Campania fœlix, or, A discourse of the benefits and improvements of husbandry containing directions for all manner of tillage, pasturage, and plantation : as also for the making of cyder and perry : with some considerations upon I. Justices of the peace and inferior officers, II. On inns and alehouses, III. On servants and labourers, IV. On the poor : to which are added two essays : I. Of a country-house, II. Of the fuel of London / by Tim. Nourse, gent.

AN ESSAY Of a Country House.

BY a Country-House I do not understand a Farm, nor the ordinary Mansion-House of a Country Gentleman; nor yet a Villa, or little House of Pleasure and Retreat, where Gentlemen and Citizens betake themselves in the Summer for their private Diversion, there to pass an Evening or two, or perhaps a Week, in the Conversation of a Friend or two, in some neat little House amidst a Vineyard or Garden, sequestred from the Noise of a Ci∣ty, and the Embarras and Destraction of Bu∣siness, or perhaps the anxious and servile At∣tendance of a Court. By a Country-House then, I understand a greater Fabrick, fit to lodge a Nobleman endu'd with ample For∣tunes and a vertuous Mind, where he may sweeten the Travels of a Vexations Life, and pass away his Days amidst the solid and serene Enjoyments of the Country.

The Place or Seat of a House being a thing wherein Fancy must have a share, and the

Fancies of Men being very various and un∣constant, 'twill be difficult to Cast an Essay of this Nature into such a Mould as shall please the Curiosities of all Men. Some have taken delight to raise Stately Houses or Castles on the top of some Rock or Eminence, as it were hanging over, or at least over-looking some noble River, as the Castles of Nottingham, Warwick, Windsor, and the like. True it is, that such Seats have a most beautiful Prospect, an excellent Air, and the under-running Ri∣ver is a thing of great Ornament and Use; but then 'tis as true too, that they are too much expos'd to the Heats of Summer, and to the Blasts of Winter: they want Out-let, and rarely enjoy such a temper'd Earth, or Soil, as is requisite for a Garden; nor can they well be beautified by Fountains, which Cir∣cumstances conduce very much, and are in a manner essential to a Noble House.

Others again please their Fancies by build∣ing in a Valley, upon the Bank of (or near) a River; for by this means they are sheltred from the violence of Cold Winds and Tem∣pestuous Storms, and enjoy the pleasant views of verdant Meadows; so that a beautiful House seated upon the Bank of a clear-runing River, washing the Walls of the Terras in the Gardens, and stor'd with Swans, is very de∣lightful, as it is also to be refresh'd in the Sum∣mer Evenings, by taking a Turn or two upon the Christal Streams in some little Bark or Pleasure-Boat. But withal, such Seats are in∣commoded

many times by Floods, nor is the Air so wholesome, especially in the Winter, being too much subject to Foggs and watry Vapours; nor do they afford that pleasure to the Eye as a House built on the side of a Hill, over-looking the neighbouring Plains, and whose Prospect is terminated by other Hills at a greater distance: For a Seat which has nothing but the wide Plain for its object, af∣fords but little pleasure to the Eye (it being here as upon the Sea) where the level of the Surface determines the sight to a small di∣stance: Upon which account I cannot see why Versailles should be lookt upon to be so fine a Seat, there lying nothing but dead Plains beyond it, in which the sight, I say, is soon lost, receiving in but little Variety, in the same manner as it happens to those, who being on Ship-board, cannot see a League a∣bout them, unless some Ship or Land-Mark standing above the level of the Eye, lengthen out the Prospect.

The Old Romans generally took much de∣light to build their Pleasure-Houses near the Sea, as appears by the Ruines at this day seen near Baiae and Gaeta. This probably they did for the benefit of the Breezes, which at some certain times of the day, blow always from the Seas with universal Refreshment; tho 'tis probable too, that the great Road for all their Military Expeditions, as well as to their Naval Magazines, lying to∣wards Naples and Sicily, which was the Gra∣nary also of Rome, the Nobility and Gentry

were more inclin'd to choose such Places for their Retirement and Recreation, as lay near∣est to the Road of Business; so that they were always in a readiness to change from one line to another, upon any sudden occasion, and with little trouble. The great Cascades or Falls of Water from a Precipice, which we observe frequently in Italy, occasion'd prin∣cipally by the dissolution of the Snow on the high Mountains in the Summer Seasons, af∣forded noble advantages for Summer-Seats. Hence it was that Tusculum and Tyber were then esteem'd as places of great Delight, as they are also at this very day under the Names of Friscati and Tinoli.

