof, or Old Court, which is a Castle sur∣rounded with a broad Moat, and purchased about 12 or 14 Years ago from the Seigneur de Laeckhuysen, a Gen∣tleman of this Country. They are separated from one another only by some of the Gardens, which lye on the West-side of the New Palace. The Gardens are most Sumptuous and Magnificent, adorned with great variety of most Noble Fountains, Cascades, Parterres, Gravel Walks, and Green Walks, Groves, Statues, Urns, Paintings, Seats, and pleasant Prospects into the Country.

Before the Gate that enters into the Court of the Pa∣lace, there is a broad Green Walk between a double row of Oaks, half a mile long; and at the end of this Walk next to the Heath, there is a Gate of Iron Rails between double Stone Pillars of an Ancient Model, the Pillars being about a yard distant from each other, and joined at the top by a Crown Work on each side, where∣in is cut His Majesty's Cypher, and at the bottom by a Stone Ground-work, or Supporters. The Golumns are of a good heighth. Before this Gate there are three Walks between Trees for a Mile, or more, farther into the Heath.

On the South-side of the Palace we do enter through a large Gate of Iron Bars, painted Blew and Gildel, into a Quadrangular Court, of which the whole Sought∣side hath Iron Rails alike Painted and Gilded. The Rails are placed on a low Brick Wall that is covered with Free-stone the whole length, five Inches above the Brick. Among these Iron Rails, which do rise above eight Foot higher than the Wall, there are at

due distance eight and twenty Pilasters, every one of them of one entire Stone. The East-side of the Court does contain Offices and Chambers for the Officers and Servants of His Majesty's Houshold. On the West-side of the Court are the King's Stables, and in these are kept Horses for His Majesty's own riding. And at the end of this Stable, adjoining to the Rails before-men∣tioned, there is another double Stable for His Majesty's other Horses, and for those of some of his Servants, extended Westward about eighty Paces on the Road that comes from Utrecht. At the other end of the Rails, or adjoining to the East-side of the Court, upon the Road, there is another Row of Building, in pro∣portion to the Stables, containing a Guard-house, a large Orangery, or Green-house, the King's Coach-house, &c.

In the middle of the Court there is a Fountain, whose Basin consists of a wrought blew Stone, and whose Stone-work is raised two Foot and a half high. In the middle of this Fountain there are four Marble Dolphins, out of whose Mouths do fall four Sheets of Water, to the East, West, North and South. The Dolphins are placed upon a Marble Pedestal; their Tails are inter∣twisted, and turned upward in the middle of the Pe∣destal. But this Fountain has been ordered to be changed into a Noble Cascade, in a octangular Basin, seven yards diameter. Next unto the Walk that en∣compasses this Fountain, there are in this Court four Gazons, or Green Plots, with Walks on every side pa∣ved with Brick.

On the North-side of the Court in the King's Palace, to which we ascend by nine broad Stone-steps. The Palace is built of Brick, and had the Honour to have its first Stone laid by the hands of the most Incompa∣rable

and Best of Queens, her late Majesty of ever Bles∣sed Memory. From the Front, or Body of the House, each Wing does stretch out in two Pavilious towards the two sides of the Court, until the Wings and Sides do come to unite. Besides the Gate in the middle of the Front, there are two others in the two outmost Pavilious. Over the Gate of the Front, and the Gar∣den-Gate, and over the two outmost Pavilions, there are Frontispieces, or Relievos on high, with Representa∣tions relating to Hunting. The Pilasters of all the Gates or Doors, the Frize, and the Cornishes of the Windows, do consist of Free-stone. The Body of the Palace is Leaded above, and adorned with Ballisters; and it has large Shash-windows throughout. The Hall we do first enter into, is paved with very large Black and White Marble. The Dining-room below is very re∣markable throughout, and especially in its Marble and Military Devices, and glorious Gilding. The Great Room above, that we do first enter into from the Stair∣case, and in the middle of the Apartments, is not only adorned with large Landskips, as well as the Stair∣case, but is very resplendent with its Gilding on every side, and throughout all the Cieling. The Rooms of State, and the Bed-chambers, and other Chambers, are all provided and furnished after the Noblest manner, for the entertainment and reception of Great Persons. But the Antichamber to His Majesty's Bed-chamber has most excellent Hangings, representing the Functions or Duties of Cavalry, to wit, the Incampment of Horse, their Foraging, their making of Fascines, and the Firing it self of two Parties of Horse in an Engagement, most lively and naturally exprest, in four several Pieces. The Chappel is handsomely Wainscoted, and the whole so compleatly finished, that nothing can be said to be

wanting, and no Cost spared in order to render the House Magniscient, as well as the Gardens.

When we have gone through the Hall of the Palace, and advanced between a very large Stair-case on either hand, we do come to the garden-Gate, which is di∣rectly before the Entrance, and consists of Iron Bars coriously wrought and painted.

But before I describe particularly any of the Gardens, it may not be amiss to take a short and general Pro∣spect of them, as also to name some of the most re∣markable Fountains and Cascades in them, that thereby the whole may in some of its Particulars be more di∣stinctly comprehended.

On the North-side of the Palace, there is a large and most Magnisicent Garden, the which is divided into two Parts, the Lower Garden, and the Upper: the two Divisions being separated by Canals, by a low Wall, and a broad Cross-walk, in the which Cross∣walk there are on each side a double row of tall Oaks; but in the middle of this Walk a Considerable space is left open, without Trees, for the more convenient view of all the Fountains, the Porticoes, and the Cascades, that are beyond the said Walk, from the Garden-Gate of the Palace.

The first partition of this Garden, called the Lower Garden, has a Terras Walk on three sides of it; and here we behold straight before us the Fountain of Ve∣nus, and beyond it another Fountain of a young Her∣cules. In the Cross-walk that goes between those two Fountains, there is on the right hand a Fountain of a Celestial Globe, and on the left such another Ter∣restrial Globe. And at the end of the same Walk on the right hand, upon the side of one Terras Walk, there is the Cascade of Narcissus, as also on the left,

upon the side of the opposite Terras Walk, the Cascade of Galatea.

In the Upper Garden we behold a most Noble Foun∣tain, with a Basin of a vast extent, and with three and thirty Spouts, that in the middle of all throwing up the Water five and forty foot high.

A little beyond this, we see another Fountain, wherein the Water rises in the form of a Peacock's Tail, under which as also beyond it, are divers Cascades. We do likwise here behold two large Porticoes, or se∣micircular Cloisters, with Rails over them, and sup∣ported on divers Pillars.

On the West-side of the Palace there is a Garden un∣der His Majesty's's Apartments, and called the King's Garden. This has a noble Fountain in the middle of it, and adjoining to it there is a large Bowling-green.

Beyond this Garden Westward, there is another cal∣led the Labyrinth or Wilderness, some of whose Foun∣tains may be seen, as also Statues in it, and Painting, from His Majesty's Bed-chamber.

On the East-side of the Palace there is another Gar∣den, under the Apartments appointed for the Queen, and called the Queen's Garden. This bears a just pro∣portion with that of the King's, and hath such another noble Fountain. And adjoining to this Garden fourth∣wards, there are divers Arbor Walks, with five Foun∣tains in the middle of Parterres.