But since we have not these natural Advan∣tages, we must be contented with such as our Climate and Country do afford. First then, we must have regard to the Air, that it be open, not Perd nor subject to Fogs and Mists. In the next place, let the Soil be dry, sandy or Gravelly, and sur le Parchant, on the side of a Ground gently rising, not amongst En∣closures, but in a champaign, open Country; and if a Navigable River ran within Two or Three Miles of the place, 'twould be very com∣modious in many respects, and if nearer at hand, it would much contribute to the Beau∣ty and Prospect of the Seat; but above all, I hold it absolutely necessary, that it should be serv'd with some little Rivolet, or copious source of clear and wholsome Water, descend∣ing from the higher Grounds, behind the place

on which the House is designed to be erected; the uses whereof I shall speak to hereafter. As for good Neighbours, (a Circumstance much conducing to sweeten the Tediousness of too much Solitude) I suppose my Noble∣man to be in such a Range of Fortune, as ei∣ther by his Power, or by his generous Deport∣ment rather, to be able to draw them to his Seat, or if these be wanting, yet to be Master of so much Fortune, as to be able to compass within his own Family and Teritory, what∣soever a Mind endued with Moderation, can reasonably desire. And as for the Site and Cir∣cumstances of such a Seat as I am going now to describe, there are many Noblemen and Gentlemen in this Kingdom, who have all the Natural Advantages imaginable for a Prince-like Habitation.

In pursuance therefore of such a Draught, I shall reduce my Project under Two General Designs or Heads. The First shall be that of the Main Building or Habitation it self; the Second shall be that of the Farm or Village thereon depending, and by which the great Mansion-House may be supplied with Necessa∣ries, as likewise with Labourers upon all Oc∣casions. First then, for the Mansion-House it self, let it be seated in the midst of a large Park, the Ground gently rising, and facing the South, or at least the Morning Sun. I would have the Park to be at the least a Mile and an half over every way, which I thus divide, viz. half a Mile for the Approach or Avenue to

the House, half a Mile for the Houses, Gar∣dens, and Lawnes invironing the principal Mansion; and half a Mile behind the House for Out-let.

All the Ground betwixt the Entrance of this Inclosure or Park, and the second Region alotted for the Dwelling-House, I would have planted with Trees, and above all with Beech, if the Soil will admit; or if the Place be already planted, and in the form of a Wood, I would have a large Walk or Road, of Thirty Paces breadth, leading directly from the Entrance of the Park to the Dwel∣ling-House, which I would have to stand in full front or view; which Walk or Road I would have regularly pitch'd for a consider∣able breadth, to prevent the Dirt which a con∣stant Intercourse of Horses and Carriages might make. On each side of which Ground-walk I would have private Foot-walks within the Wood, well gravell'd, or clean kept, in breadth of about Sixteen Foot each, which, like a dark Arbour-walk, should butt directly upon the corners of the front in the Dwelling-House; so that the Trees meeting at the top, would make it wonderful cool and delightful in the Summer, the long Shade-alleys or Glades being terminated in the building. But in case it may be thought that such Walks or Glades through Woods might hinder the View and Prospect of the House, the Avenue or Approach may be cast into a Figure something resembling a Theatre; in which case we may

allow what wideness we please, provided still that the principal Mansion, with all its Courts, Gardens, Out-buildings, and Offices, stand full in front to the Entrance, the shady Groves regularly contracting themselves the nearer Approach we make unto it. By this means the Palace will be seen at a vast distance, with∣out Reserve or Mask upon its Face, resembling the same stately Canopy at the head of the in∣bearing Woods. But whatsoever Fancy may be pitch'd upon, this must carefully be taken heed to, that the tops of the Trees do not rise higher than the Rooms upon the first Floor, to the hinderance of Air and Prospect; and it may easily be allow'd that they will not, considering that the House is to be built upon a Rising Ground, and at some distance from the tending Woods.

As for the Mansion-Seat, or Dwelling-House, let it be erected in the midst of that internal or middle-Region, before-allotted, in the Figure of a Square or Saxon 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the streight line or Basis joining the two sides, which we call the Front, to be a double Build∣ing, and to be One hundred ninety four Feet in Breadth, and Sixty Foot in Depth o•• Tra∣verse, therein comprehending the Walls, Par∣titions, and Chimneys, for all which there must be an Allowance proportionable to such a Design. I would have the first Floor on the Front-side to be at least Four Foot above Ground; and the first Floor on the two wings or sides to be about Three Foot, or

something lesser, above the Ground, assign∣ing the under-Region for Kitchens, Pantries, Larders, Cellars, Pastry-Rooms, Store-Hou∣ses, Distillatories, Landring-Rooms, &c. as also for Lodging-Rooms for some of the Infe∣rior Domesticks. As for Brew-Houses, Bake-Houses, and the like, I shall provide for them in another place.

I would have the House divided into two grand Apartments, perfectly the same in all Respects, as to form and number of Rooms, excepting only a convenient Room for a Cha∣pel, to be taken out of one side; of which anon. Let the whole Fabrick then consist of, 1st. Vaulted Rooms, at least Nine Foot high, and of this Four Foot above Ground: 2dly, The Ground or Lower-Floor: 3dly, The Chamber-Floor, or Rooms of State: and, 4thly, The upper-Floor. As to the heighth, the first Course of Rooms in the front, in which we land, ought to be Fifteen Foot hight, he next likewise Fifteen Foot, and the upper-Story, or Roof-Floor, to be Twelve Foot high; so that the Front, from the Bot∣tom to the Roof, with Allowance for the Thickness of the Floors, will be near upon Fifty Foot high. I would have likewise Four∣teen Windows in the Front, Seven on a side, each Window to be Six Foot wide in the clear, and Nine Foot high; and so they will be Six Foot distant from one another. In the mid∣dle of the Front I allow Twelve Foot for the Breadth of the Thorough-Passage; and I

would have the whole Orchard fair of the Front, I mean in the Roof, to be cast into this form, viz. Three Pavilions, one in the middle, and one at each end, resembling Three Cupola's, not round, but rather in a Canopy∣form. For Decoration, I would have betwixt all the Windows, Columns on their Basis, reaching from the Ground to the Roof, and sustaining a suitable Cornish; the Pillars to be in Number Fourteen, answering the Inter∣vals of the Windows; and on the Cornish over every Pillar I would have a Statue of proportionable bigness, a la Romanesque, as a Gladdiator, a Hercules killing the Hydra, with such-like Figures as represent Action or Mo∣tion.

But in regard that Pillars in their full Di∣mensions, or proportionable to the heighth given, will be vastly big and expensive, and consequently darken all the Windows in the Front, (for such Pillars in their full Dimen∣sions are rarely to be seen, but under the Roof of Portico's in vast Fabricks, sustaining great Weights, and standing at some distance from the Lights,) I would have the Pillars in this Design, being such as are for Decoration rather than for Use, to stand swelling a little out of the Building, in relievo, more full or shal∣low, as the Architect shall think fit: Or in case they be made entire, they may be of dif∣ferent Orders, rising betwixt revery Stage or Story in the Front, and then they will be of such a size as will not much hinder the Light

or Prospect. However, I hold the former Design or Decoration, by Pillar-work, as in a Basso Relievo, swelling out of the Walls be∣twixt the Windows of the Front, to be more beautiful than the several Orders of lesser Co∣lumns standing out entire, because we have the Beauty of Greatness without any Inconve∣nience and with less Expence.

Over the Portal or Entrance, which must be ascended by double-winding Stairs, of eight or ten Degrees, I would have a stately Balco∣ny looking full in the Grand Avenue, over which an Architrane supported by Pillar∣work, and garnished above with Imagery in Relievo; the Roof on the Front-side to be leaded, as also the Arches, to weather the Windows, &c. and let the Coins or Corners of the Front, as likewise the Stone-Work be∣twixt the two Grand Apartments, or about the Portal, be of great square Stones, cut and set a la Rustique; and on the top of all, di∣rectly over the Entrance, and in the midst of the Statues, but something higher, a Statua Equestris, or some Trophy; as likewise a Vi∣ctoria alata, at each corner of the Front, would look very great and noble: And because the Front is suppos'd to be a double Building, the Roof towards the top ought to be flatned and leaded, and incircled with Ba∣listers, with some Figures for Ornament here and there, conveniently standing on them. Such flat Roofs likewise are very Commodi∣ous for Air and Prospect in the Summer-Even∣ings,

as likewise in the Winter-Seasons, when the Days are calm and serene.

Now as to the Distribution of the inward parts of this Front, supposing, as I said, that it be a double Building, at the least Sixty Foot in the Traverse, of which Twelve Feet for the but Walls and middle Partitions, whereon to raise Chimneys, and support the Roof, let the••e be, in the first place, two double-Gates for the Entrance, one of Grate or Inn-work, for the benefit of the Air and Breezes in the Summer; the other an inward Gate or Door of Wood to keep out the Winter-Winds: Opposite whereunto, at the end of the Passage which does traverse the House, let there be two other Doors likewise of the same Figure, Matter, and Dimensions with the for∣mer, giving an open View through the House, Inner-Court, Gardens, &c. and this not only to please the Eye, but to refresh and cool the House in hot Seasons; for such Thorough-Passages suck in the Air in a full Stream, of which more hereafter. Likewise, touching the Front, as also ••he other two sides of the Fabrick, consisting of two Grand Apar••ments, I shall make a Description of one part only; the other being understood to be perfectly the same, excepting only one or two Rooms, which is not very material.