Beyond the Wall of the Queen's Garden, Eastward, there is another handsom Garden for retirement, or a Labyrinth, answering the other, with Fountains, Sta∣tues, Walks, &c.

From the Cross Walk that divides the Upper from the Lower Garden, behind the Palace, we go through Gates into the Voliere, or Fowl Garden, west from those

others. And still farther Westward we enter into a large extent of ground, called the Park, wherein are to be seen the Long Canal with Spouts the whole length of it, all rising in the form of an Arch. Beyond this, is the Cypher Fountain and Cascade, and beyond that the Viver, or large Quadrangular Pond, which con∣tains the Water that supplies the Jette's, and Cascades. Within this Park is also the Fountain of Faunus, di∣vers pleasant and long green Walks, Nurseries of young Trees, Groves, and Canals; and West of the Viver there is a fine Grove for solitude or retirement, and called the Queen's Grove. Of all which now more at large.

CHAP. II

Containing the Description of the Great Garden, next behind the Palace; and first of that part of it called the Lower Garden.

SO soon as we have pass'd through the Place, we do enter upon a very broad Terras-walk, extended on the right and left the whole breadth of this Gar∣den, the which is continued forwards by a Brick-wall, and by other Terras-walks on the right and left sides of it. The first Terras-walk is paved with Brick four∣teen yards forwards, between the Garden Gate and the Stone-steps, by which we are to descend into the Garden. It is also paved with Brick thirty paces both to the right and left. From the said paving, this Terras∣walk is continued to the Garden Walls on each side, in a green and gravel Walk. The middle part of this

Walk is Green about sisteen foot, and on each side of the Green there is a Gravel-walk, each of them ten foot broad.

At both ends of this first Terras-walk we do ascend by seven Steps unto the side Terras-walks, which are raised higher than the former, for the better placing of those Noble Stone-sabricks that compose the Cas∣cades of Narcissus and Galatea. These Terras-walks do, like the former, consist of a Green-walk in the middle, and a Gravel-walk on each side of the Green. In the middle of these side Terras-walks, behind the Cas∣cades, there are Seats next to the Walls, and painted Green.

From the first Terras-walk, near the Garden-gate of the Palace, there is a very large descent into the Gar∣den, first by three Semicircular Stone-steps, and after a little space by fifteen Steps more, all of a very large circumference, the lowermost of those fifteen Steps be∣ing twenty eight yards round.

On the right side of the foresaid Steps, upon the Terras-walk, there is a large Stone-Statue, with a Hart behind it, and on the left such another great Statue, both lying or leaning on a distinct Basis, and both holding under one Arm a Stone-vessel. These two Statues and intended to represent two great Rivers, the Rhine and the Issel, between the which Rivers, the Veluwe, and Loo are situate. Out of those Stone-vessels there runs Water, which makes an unexpected Cascade on both sides of the Steps adjoining to the Wall. These Cascades are made from the said Stone-vessels, on each side, into seven double Basins, one below another, besides an eighth large single Basin, which receives the Water of all the rest, at the bottom of the Steps. All these Basins are of a blew Stone. The one half of

these double Basins is raised two or three Inches, in order to retain the Water, and the other half is equal∣ly sunk or made lower, that the sheet of Water may fall from the upper into the lower Basins.

From all the three Terras-walks there is a Green slope, reaching from those Walks above unto a low Brick-wall below, that is only two foot high; at the four corners of these Slopes, in this Garden, there are broad Steps for descending from the Walks above. And at the upper part of the Green Slopes there are abundance of little Pipes of water, about a foot di∣stance one from the other. Each of them hath a Cop∣per head, wherein there are four small holes, through which the water is made to play, in order to water the Slopes, and to preserve them always Green. In the Summer Evenings they are made frequently to rain a small shower for the end aforcsaid.

In the low Walk below the Green Slopes, at every four yards distance, there are white Stones, each of them above a foot and a half square, on every one of which there are Urns and noble Flowerpots placed, or to be placed, as on Bases: And some of them have representations of divers Ancient and Modern Curiosi∣ties carved upon them.

And all along the Wall of the Lower Garden, whi∣ther that which separates the first Terras Walk from the King's, and Queen's Garden, or those that separate the higher Terras-walks from the two Wildernesses, those Walls have such white square Stones near about the same distance from one another, and for the same purpose.

On the top of the said green Slopes there do grow many Pyramidal Juniper-trees, with other curious Shrubs intermixed among them. The Slope from the first Terras-walk to the low Walk at bottom is about

eleven foot: but the Slopes from the side Terras∣walks to the said low Wall have a descent of about fif∣teen foot, these being raised higher than the former Walk, on the account of the Cascades before-mentioned.

When we have descended into the Garden by the foresaid eighteen Stone-steps, we do enter upon a broad Gravel Walk, into which advancing forty sive paces from the Steps, we come to a Noble Fountain, in the middle of whose Basin is a Marble Statue of Venus at full length, and another of Cupid under her left hand, he holding a gilded Bow. This Statue is supported on a small Whale for its Pedestal, with four great gilded Tritons behow it, a large gilded Shell being between each of the Tritons, and each Triton blowing in a large Trumpet in one hand, their other hand being dispofed in different postures. At the end of each Trumpet the water runs out in a broad sheer, incir∣cling a great part of the broad end of the Trumpet. Also about the Tritons there are many gilded Rushes, and Water-lilly Flowers, which do all contribute to the ornament of this Magnificent Fountain. On the right and left of this Statue, Within the same Basin, as also before and behind the Statue, there are four Gilded Swans, which do spout the water in broad sheets towards the Statue; and all the Swans are raised a lit∣tle above the water. The Basin is bordered with a blew Stone about sixteen inches breadth. It has four Angles, but on the four sides where the Swans are placed, it has a circumflexion or semicircular cut in∣to the Walks, in form of four Half-moons.

On either side of this broad Walk, next to the Par∣terres, both before we come to the foresaid Fountain, and also on the sides of the Walk beyond the Foun∣tain, there are Spouts at proper distances in a distinct

Canal; and there are six Spouts in each of them, which do throw up the water about a yard, though of late those Spouts are now always stopt, to avoid the incon∣venience of the waters being blown on the Walk, or on the Parterres. These Canals are walled with Free-stone, and bordered with the same three inches breadth. They are each of them about eighty foot long, and a foot and a half broad, but in those parts where the Spouts are placed, the Canals are widened unto three foot and a half squre every way, in order to avoid the Winds blowing the water either on the Walk, or Parterres. These Canals are paved, after the Mo∣saick manner, with Pebbles of a dark colour, but the Figures that are made by the Pebbles, and which run along the middle of the Canals, and especially about the Spouts, are made in a long sort of Pebbles, pure white and black, of the Diamond cut.

If we advance still forwards beyond the Fountain of Venus in the same Walk, we behold another Noble Fountain, in the middle of whose Basin is a young na∣ked Hercules of Marble, arising as from his Cradle, al∣so of Marble; the Hercules squeezing a green Serpent in each hand, and both the Serpents spirting the water about two yards above the Basin. On the right and left of the Hercules, at a little distance, within the same Basin, there are placed two Dra∣gons, each spirting seven several Jette's towards the Hercules. The Basin of this Fountain is likewise bor∣dered with a broad blew Stone, sixteen inches breadth; and paved with a Stone that is about a foot square.

Turning out of the aforesaid Walk, from the Foun∣tain of Venus, into a Cross-walk on the right, we meet with a Fountain in the middle, wherein is erected a Celestial Globe, placed on a Marble Pedestal, between

which Pedestal and the Globe there are four naked Boys in Marble, incircling one another in ther Arms. About the Globe the twelve Signs of the Zodiack are curiously painted, the Stars Gilded, and out of abun∣dance of the Stars there do spout out Jettes on all sides of the Globe.

Passing beyond this Globe, we behold at the end of the Walk a most Noble Cascade, a Fabrick of wrought Stone, reaching from the Terras-walk above, down to the Gravel-walk below. The water here falls out of the Mouth of a great Head at the top of the Stru∣cture (a round carved covered Basin being placed above the Head) into three great semi-oval carved Basins, one below the other, each of them being two yards in front, besides the allowance of above two foot more on both sides of the two lowermost of those three Ba∣sins, which two foot do serve for conveying the water that is to make the lesser sheets, which will be pre∣sently mentioned. On both sides of the uppermost of those three Semi-oval Basins there is placed a Pine∣apple in Stone, by way of ornament; and on both sides of the second of those Basins, is erected a round scollopt Basin of two foot diameter, that has a Spout in the middle, which throws up the water about two foot. From three parts of those round scollopt Basins, as well as from the whole front of the three great semi-oval Basins, the water does fall into the upper∣most of six lesser semi-oval Basins placed on each side. These lesser Basins are about a yard in front, besides an allowance of about two more for the forming of the smaller falls of water that are now to be men∣tioned. On each side of the six lesser Basins, both on the right and left of the Structure, there are made lit∣tle sheets of water one below another in six descents,

contiguous to those made from the foresaid lesser Ba∣sins. But at the bottom of this Fabrick, between the falls on both sides, there is an excellent Statue of Narcissus at length in Marble, standing upright, but looking a little downward into the water in the com∣mon Basin, or Receiver below; and holding a Hunt∣ing Horn in one hand, whilft he draws up the other by way of Admiration, at the beholding his own re∣flection in the water.

Again, turning from the Fountain of Venus on the left hand the same distance in this Cross-walk, as we did before from thence on the right to come to the Celestial Globe, there is, I say, on the left such ano∣ther Noble Fountain, in the middle of which is crect∣ed a Terrestrial Globe. On this Globe, Europe, Asia, Africa and America, the four parts of the World, are exactly painted, and out of the several parts of it there do spring a great number of Spouts, which throw up the water from all parts round it, as in the former Globe. This is likewise placed on a high Pedestal, round which there are four naked Boys in Marble, the first with a Crown on his head, the second with a Tur∣hant, the third a Negro in his short frizled hair, and the fourth with long hair hanging down his back: The four Boys representing the Inhabitants of the four parts of the Earth.

At the end of this Walk, beyond this Globe, and on the slope of the opposite Terras-walk, there is such another admirable Cascade as was just now described. Only in the middle of this Cascade there is a Marble Statue of Galatea sitting with a Lute in her hand, at the bottom of the Fabrick, where Narcissus was placed in the former Cascade.

All along the middle of this Crofs-walk, between

the Fountain of Venus and each of the Globes, as also between the Globes and the Cascades now deseribed, there are little Canals without any Jette's in them, of the same length and make with the others that were placed on the sides of the first Walk.

This first Partition of the Garden, that contains all the aforesaid Fountains and Cascades, does likewise contain eight several Parterres, all the Quarters being separated by Gravel-walks on every side. The four inmost Parterres do consist of divers Figures in Box, en∣compassed with Beds of Flowers, and in those Beds there are intermixed many Juniper Trees growing in Pyramidal forms about round and high Staves painted Green. But the four outmost Parterres do consist of Green Plots, that haves Statues placed upon high Pe∣destals in the middle of every one of them, and have Beds of Flowers a little interspersed among the Green Plots, besides other Beds of Flowers on all the out∣sides of those Parterres, next to the Gravel-walks. The Statues in the middle of those Green Quarters are excellently cut in Marble; they are of Apollo and Pomona on one side of the Garden, and of Bacchus and a Flora on the other side, standing upright on the fore∣said Pedestals.

The Beds and Parterres of this and the other Gar∣dens, are not only adorned with Pyramids of Juniper and Box, and with Shrubs of Marshmallows of all co∣lours, but contain variety of Flowers, which succes∣sively blow according to the Seasons of the Year. In the Spring there is a variety of the finest Tulips, Hya∣cinths, Ranunculi, Anemond, Auricula ursi, Narcissus, Junci, &c. In the Summer there are double Poppies of all colours, Gilliflowers, Larks-heels, &c. In the Au∣tumn, the Sun-Flower, Indian Cresses, the Pass-rose or

Stock-rose, Marygolds, &c. On the Walls of these Gar∣dens do grow great variety of most excellent Fruit, as the best Peaches, Apricocks; Cherries, Pears, Figs, Plums, Muscant Grapes of all sorts; and their props are every where painted Green.

At four yards distance from the before-mentioned Fountain of Hercules, we advance forwards unto two broad Stone-steps, thirteen foot and a half in front; on both sides of which Steps there are Stone-rails near five foot high, and on each side of the Rails are Pi∣lasters of Stone, which are raised a foot higher than the Rails. On the two Pilasters next to the Steps are placed two Beautiful Sphinxes with their Riddle ex∣press'd or carved; and on the two others are seen two Wolfs in Stone, each of them giving suck to a Romulus and Remus. From those Pilasters and Rails there is continued the whole breadth of the Garden a Brick∣wall, that is above four foot high, wherein there are also divers Pillars of Brick, faced with Free-stone, for the placing of Flowerpots.

CHAP. III

Of the Second Part of the Creat Garden, called the Upper Garden; together with the Middle Walk, and Canals, which do divide this Garden into the two Parts.

WHEN we are up the two Stone-steps now mentioned, we pass over a Canal into the Middle Cross-walk, that divides this Garden, and is remarkable for its double row of tall Oaks on both

sides of it. This Walk is eighteen yards broad from the two Stone-steps, and Rails, unto the Bridge over which we are to pass the second Canal, in order to go into the Upper Garden. The first Canal is five foot broad, the second is fourteen foot. They run from West to East, and are supplied from Cascades that are made at the West-end of the foresaid Walk, which has Iron-rails fastned in Free-stone, that is half a foot above the Brick-wall, and that hath also divers Stone-pilasters, ten Inches broad, and as high as then Iron-rails. Be∣tween those Rails there is a Gate of wrought Iron, through which we are to pass into the Gardens near the Old Hoof.

From a Marble Head, placed in this Wall over the Canals, there is on each side a double fall of Water into two Stone-Basins, that are one below the other. The uppermost Basin is about a yard in front, and the lowermost a yard and a half.