On the Front or Entrance-side therefore, as soon as we land, let there be on the one hand a Hall, or Common Reception Room, in ••••••adth twenty four Foot, in length thirty

six Feet, besides the breadth of that space which was allowd for the Cross-Passage be∣twixt the two Grate-Doors; by which means the Hall, with the Addition of the Passage, will be forty eight Feet in length, that is to say, double to the breadth; which may seem perhaps something disproportionable, but this may be disguis'd by a Screen, or otherways. Within the Hall let there be a Parlour or Room of Conference, square twenty four feet; and within this let there be an inward Parlour, or Room of Reflexion, of the same Dimensions, which will be very light, as be∣ing the Corner-Room, and so it must have Windows on two sides; of all which three Rooms I would have the Doors plac'd directly one against the other, and to be rather on the Window-side than in the middle of the Room. It being likewise suppos'd to be a double-Build∣ing, on the side of the inward Parlour I would have a Withdrawing-Room; and on the side of the middle Parlour, or Room of Conference, I would have a Winter-Parlour, or Room of Reflexion, which will fall out to be of less Dimensions than the rest, and therefore warm∣er and more private; and for this there will be space enough and to spare towards our Privyl Stairs, which we shall come to by and by: And lastly, on the Hall-side there will be another convenient Room for Entertainment, or for any other use whatsoever.

Now for the Grand Stairs, I would have them double, and plac'd near the farther Door,

opposite to the Entrance; and for each of these there is allow'd twenty four Feet one way; and sixteen another; so that the Grand Floor or Entrance being to be added to it, the Area of each Ascent will be twenty four Foot square, and the Steps or Degrees will be near upon eight Feet in length. I would have the Rails of the Stairs to be Iron-work cast into Figures, or Devices, and Cyphers, as al∣so to be laid in Oil to prevent Rust, and to be gilt in convenient Places; as also on the Walls of the Stairs, and of the Hall, let there be large History-Paintings, as of Huntings, Battles, Carousels, and the like, and here and there some Statues on their Pedestals, or Busts in Niches.

The upper-Floor of the Front is for Rooms of State, as Antichambers, Chambers, With∣drawing-Rooms, &c. The Passage or En∣trance on which we land at the top of the Stairs of the first Floor, will be of the same Dimensions with the Passage or Entrance un∣derneath, viz. sixty feet in length, and twelve in breadth, at each end whereof let there be a stately Balcony-Window, one opening to∣wards the outward Courts and Avenue of the House, from whence you may behold the Park and Country below you; the other gr•••••• Window will open to the inward Court, from whence we have a View likewise of the Gar∣dens, Fountains, and of the Country which lies about the House: At each of these Win∣dows in the Balconys, let there be plac'd fair

Orange-Trees in their Cases, which, when the Windows are set open, will, with the Air that is drawn in, send their Perfumes in∣to the Gallery or Walk, as also to the border∣ing Chambers, with wonderful Pleasure and Refreshment. The Walls of this Cross-Walk or Gallery, I would have adorn'd with all sorts of Landskip, as Boscage, Paysarge, Ru∣ines, Promontories, Buildings, Towns, Ri∣vers, Sea-Battles, Sports or Wakes of Pea∣sants, &c. also some curious Cabinets and some Statues would much adorn it.

On the other side of the Grand Apartment below, and opposite to the Common Hall I would have a Private Chapel, twenty four Feet in breadth, and in length thirty six Feet, and about thirty Foot in heigth, being the heighth which was assign'd for the Lower and Middle-Stories, with an over-hanging Gallery issuing out of the Walls or Passage of the middle-Story, before-mentioned: As for the Ornaments of the Chapel, that's a Thing which must be left to the Genius of the Lord of it.

And as for the upper Region of the Front, on the side which regards the Park or Entrance, there should be a fair long Gallery; at one end whereof I would have a Library, with a Repository for the Deeds and Writings of my Lord's Estates and Manors. The inward-side of this upper-Floor should be for Lodg∣ing-Rooms, and the side-Walls of the Galle∣ry to be adorn'd with the Pictures of the Fa∣mily,

as also of Brave and Learned Men; to which we may add Statues, and Rarities, whe∣ther of Art or Nature, with Cabinets and Monuments of Antiquity, with Maps and Platforms of Fortification, with all sorts of Engines and Machines in lesser Forms; as al∣so with the rarest Prints, with inlay'd-Cabi∣nets and Tables, whether of Stone or Wood, by Materials of the Natural Colour; and some Originals or good Copies of the best Masters: For as for Painting in Frieze, the Temper of our Air will not admit of it.