About the Bridge of the second Canal, there is a Stonework, that is extended both East and West from the Bridge about sifteen foot. At both ends of this Stone-work, which crosses the Canal, a Fountain rises in the middle of the Crofs-wall, and by the declivity of a Basin both ways forms a sheet of water both East and West, and also the same on both sides of the Bridge. Moreover, out of the Walls that are on both sides of this Canal, and also on each side of the Bridge, there are other falls of water from Stone-basins, besides some others in other parts of the Canal, made by raising the water, of stopping its passage, to a certain heighth. These Canals are all along bordered with green Turf, and have a green Slope reaching from the border down to the Water.

Advancing forwards from the second Canal about a hundred Paces, in a very broad Gravel-walk, we come to a most Remarkable Fountain, of a vast circum∣ference. The Basin of it is Octangular, and there are sixteen Paces distance between each of the eight An∣gles. In the whole it is a hundred and twenty eight Paces round. 'Tis bordered with a broad raised Stone-work, and paved with Pebbles, like many of the other Foun∣tains, in divers sorts of uniform Figures. In the mid∣dle of this Great Basin there is a Spout that throws up the water forty four, or forty five foot high perpendicu∣lar. And round about this Spout there are placed two ranks of other Spout, each of the ranks containing sixteen, which do all at a small distance encompass that High one in the middle. The inmost of these two ranks do throw up the water twelve foot high, and the out∣most rank six foot. This Noble Fountain containing no less than three and thirty Spouts, does make an agreable shower of them together, and must abun∣dantly please and divert the most curious Spectator. The water of the Spout which throws it up so many foot high, is brought from a Hill two Leagues distant from Loo, and called Asselt. But the sixteen Spouts which do immediately encompass that High Spout, are brought from another Source, called Orden, about a League off. And the rest of them are supplied from the Viver.

A little beyond this Great Fountain, in the same Walk, we descend by three wide Stone-steps to ano∣ther admirable Fountain, in the middle of which there are four naked Boys in Marble, with four Beasts be∣tween them, those Boys and Beasts representing the four parts of the World. Over the Boys Heads there are four gilded scollop Shells, and over the inmost part of

those Shells a gilded Basin inverted. Out of the mid∣dle of this Basin the water rises in form of a Peacock's Tail spread out at length, about a foot and a half above the inverted Basin. This Fountain hath its Basin bor∣dered with Free-stone, sixteen inches broad, and its Stone-work raised three or four inches. From the said Border to the bottom of the Basin, there is rough Rockwork of divers Colours. But the bottom it self is bordered with White Marble ten inches round, and the rest of the bottom is paved with dark Pebble, among which there are also intermixed Marble Stones in divers Figures.

As we do ascend from this Fountain forwards, we meet with a Fall of water from one semioval Stone Basin, ex∣tended four foot and a half in front, and placed be∣tween three Stone Steps on each side of it. At the four Corners of those Steps, Bases are raised for the placing of Flower-pots. And round this Fountain there is a Green Slope equal to the height of the Steps, by which we descend to, or ascend from the aforesaid Fountain. Farthermore, between those Steps and the Border of the Basin to this Fountain, there is a round Gravel Walk above four yards broad.

Going ten Paces forwards beyond the former Cas∣cade, we come to another, where the Water falls from Three Stone Basins, one below another; whereof the up∣permost is about three foot in front, that in the mid∣dle four foot and a half, and the lowermost five foot, besides a farther extension of these Basins on both sides, for the making of lesser Sheets of Water of eleven inches each in front, which are likewise one below another in three descents. Here is also an ascent of five stone steps on both sides of the Water, with four

Bases at the four Corners of those Steps, for the pla∣cing of Flower-pots.

So soon as we are up these Steps, we do presently turn on the right and left of the Walk into Semicircu∣lar Galleries or Porticoes, below which there are two Green Slopes, one below the other; and between those Slopes there are Flower-pots disposed the whole length of them. Each of these Galleries is forty paces long, and about six yards broad; and each of them is sup∣ported by twenty Pillars. They are covered with Lead to shelter from the Rain, and have White Ballisters four foot high upon the Leads, to which there is an ascent by Stairs behind the Galleries. On the Wall within the Galleries, there are drawn the Gods and God∣desses at length in Fresco, thirteen of them in each Gal∣lery. They are paved with White and Red Brick. At the farther end of them there is a descent of seven Steps into the Garden.

Beyond these Galleries the former Walk ••ontinues between Kitchen Gardens on our right and left, but we cannot see them by reason of a Hedge of Dutch Elm five yards high. At the farther end of this Walk Northwards, we come to another Cascade and Foun∣tain. The Cascade is from one plain, long Basin, about eight foot in front. On both sides of it we do ascend by three Stone Steps that are five yards in length, unto another Fountain, that has no Spout in it. The Basin of it is oval, and but seven foot in length. On both sides of this Fountain there are Seats, covered above, painted behind in Fresco, and paved below with white Marble. The open space about this Fountain, and be∣tween the Seats, is paved with a Black, White, and Yellowish Pebble, set in divers Figures.

And here going up two Stone-steps more, that are extended the whole breadth of the Walk, we are stopt from going farther by large Iron Balusters, and a Canal beyond them. In the Canal below, there is another Fountain in the midst of Gardans, made of Shells, Petrified Earths, or spungy Stones, from the top of which the water does fall on three rows, or Garlands of the same substances, placed one below another. Lastly, on both sides of this Fountain there are other Falls of water to be seen below.

Nor is our view here limited, though our passage be; for looking on still forwards, we carry our pro∣spect between Trees, unto a high Pyramid, erected in the Heath, about half a mile's distance from the end of the Garden.

In this Second Division of the Garden there are twelve Parterres, with Gravel-walks between them all. The six inmost Quarters adjoining, three of a side, to the middle Broad-walk, through which we passed, do consist divers Figures in green, encompassed with Beds of Flowers, in the which there are divers Juniper Trees growing up Pyramidal about green round Staves, and placed at convenient distances. The six outermost of these Quarters, next to the Garden-wall on both sides, are all plain green.

From the low Wall at the bottom of the first Terras-walk, unto the Stone Rails or Steps in the Lower Gar∣den on the South-side of the middle Cross-walk, it is about a hundred and twelve Paces. And from the Steps of the side Terras-walk on the right, unto the opposite Steps of the other Terras-walk on the left, it is two hundred and twenty Paces.

Beyond the aforesaid Cross-walk, from thence un∣to the Galleries, it is a hundred and forty Paces; and

thence to the Iron Bars at the farther end, about a hundred Paces more.

CHAP. IV

Of the King's Garden, and another Westward of it, called the Labyrinth.

ON the West-side of the Palace, under His Maje∣sty's Apartments, there is a Garden called the King's Garden; which consists of two Divisions. The one has three Parterres, and a Fountain near the mid∣dle of them. The other is a large Bowling-green. The three Parterres do consist of Beds of Flowers, bordered with Box in divers figures, with Pyramids of Juniper, or Box, in many parts of them. The Fountain is bor∣dered with white Marble, thirteen Inches broad: In the middle of this Fountain there is a gilded Triton, holding under his left Arm a gilded Dolphin, out of whose Mouth springs a Jette, that throws up the wa∣ter about six foot high. On the border of this Foun∣tain there are placed at convenient distances eight gilded Sea-Dragons, every one spirting the water up∣on the Triton in the middle.

The Bowling-green lies on the South-side of this Garden, and has the King's Stables adjoining on two sides of it.

At the West-end of the Gravel-walk, that is be∣tween the King's Garden and the Bowling-green, we do pass through a Gate of Iron Rails, partly gilded, and partly painted Blew, into another Garden, called the Labyrinth, or Wilderness.

When we have here cross'd a Gravel-walk, a Hedge, and a Green-walk, we come to an ascent of three Stone-steps, on both sides of which there is a Stone Fa∣brick with Ballisters in the middle, and four wrought Flowerpots covered, one on each side of the Ballisters. From the Stone-work on each side of the Steps, the water falls from three Marble Heads into a common Basin bordered and walled with Stone; in each of these Basins there are two Spouts which do throw up the water six foot high.

Advancing Westward from the said Steps about thin∣ty six Paces, we come to a Fountain, in the middle of which there are four Sea-Cupids in Stone, sitting on four Dolphins. Between the Cupids there rises a Spout out a Serpent's Head, that throws up the water about five foot, and out of every nostril of the four Dolphins there do run other little Spouts. The Border of the Basin of this Fountain is a raised Stone-work; and it is pa∣ved with white Pebbles, but towards the Angles (the Basin being octangular) there are Figures of large Flowerdeluces in a dark Pebble.

At this Fountain there are eight several Walks to be Teen, between Hedges of an equal heighth, all the Hedges being between seven and eight foot high. Of these eight Walks four are Green, and the four others are of Earch without Turf, and ungravelled. The Green Walks are placed between the others. At the end of all these Walks there are to be seen Statues, or Paintings, and Westward from the Fountain, besides a large piece of Painting, there is a Fountain with two Spouts, and a fall of water out of a Head placed below the Painting.

North and South from this Foutain, at forty Paces distance, we come unto other Fountains. In the mid∣dle

of that Northwards, there are two little Boys of Stone, with an Otter between them, out of whose mouth there rises a Jette, six foot high. It is border∣ed with rough Rockwork of divers colours, with some large Concha, or Shells intermixed: The bottom of the Basin is paved with white and brown Pebbles in different Figures.

At the same distance from the Fountain of the Sea-Cupids Southward, there is another Fountain, in the middle of which there is a naked Boy in Stone, hold∣ing a scollopt Shell in his hand, through which there rises another Jette like to the last now mentioned; and below this Boy there is a Satyr in Stone. The Basin of this is bordered, like the other, with rough Stones and Shells, and the Paving is with Pebbles, after the Mosaick manner.

Beyond these three Fountains, North and South, the Walk is continued to some distance; and from all those Fountains there are other Walks also to the East and West.

And besides these Walks now mentioned, there are other Walks and Turnings between the Hedges, into which when we have gone a little way, we are obli∣ged to return into some of the former Walks by the way we entered. Lastly, The Ground that is between these Hedges, Walks, and Turnings, is all planted with Fruit-trees of divers kinds.

CHAP. V

Of the Queen's Garden, and another Private Gar∣den, or Labyrinth beyond it, Eastward.

ON the East-side of the Palace, there is a Garden that is called the Queen's Garden, being under the Apartments appointed for her Majesty, as the King's Garden before described was on the King's side. Both of them are of the same dimensions.

This garden is divided into two Parts; whereof the one, being next to the Great Garden, consists of three Parterres of Flowers, bordered with Box, and having Pyramidal Juniper Trees in divers parts of them. The Parterres are on all sides encompassed with Gravel-walks; and on the Walls here are divers fort of Fruit-trees, Grapes, &c. besides Paintings of Flo∣ras, &c. in some places.

In the middle of the Parterres is a Fountain of Arion gilded, playing on a Lute, and riding on a gilded Dol∣phin, out of whose Nostrils there do rise two Spouts five of six foot high. The Basin is bordered with white Marble, thirteen Inches broad. On the border are placed at convenient distances eight gilded Sea-Horses, every one making a Jette out of each Nostril. The Ba∣sin is paved with a square Stone, about a foot broad. On both sides of this Fountain are Seats painted green, next to the Parterres.

The other Part of this Garden consists of divers Gravel-walks within Arbors, the whole length and breadth of it, and has five Fountains in the middle of all the Arbors. Into the middle of the first Arbor-walk

there is an ascent of four Steps, besides a like ascent of Steps at both ends of the same Walk, without the Arbors; or between them and the Garden Walls. Between those three pair of Steps, there is a green Slope the height of the Steps, and at the top of the Slope there are long Beds of Flowers, with Juniper Trees intermixed. And at the corners of all the Steps there are Flowerpots.

The first Arbor-walk that runs from West to East, and is next to the Garden now described, hath eight open spaces or Windows, towards the Parterres, be∣sides eight other such Windows on the inside, whereas the other three Sides or Arbor-walks have their Win∣dows only on the inside of the Walk. These Windows and five foot and a half long, and near upon the same height; and they are square at bottom, and convex at top. The four long Arbor-walks, on the four sides of this Part of the Queen's Garden, are each above threescore Paces long, and twelve foot and a half wide, At the four corners, or ends of these Walks, there is placed a Cupid above the Seat, and from those Seats we can see through Windows cut in the inward Arbors, diametrically cross this Part of the Garden, three of the five Fountains, that are presently to be described.

Besides the four Gravel-walks within the Arbors, and three other Gravel-walks without the Arbors, next to the Garden-wall; there are other Walks with∣in Arbors that are not gravelled, the which do wind and turn in uniform Figures from the middle of one of the side Arbor-walks to the middle of another. And between these there are Parterres with Fountains in them.

In the middle of all the Arbors there is a Fountain with a large gilded Triton, sitting on a Rock of Stones

and Shells, and blowing through a gilded Horn a Spout about eight foot high. The Basin is border'd with rough Rockwork. It is paved with Pebbles, and white Mar∣ble set among them, cut in oval, or Diamond forms. From the middle of the four long Arbor-walks unto this Fountain there are four direct Walks, and between these Walks there are four little Gardens, or Parterres, separated from the said Gravel-walks by Hedges of Dutch Elm, about four foot high.

In the middle of each of these four little Gardens, there is a distinct Fountain, and in each of the Foun∣tains there is place a gilded Triton, sitting on a gild∣ed Sea-Horse, or an a Sea-Goat, all upon Rockwork, like that in the middle Fountain; and the Basins of these are paved like the former. But these four Tritons and Basins are less in proportion than that in the mid∣dle Fountain. One of these four Tritons holds a Cup in his Right hand, through which there rises a Jette six of seven foot. The second holds a Trident in his hand, and through the three Spikes of the Trident are made three Dards or Spouts. The third holds a Fish, and makes a Spout through the Mouth of the Fish. And the fourth blows another through a twined Trum∣pet. All the Spouts in these four Fountains do rise much about the same height. And besides these, the Sea-horses on which the four Trions do ride, do all make a little sheet of water from their Tongues.