The Chimneys in the Front or double-Building require to be rai'sd in the middle of the House, and not on the side-Walls; as for the side-Building or Wings of the House, it not being a double-Building of such Bulk, the Chimneys may be plac'd in another figure: All which Chimneys should have their Tunnels, not in the common form, but in the shape of Flower-Pots, Vines, Censers, Candlesticks, or some such Fancy; yet so as all to be of one kind, as the Architect shall think fit; all which would be much more Graceful and Ornamen∣tal than the common shape, and altogether as Convenient, Cheap, and Useful: And so I have done with the first Double-side or Front of the House.

Next, for the Sides or Wings, they must be of a lower and narrower Structure, as being the main Rooms of Use, and to attend upon the greater Pile. To each Side I allow One hundred and fifty Foot in length, out of which

we may take sufficient Space for Chimneys▪ Stairs, and Passages. The breadth of the lower-Rooms, besides the Thickness of the Walls, to be eighteen Foot; and therefore they must have Thorough-Lights: And on the within and Court-side I would have a Cloister or Walk of about ten Foot broad and fourteen Foot high, the Pillars or Arch∣work whereof to meet at the top, and to have little Niches for Busto's, or for some Imagery in Relievo. Over this Cloister I would have the upper-Stories extended; so that they will be of twenty eight or thirty Feet in breadth, which I thus distribute, viz. Eightee•• Feet for the Chambers, which must be square, their heigt eleven Feet, and Windows propor∣tionable; and on the side of each Chamber there will be sufficient on the Court-side, or on the Hanging-over the Cloister, to make two little inward Rooms or Closets, of about ten Foot square each, which may serve for Lodging-Rooms for Servants, attending on Gentlemen or Ladies, as also for Closets, Wardrobes, or Places of Convenience; so that there will be six larger Chambers, and twelve lesser Chambers or Closets upon a Floor, and the like Number in the upper-Story, if the Architect think fit. I would not have the Vaults on the sides to be above three Foot above Ground, for that is sufficient to give Light to the Subterraneous Rooms or Offices, which Rooms may be sunk to what depth we please. The Rooms on the First Floor above

Ground may be design'd for Ordinary Enter∣taining-Rooms for Strangers, a Room for the Gentlemen-Servants to eat in, &c.

I would have two Stair-Cases and Tho∣rough-Entries on each side, one at each cor∣ner, where the side-Buildings or Wings are join'd to the Main Body or Grand Front; the other in the middle of the Sides, with Steps gently rising to the First Floor or Passage, where Stairs likewise are assign'd. I would likewise have the Cloister continu'd through∣out that side which makes the Main Body; but withal, there must be a greater Allowance pro∣portionable to the Building, viz. Nineteen or twenty Foot in height, and in breadth about thirteen, with a fair Ascent in the mid∣dle, leading to the Grand Passage of the House, and answerable to the Entrance on the Front. Over this Cloister Walk there is to be no Buil∣ding, but a flat, leaded Walk, like a Terras, where may be placed Statues, with Boxes of Orange-Trees, Lemons, Jessamins, Flower-Pots, and Greens, with some Bird-Cages, to be convey'd or remov'd, as Occasion shall re∣quire; as likewise two Fountains or Jetteans, with their Basons, the Water to be deliver'd by Pipes into the Base-Court, to furnish other Fountains or Basons; all which would not only delight the Eye but the Smell too, at such Time as the Balcony-Windows of the middle-Gallery; before spoken of, shall be opened.

The other Wing, which makes up the third Side of the House, I would have to be the same in Form and Dimensions with that I have now describ'd; saving, that at the farther ends of these Sides or Wings of the House, I would have an Armoury in one, and an Jirfirmacy in the other. And as for the Garrets or Roof-Rooms of the whole House, they are to be for the Use of the Domesticks, or Apartments for Women; as also for the Pages and Gen∣tlemen, which are Retainers to the Family, with convenient Places also for the Occasions of the Landery.

As for the Inward-Court of this Building, I would have it neatly Pav'd or Pitch'd, and not to be of Earth, with Gravell'd Walks and Grass-Plats; for these in the Winter-time will loosen after a Frost, and stick to the Feet; be∣sides, the Washings of Rain will fill the lower Draughts with Filth: Nor is there any Dan∣ger of too much Heat to be reflected from the Stones, as my Lord Verulan does object; for the sides of the House will guard the Courts sufficiently from such Annoyance: But this, as many other things, must be left to the Fancy of the Builder. However, I should like two Fountains, or Jetteauz, with their Basons, in the midst of the Court, on each side one; and the further end of the Court, or fourth Side, answering the double-Building, to be all of Grate-work, with Freestone-Pillars, and Statues on the tops, giving a View or Pro∣spect into the Grand Garden, the Doors or

Gates being of Azure and Gilded, opening in the middle, and giving Entrance thereinto.