About the first and largest of these five Tritons, pla∣ced in the middle of those other four Fountains, and the Arbors, there are eight semicircular Seats, covered behind and over head Arbor-like; the Seats and Prop∣work, and also the Prop-work of all the Arbors being painted green. Every one of these Seats is above eight foot wide, and ten foot high. And between the

four Gravel-walks, which come to this Fountain from the middle of the four Side-Arbor walks, there are two of these eight Seats, as also between every two Seats there is an entrance five foot wide into the Par∣torres of one of the four lesser Fountains.

All along these Gravel-walks, and round the mid∣dle Fountain, there are placed Orange-trees, and Lem∣mon Trees in portable Wooden Frames, and Flower-pots about them.

In a corner of the Queen's Garden, next to the Ter∣ras-walk of the Great Garden, and under one corner of the Palace, there is a fine Grotto, consisting of the Roots of Trees, Flints, and Shells, disposed in a rough Grotesco manner, and in one corner of this Grotto there is a Aviary.

The Room for the Grotto is paved with Black and White Marble, there being two Fountains in it over∣against one another, and they are raised Arch-wise from the bottom to the top of the Room, the border round the Fountains being raised above a foot from the floor, in order to hinder the water from wetting the Room. The sides are embellished with divers sorts of Shells, and all parts of the Windows beautisied with the same, in divers Figures. There are three Gates or Passages into this Room, one from the Queen's Gar∣den, another from the Great Garden, under the Terras-walk, the third goes into a little Room, where a Couch is placed for Repose, and thence we go into another Room adorned all over with abundance of Porcelaine, or China.

The Aviary is exposed to the open Air, but incom∣passed with a small Grate, to confine the Birds; and there is a place in the corner of the Grotto for the Birds to retreat into, from the Rain, or Weather.

On the Eastside of the Queen's Garden, there is ano∣ther Garden for retirement, with Walks, and Hedges of Witch-Elm, about eight foot high; into which we do pass out of the former through a Gate of wrought Iron, painted Blew and Gilt. Turning in it North∣wards in the second Walk, we come to a Noble Foun∣tain, unto which we descend by six Stops; but in the middle of these Steps there is a small fall of water in six descents from a Fountain at the top of the Step; and from thence the water runs in a small channel cross the Walk that encompasses the Fountain which I am going to describe.

This Fountain is oblong, or of an Oval figure; its diameter is in length twenty Paces, and it is about ten Paces wide. In the middle of this Basin there is a round Rock, of rough Stones, Shells, and Forge∣cinders, about a yard above the water. Out of this Rockwork there springs a Jette about five yards high, from the middle of it; and from the other parts round about this Rock there do rise abundance of other Spouts. This Fountain is bordered with green Turf, on the Slope of which Border there are placed at due distances six collopt Shells of wrought Stone. Into all these Shells there is a fall of water from the mouth of a wrought Head, joined to the Shell in one and the same Stone; and from four parts of each Shell the wa∣ter falls into the Basin of the Fountain, which is not paved at all, the Bottom being only of Earth, as the Border of it and the Slope were of Turf.

Round this Fountain, next to the Hedge, and di∣rectly behind the foresaid six Shells, there are six Sta∣tues in Stone, or so many little Cupids standing upon high Pedestals of wrought Stone; and at the bottom of each Pedestal there is a fall of water into a small

square Stone-basin, from whence the water runs un∣der the Walk into one of the Heads and Shells that were before mentioned to be placed on the Slope below the Border. The first of these Cupids is drinking out of a Stone-cup held in one hand, and has a bunch of Grapes in the other. The second holds a Tulip in his Right hand. The third is reading in a Book, through a pair of Spectacles, held near the Book. The fourth has a Play-thing in his hand. The fifth has a Snake, which he squeezes hard in his Arms. And the sixth leans upon a Spade. Also round about this Fountain there are placed fifty Orange-trees in Frames.

Going still Northwards about thirty Paces from this Fountain, we come at the end of this Walk to a Statue of Venus at length, a little stooping, and holding Cu∣pid by both hands. The Venus is placed on a Stone Pedestal, and out of a wrought Head at the bottom of the Pedestal, there is a fall of water into a small Stone-basin.

A little Eastward of this Statue of Venus, there is another Fountain in a square Stone-basin. In the middle of it there is a small fall of water from a round Stone-basin, whence the water does fall equally all round in one sheet. And besides another Cascade that is here made out of a Head into a large Basin, there are five other falls of water from out of the Walls of this Foun∣tain, each of them about a foot in breadth.

CHAP. VI

Of the Voliere, or Fowl-Garden.

AT the West-end of the Middle Walk that divides the Great Garden into two Parts, we pass through a Gate of wrought Iron, into a Walk between high Trees, that goes Southward into the first Labyrinth, de∣scribed in the Fourth Chapter, and Northwards as far as the Heath, that is beyond all the Gardens.

At this Garden-gate, we behold the Old Hoof di∣rectly before us Westward, but are separated from it by two Moats, between which there are five rows of Lime-trees; on the South of which the Labyrinth is seated, and on the North the Fowl Garden, that is now to be described.

Advancing from the foresaid Gate fifty paces North∣wards, we turn to the Gate of the Fowl Garden on our left, to which we pass on a Bridge over the Moat. This Gate is likewise of wrought Iron, painted Blew and Gilt. Going from this Gate two and twenty paces, we descend by three Steps to a Noble Fountain and Cascade, round which Fountain from the bottom of the Steps to the Border of its Basin there is a Walk twelve foot and a half broad, into which Walk there are four descents by three Steps, four opposite ways: And be∣tween the one and the other row of Steps there is a Green Slope round the Fountain.

The Basin of this Fountain is oblong, or oval, and of a great circumference, the Diameter at least forty paces in length, and about twenty four paces in breadth. It is designed for the use of divers sorts of

Fowl; and there are Houses built on the two sides of this Garden, for sheltering the Fowl. In the middle of this Fountain there is a Jette, that throws up the water about twenty foot; and below the Jette there is a tri∣ple Cascade, made from three round Basins, whereof the uppermost appears to make a sheet about a foot in depth, the middle-one near about two foot, and the lowermost four foot. Between these three Ba∣sins the spaces or intervals are filled all round with Shells, &c. the which Shells are seen round them through the Sheets of water that fall from the said Basins.

On the North and South-side of this Fountain, six yards from one of the descents by three Steps, there are two Summer Houses, the one opposite to the other. They are within painted in fresco and bronze, and have Cupola's over them, painted Blew and Gilded. Into these Houses we enter by folding Doors, which consist: of two foot Wainscot from the bottom, the rest in broad Glass up to the Cupola. Each of these Houses hath four Shash-windows, besides the Doors, and hath on each side of them contiguous to the middlemost and largest Windows, an Aviary, wherein are kept curious Foreign, or Singing Birds. When the Shash-windows next to the Aviaries are opened, there is still a Wire-grate remaining, to hinder the Birds from fly∣ing out of their Aviaries into the Summer-houses. These Houses are paved with white and red Marble, cut in∣to curious Figures, but they are bordered all round with black Marble, of half a foot breadth, over which Border there is also a Ledge of white Marble, between the black, and the Wainscot.

The Aviaries that adjoin to Summer-houses, are likewise covered with lesser Cupola's of Lead, painted

Blew and gilded; but large Cupola in the middle has a round Glas-window, and another little Cupola above the Window, and on the top of the highest Cu∣pola in each House there is a Gilded Pine-apple placed on a Gilded Basis. These Aviaries have on three sides Grates of Wire, which do reach from the Cupola above, to a Stone-wall about two foot high at bottom. The two outmost Side-grates have wooden Shutters with∣out them, and those Shutters an oval Glass-window in them towards the top. In the middle of the Aviaries there is a Jette, whose water falls into a little shallow leaden Basin, near a yard square. Behind these Avia∣ries there are other lesser ones, open above, and on one side, for the receiving some particular Birds, that must be more in the open Air, or that must be kept alone by themselves.

And besides these Aviaries, there are in two corners of this Garden, on the Northwest, and Southeast, two other Houses in three divisions, for Ducks, Pigeons, Poultrey, &c. with holes on both sides at the bottom for the Fowl to enter. The middle part of these Houses is now used for tame Pigeons, and has a large Wire-grate towards the Air, and a Spout in the middle, that falls into a shallow round Leaden Basin of about two foot diameter.

Round the uppermost Walk that encompasses this Fountain, there are high Stakes joined together, five yards above this Walk, being a prop for the Hedges to grow on, that are now of that heigth, according to the manner that is frequently used in the Low Coun∣tries. In four places of this Hedge there are also se∣micircular Arbors, of the height of the Hedge, with Seats at convenient distances from the Summer-houses.

Between this Hedge and the Wall of this Garden there are some plain Parterres bordered with Box, and in other places Ever-Greens set here and here.

CHAP. VII

Of the Park, and its Fountains, Long Canal, Cascade, &c. together with the Viver, that supplies the Fountains and Cascades with water: as also a description of six other Vivers, or Fish∣ponds.

THE Park is a great space of Ground contain∣ing many Long Green Walks, Groves, Nurseries: Fountains, Canals, Cascades, the Viver and divers Corn-fields, within the Pales. So that when His Ma∣jesty is pleased to take diversion at home, there is not wanting Game for Shooting, Setting, &c.

As we go from the Fowl-Garden Westwards, we do leave the Old Hoof on the the left hand, and at the West-end of this Garden we come to a large Wire-grate, of the bigness of a large Gate, on both sides of which Grate we pass through Doors into the Park, and first to a Long Ca∣nal, in the which there are no less than a hundred and eight Spouts, half on one side, and the other half on t'other side of the Canal. They throw the water above four foot high, and the water of every Spout is made to fall on the contrary side of the Canal. This Canal is about six foot broad, and the distance between every one of the Spouts is five foot, so as that between eve∣ry two on the same side there are ten foot distance.

At the beginning and end of the Canal, there are pla∣ced two Spouts falling the one upon the place of the other; but all the rest do fall on the contrary side, and distant from the opposite Spouts, the whole length of the Canal. All these Spouts do fall into the figure of an Arch.

This Canal reaches from the Gate of the Fowl-Gar∣den already described, unto a Great Cascade that will be presently mentioned; it has Hedges on each side five yards high; and on the farther side of the Hedge South of the Canal, has a stately Grove of tall Trees, and Northwards of it has all along a Nursery of young ones. About half way, the Walk on each side between the Hedge and the Border of the Canal is about five foot broad, but the other half way, next the Cascade, the Walk is widened unto fifteen foot on both sides. The Canal is Bordered with Green Turf, and has a Slope of the same from the Border down to the water.

About the middle of this Canal, on the South-side, there is placed a Marble Statue of a Flora at length, on a high Stone Pedestal; and on each side of the Flora there is also a Head; the which Statue and Heads are seen as at the end of a long Green Walk North of the Canal, the which Walk is a hundred and seventy paces, to go from the Canal unto the Fountain of Faunus, that will soon be described.

At the West-end of this Long Canal, we come to a most Noble Fabrick of wrought Stone, or to the Cas∣cade of the Fishers, sometimes also called the Cypher Fountain. It is joined to the side of one of the Walks about the Viver; it has Ballisters at the top of the Fabrick, and joining to the Walk above; and there are covered Flowerpots upon the Ballisters. On each side of

this Cascade there are two several ascents by Stone-steps. And first we come to four Steps, on the corners of which there are placed two little Dragons, out of whose mouths the water falls into two scollopt Stone Basins at the bottom, under the Dragons. From these four Steps on both sides, we cross over other Canals by a Stone-bridge, and then come to eleven Stone∣steps more. These Canals do serve to carry away good part of the water that makes this Cascade, and the rest of it runs into the Long Canal, just now described.

In the middle of this Cascade, below the Ballisters, there are four little Boys a fishing, and drawing a Nett full of Fish; the four little Boys are of Stone, with leaden Net-work coloured like Stone, in their Arms; and through a great deal of this Net-work placed between the Boys, the water falls into the a large wrought Basin, and from this Basin the water falls again in five several places between other Net-work. Two of these falls of water from the said Basin are made into a Stone Canal below, that runs along the side of the Wall, under the Stone Bridges into the Canals on the North and South sides of the Cascade. The three other falls are thence made first upon Rockwork, and from thence into a common or general Basin that receives the water aforesaid, besides what comes from the Spouts, and Bell, that will be presently mentioned.

Moreover, into the said Canal that runs along the side of the Wall of this Casacade, there are four other falls of water, whereof the two outward are from two Heads of Stone, the two inward from two Heads of Marble, placed at due distances in the Wall aforesaid. The water from the Heads of Stone falls directly into the Canal, but from the Heads of Marble it falls into Stone-basins, that are about a yard in front, and from

them the sheet of water falls into the said Canal. Be∣sides, out of the lower Wall of this Canal there are two other falls out of two more Heads of Marble into two other Stone-basins of the same bigness with the former, and directly under those Heads of Marble and Basins, that were before mentioned to be placed in the upper Wall of the Canal, or the Side-wall of the Cas∣cade. And from these two Basins the sheets of water of fall into the general Basin at bottom.

In the middle of the common Basin there is a large inverted Bell of water, near two yards high, and the diameter of its basis on the top seems to be much about two yards likewise. About this Bell there do arise twelve Spouts which throw up the water about eight foot. On the North and South sides of the Basin, wherein were the said Great Bell, adn the twelve Spouts, there are other lesser Bells of water inverted, on each side one. These do rise about a foot high, and the diameter of them at the top is much the same. The common Basin below the Cascade is bordered with a broad Stone of sixteen inches breadth, and walled with Rock∣work; and the whole space between the said Border, and the Long Canal before described, as well as to the Stone∣stairs on either side of this Cascade, is taken up chiefly with little Stone-Canals of seven inches breadth, their Border but two inches. But in the intervals between those little Canals the space is paved with white and black Pebbles in divers Figures. From the two lesser Bells the water does run along those little Canals, which besides the flourish they do make on each side, do form the Letters R. W. M. R. And above those Let∣ters the said small Canals are so disposed, as to form the representation of a Crown. Moreover, from among these Pebbles, with which all the intervals between the

little Canals are paved, there are made to rise, when 'tis thought fit, by the turning of two sCocks, about fourscore the most minute Spouts that can be con∣ceived. They are like a shower of small rain, ar∣tisicially made in a certain order. One half of the fourscore is made to play by the turning of one Cock, and the t'other half by turning the other. And these Cocks are turned in the Walk above the Cascade, or between it and the Viver. Every one of these little Spouts plays about a yard high, and the Pipe of every one of them is covered with a small Copper Cover, that has five little holes through which the water does rise in five small branches, like to a very small shower of Rain. Some of the Covers of these Pipes are half an inch, others are three quarters of an inch diameter. But in short, they do make a very pleasant and agreeable sight, when∣ever they are made to play: And they are intended to divert the Spectators, by causing a small Rain un∣awares on those who shall advance within the compass of their reach.