Besides these Buildings, of which I have already spoken, on the back-sides of the two Wings should be Stairs leading down into the Offices and Cellers, as also at twenty Paces distance a long range of low Buildings, in form of a Penthouse, not exceeding the heighth of an ordinary Wall of fourteen Foot. The Use of these is for Store-Houses for Coal and Wood, for feeding of Poultry, for washing of Linnen; as also for Lodging-Rooms for the Inferior Domesticks, as Gar∣deners, Cooks, Scullions, Common Footmen, and the like. I allow twenty Paces breadth to the Walk before the low Buildings, for the Convenience of Carts and Drays to come and go on the Back-side, to bring all necessary Provisions, of what kind soever. Likewise I would have the Current of Water running from the Roof, not to be discharg'd by Pipes on the Court-sides but to be let round by a kind of Gutter upon the Leads to the Back-sides, there to be receiv'd into great Gi∣sterns of Lead, for the Occasions of the Lan∣dry, and from thence to be conveyed into the Common Draught or Vaulted-Shore, or to serve the Occasions of the Kitchen-Gardens.

And thus much may suffice for the Draught of the Main Building, with one further Remark only, that in case the Building be of Stone, the inside Walls must be lin'd with Brick to pre∣vent the Injuries which may happen to the

Rooms and Furniture, from the dampness and sweating of the Stones. The next thing to be consider'd of is the Gardens, viz. that of the Kitchen, and that of Pleasure.

I shall begin with the Pleasure-Garden, into which, as I said before, we are to make our En∣trance through the side of Grate-Work, which makes up the Quadrangle of the inner Court: The Par-terries or Plan of the Ground to be allow'd for the Garden, ought at least to be Six-Score Paces or Yards in breadth, and Nine Score in length; which I divide into three equal Parteries or Gardens, allowing to each Garden one hundred and twenty Paces, and sixty for depth, the Garden equally extending it self on both sides the House. As to the Pat∣tern of the First Garden, let it be subdivided into Two Plats or Plans by a grand Alley in the middle, of thirty Foot in breadth; the side or round about Alleys to be fifteen in breadth, the borders on the sides of the Alleys six foot breadth, as also three foot along the Walls or Sides of the Garden where Fruit-Trees may be planted. Within which Borders on the sides, let there be other lesser Gravell'd Alleys of about six foot breadth with paths through the middle of the Borders, of a just breadth, to pass from Alley to Alley. When this is done there will remain a Quadrangular Plat in the middle, which may serve for a Grass-Plat, and in the midst thereof let there be a fair Fountain with a Bason of thirty foot Diameter, well pav'd and flank▪d with Free-Stone, and in the

Centre of this let there be some Statue deliver∣ing the Water into the Fountain, such as Nep∣tune riding upon a Tritan, out of whose Shell let the Water spout, or a Sea-Monster thrust∣ing up his Head, and spouting out the Water into the Air, or a Diana with her Nymphs ba∣thing themselves, and the Water trickling down the Linnen wherewith she drys her self; Or some other naked Female Figure, with wa∣ter letting out at her Nipples, with a thou∣sand such Inventions. The like Curiosities of Walks, Fountains, Statues, &c. to be in the other Partern or Partition of this First Gar∣den.

The Borders which may be made, more or fewer, wider or narrower, according to the Genius of the Gardner, I would have reple∣nished with Flowers, for every Month or Sea∣son of the Year: For to see a Flower-Garden without its decorations, is all one as to sit down to a Table furnisht with Cloth, Plates and Napkin, and nothing serv'd in. To enu∣merate the particular Flowers would be too te∣dious, the Curious may find Varieties to en∣tertain themselves in Mr. Wooldrige's Collection, and especially Mr. Evelyn's Kalendar, a Gentle∣man who has oblig'd all lovers of planting, by his Excellent Books upon that Subject.

All throughout the Borders at an equal di∣stance, let there be little Bushes of Ever-Greens, as Dwarst, Cypresses, Philyreas, Rosemary, Lavender, Bays, Lawns, Limes, Savine and Rue; for these also are Green in Winter and

Sticky. Also some kinds of Holly would be Ornamental, as likewise little Firr-Trees, but these must be remov'd every three Years, be∣cause they cannot be drest without spoiling their Figure; let there be planted likewise up and down some little Tufts or Matts of Peaks for these look prettily in the Winter, as also some Mizerean Trees and the like.

Along the Grand Alley, as also from the ends of the long Upper-Walks, we may have three Ascents to Mount by, into the Second Garden, each Ascent to consist of sixteen or seventeen Steps, which second Garden I would have to stand nine foot above the first, which may easily be brought about, the whole De∣sign both of the House and Garden being on a Rising Ground, as I said at the beginning; so that the Second Garden will be as a Terras to the first; and in the sides of the Bank which parts the two Gardens, and looking full to the Sun, we have a place for our Green-Houses. These Green-Houses must be at the least nine foot high; for otherwise they will not be ca∣pable of holding Cases or Boxes of Orange-Trees of any considerable bigness. These Green-Houses likewise ought to be sunk three or four foot under Ground, for by this means the Plants will be better defended from the Frost. Also the Vaults should be made of Brick to keep out the dampness of the Earth, and I like Matted Doors or Pent-houses to be hoist up and down at pleasure, much better than Glass-Doors, tho they are not so beautiful: For

they will defend the Cases very well from Cold; or perhaps it may not be inconvenient to have the Glass-Doors lin'd with a thick Matting within, or to be cover'd therewith on the our-side, as shall be most convenient. The Furniture of the Green-Houses ought to be this, viz. Orange and Lemon-Trees, Myrtles, of which the small leav'd Myrtle is more diffi∣cult to be preserv'd: Tuberosus's, which will hold their Flowers in Winter, Jessamins of all sorts, as the Spanish, or Jessamine of Catalonia, the double-blossom'd Jessamine, with a Flower like to a Double Cherry, the Persian Jessamine, and the like; as likewise Mavyn, Syriacum, which tho a little Shrub, or a sort of Mastick Thyme, is much to be valued for its rich, Balsa∣mick Smell: the Olive-Tree, the Pomegra∣nate-Tree, the Oleander or Rose-Lawrel, &c. Likewise in the same Bank let there be Variety of Seats, and in the midst a Grotto made of Shell-work, with some little Imagery, deliver∣ing the Water through little Pipes, with some wetting-Places, as also a Bathing-Place or Ba∣son in the midst; likewise some artificial Birds murmuring or chirping, a Serpent his∣sing, with some contiguous Furies, would very much contribute to the pleasure of such Grotto's. All which Water-works, whether of Grotto's or Fountains are to be fram'd with proportionable Pipes for the clearer Convey∣ance of the Water to some of the lower Foun∣tains, and from them to the Offices of the House. On the Tops of the Degrees or Stairs

by which we ascend to the Second Garden, let there be erected little Pyramids with gilded Balls, or little Angels on the tops of them.

The Second Garden being of the same Di∣mensions with the first, I would have distribu∣ted into the same Order of Walks, Alleys, Bor∣ders, Grass-Plots and Fountains; only for Variety let the Grass-Plots and Alleys about them be of an Oval Figure: Also let the Bor∣ders be planted with Flowers of different kinds from those of the lower Garden, yet serving the several Months or Seasons, which may ea∣sily be done, if we except the Winter-Quar∣ter, which admits but of little Variety: And as the first were adorn'd with Ever-Greens, so let the Borders of this be adorn'd with dwarft Fruit-Trees, as Cherries, Apples, some choice Pears, &c. cut and shap'd into little round hollow Bushes: likewise to have little Lath-Walkes for Climbers or Honey-suckles, Indian Ciestes, and the like. On the sides of this Gar∣den I would have Two Terras-Walks, over-looking the Country on either side, each Walk being sixty Paces long. From this Second Garden let there be three Ascents (as from the former) landing into the third and last Gar∣den: Also about the VValls of the Terras of this second or Middle-Garden, let there be planted some sorts of Fruit-Trees, and here and there some Common Jessamines, the White and the Yellow. Trial likewise may be made of the Spanish Jessamine, and of the broad-leav'd Myrrh, as we see in the Tuilleries at

Paris, but I fear they will not resist the Inju∣ries of our Climate, tho they be fenc'd with Mattings.