I did before mention two pair of Stone-steps, the one of four, the other of eleven Steps on the North and South sides of this Cascade. From the two sides of the lowermost, or least pair of Steps, where the little Dragons were said to be placed, there are conti∣nued from the Steps on one side to the Steps on the other side of the Cascade, all round this space (which was said to be paved with Pebbles, and to consist of the soresaid Stone Canals) two circles of Stone of fourteen inches, breadth, which do serve instead of a double Bor∣der to the whole; the two Borders keeping the same distance from one another throughout, as the Steps do make in front, or breadth.

When we are up the second pair of Stairs of eleven Steps, we enter upon a Walk, that encompasses a large Quadrangular Pond, called the Viver, being the common Storehouse of the Water that supplies so many of these Fountains, Cascades, and Canals. The Walk on the four sides of the Viver is seven yards broad; it is a Gravelled Walk; and on the side next to the water it is adorned with Juniper-trees two yards high, adn six yards distance from one another; and on the other side of it has Lime-trees at the same distance, besides large round Bushes between the Lime-trees. The Viver is a hundred and forty paces long, and threescore and ten paces broad. It is bordered with green, and has a green Slope from the Border down to the water.

At the West-end of the Viver, in the middle of the Walk, we do pass through another Gate, the Bars partly Gilt, and partly Blew, into a long shady Grove, usually called the Queen's Grove, wherein there are divers Walks, some near unto Brooks of a clear running water, others at some distance from the Brooks, and all of them as solitary and retired, as can well be imagined. This Grove is of a good extent, and in the Summer-time very delightful.

And now before we end, let us return unto the East-gate of the Fowl-Garden, from whence we may enter North-west into a long Walk between high Trees, there being a Grove on each side beyond the rows of Trees. In this Walk, when we have gone about two hundred and twenty paces, and there cross'd another long green Walk, towards the middle of this Walk, where the Groves do end, we do at length come to the Fountain of Faunus, whose Basin is round, and about fifty seven foot diameter. In the middle of this Fountain there is crected the Statue of Faunus in Stone at length, with an Infant in his Arms, and a Goat at

his Feet to suckle the Infant. This Statue of Faunus does lean upon a Stone Pillar, and stands upon a high Pedestal of a Blew Stone, placed in the midst of a Rock, consisting of many rough Stones, petrified Earth of divers colours, and large Shells here and there inter∣mixed. From about this Rockwork there are made six double sheets of water, whereof each double fall is over∣against a several Walk. For from this Fountain there are six distinct Walks, one opposite to another. And round about it, between each of the six Walks, near the corners of the Walks, there are placed two Statues in half-length of the Termini, or Gods of Boundaries, twelve in all; some of which twelve Statues have the face of a Man, and some of a Satyr; and they are placed upon Pede∣stals two yards high. All these Walks are twenty two, or twenty four foot broad; they are green in the mid∣dle, and on each side of the Green they are plain Earth ungravelled, according to the Dutch custom, to about four foot and a half breadth on each side of the Green. The Hedges of all these Walks do consist of Trees both great and small, planted close together. Here are also other handsome long Walks in the Park, that are not men∣tioned; besides Brooks, and Fishponds within the Grove on the sides of the Long Canal.

There is one thing more very remarkable in these many Fountains and Cascades that have been described; as that they are supplied with a natural conveyance of water that does constantly run, and is not forc'd up with Engines into great Cisterns, where it must soon corrupt and stink, if not quickly discharged. Whence it comes to pass, that the famous Water-works at Ver∣sailles have in this regard a very great disadvantage and inconvenience, because they soon contract corruption, and after they are forc'd to play, are found to cause

an ill stench in the Gardens. Whereas at Loo the water is always sweet, and there is no need of Commands, or Preparations for a day or two before, in order to make it run.

These Gradens in the whole are a Work of wonder∣ful Magnisicence, most worthy of so Great a Monarch; a Work of prodigious expence, infinite variety, and cu∣riosity; and after nine years labour by abundance of Workmen they were some years ago intirely finished, and brought to perfection in all respects.

I should here conclude this Description, if I did not judge it it may be acceptable to give a short account of six Vivers, or Fish-ponds, which His Majesty has caused to be made in the Heath, beyond the Gardens. When I was at Loo, two years since, there were about two hundred Persons imployed in the making the said Vivers, which are since finished. They are situated on the East-side of that Walk which is continued from the end of the Upper Garden, between Lime-trees, un∣to a Pyramid that is crected half a mile off in the Heath.

The first of these Vivers is about twenty yards di∣stant from the Lime-trees, and is eight hundred and forty foot, or two hundred and eighty yards in length. And it is two hundred and forty foot, or fourscore yards in breadth.

All the six Vivers do lye Eastward of one another, and the water is conveyed from one to another, after the manner as in the Fist-ponds in Hide-park. To the first there is made a subterrancan Passage, built of Brick, from the Canal that runs at the North-end of the Great Garden, by the which Passage the water is brought into the first Viver, and from that let into the others.

The second Viver is in length six hundred and twelve foot, or two hundred and four yards; and it is two hundred and forty foot, or fourscore yards broad.

The third Viver is four hundred forty four foot, or a hundred forty eight yards long; and of the same breadth with the two former.

The fourth, sifth, and sixth Vivers, are all of the same length, that is, three hundred ninety six foot, or one hundred thirty two yards long; and they are all three of the same breadth, that is, four hundred forty four foot, or one hundred forty eight yards.

The length of the three first Vivers is extended Northwards, but that of the three latter is made East∣ward; the situation of the ground, wherein they are made, requiring this alteration. For on the North∣side the Heath has a rising ascent, which makes this alteration of the dimensions necessary. Between the Vivers and this rising-ground there is room enough for receiving the water that shall at any time be emptied out of them, in order to fill them with fresh water.

They are not made above six foot deep, and the Earth that is dug out of them does serve to make the Banks round about them; the which Banks being rais∣ed three foot above the Vivers, does occasion that their depth is but three foot more. The Banks that surround all the six Vivers are twenty four foot broad, and on those Banks which so encompass them, there is made a pleasant Walk, adorned with Willows the whole circumference. But the Banks which serve to separate them from one another, are but eighteen foot broad. These Vivers are provided for the sup∣plying different sorts of Fish; and are now finished

by a Model of Mosieur Marot, a very ingenious Mathematician, who is the same Person that first Designed all these Gardens and Fountains; but the Or∣ders relating to them were from time to time gi∣ven by the Right Honourable the Earl of Portland; and his Lordship's Directions were punctually observed by Monsieur des Marais, His Majesty's Chief Archi∣tect, a Gentleman of great Endowments and Ca∣pacity.