The Third or last Region of our Pleasure-Garden I would have wholly to be design'd for Boscage: Only Three long Alleys run∣ning to the farther end by way of continu∣ance of those which traverse to the lower Gar∣dens. Let there be likewise up and down little private Alleys or Walks of Beech, for this is a delicate Green: Here likewise let there be Tufts of Cypress-Trees, planted in the Form of a Theater, with a Fountain at the bottom, and Statues round about; likewise Fir-Trees in some negligent Order, as also Lawrels, Phi∣lyrea's, Bays, Tumarist, the Silac Tree, Althea Fruits, Pyracanthe, Yew, Juniper, Holly, Cork Tree, and in a word, with all sorts of Winter Greens which may be made to grow, together with wild Vines, Bean-Trefoile, Spanish Ash, Horse-Chesnut, Sweet-Brier, Ho∣ney-Suckles, Roses, Almond-Trees, Mulber∣ries, &c. Also up and down let there be little Banks or Hillocks, planted with wild Thyme, Violets, Primroses, Cowslips Daffadille, Lil∣lies of the Valley, Blew-Bottles, Daisies, with all kinds of Flowers which grow wild in the Fields and Woods; as also amongst the Shades Strawberries, and up and down the Green-Walks let there be good store of Camom••le, Water-Mint, Organy, and the like; for these being trod upon, yield a pleasant Smell; and let the Walls be planted with Hedera, Cana∣densis,

and Philyrea's, &c. So that this Third Garden, Grove or Wilderness, should be made to represent a perpetual Spring; To which end and purpose let there be large Aviaries in convenient places, which should have Ever-Green Trees growing in them, especially such as bear Berries, together with little Recepta∣cles for Fresh Water. Likewise for Variety's sake, let there be here and there a Fruit-Tree, as Plumbs and Cherries, Haw-Thorn, with such like as will not run to Timber; for these Trees also have their Beauties in their several Seasons. In a word, let this Third Region or Wilder∣ness be Natural-Artificial; that is, let all things be dispos'd with that cunning, as to de∣ceive us into a belief of a real Wilderness or Thicket, and yet to be furnished with all the Varieties of Nature: And at the upper end of this Wilderness, let there be a Grate-Gate, answering the Entrance to the Garden; beyond which, and without the Territory of our Garden, let there be planted VValks of Trees to adorn the Landskip; Likewise a Bowling-Green and Poddock would be suitable to this higher Ground; and thus at length the Pro∣spect may terminate on Mountains, VVoods, or such Views as the Scituation will admit of.

Our Kitchen-Gardens are the next thing to be spoken to, and these must be double, an∣swerable to the Two Grand Apartments of the House, and are to have their place im∣mediately behind that Range of low Build∣ing

or Offices which run along the two wings of the Main Structure. The breadth of these Gardens I would have to be equal to the length of these Sides, as also of the Court-Walls, which make the Entrance to the House, and so down to the Stables, of all which by and by; so that the breadth of each Kitchen-Gar∣den will be at least One hundred and twenty Paces; and fo•• depth, more or less, as it shall seem good, there being Out-let enough and to spare out of the Space or Ground we at first allow'd, which was half a Mile every way for the Buildings and their Appurtenan∣ces.

I would have the Kitchen-Garden likewise to be divided into several Apartments, not as the Pleasure-Garden, by Ascents and different Ornaments, but by ranging or distributing the Herbs, which may serve the Occasions of the Kitchen, according to their several Uses: Odoriferous Herbs, with such as are fit for the Pot, or the Distillatory, should be in one quarter, as Thyme of all sorts, Winter-sa∣voury, Marjorum of all sorts. Sorrels, Bour∣gloss, or Langue-de▪Beuf, Borrage, Orach, Bloodwort, Cumfry, Spinage, Leeks, Onions, Garlick, Parsley, Violets, Hyssop, Staechas, Mus∣covy, Sweed-Moudlin, Southern-wood, Fennel, Baum, Angelico, Lavender, Organy, or Penny-royal, Beets of all sorts, &c. Another Quarter of the Garden should be for Roots; as Car∣rot, Scorronera, Radishes, Rom••luccio, Horse∣radish, Parsnips, Skirrets, &c. For as for Tur∣nips,

Potato's, Jerusalem-Artichokes, and the like, they are a wild sort of Fare, and may do well enough in Common Ground: And as for Beans, Pease, Worts, Cabbages, and the like, they will require more room than what we can allow them in this Place.

The Third Quarter of the Kitchen-Garden I would have assign'd for Sallad-Herbs; as Lettices of all sorts, Chervil, Burnet, Chivet, Endive, Spinage, Alisanders, Sweet-Basil, Ram∣pions, Rocket, Cellery, Sage, Corn-Salad, Pur∣sland, Cucumbers, Garden-Cress, Indian-Cress, &c. not forgetting such things as serve for Seasoning of Dishes, and our Ragousts, as Garlick, Roccombol, Eschalot, &c.

The last Quarter of our Garden, let it be for Asparagus, Cole-Flowers, Brocoli, Dutch-Savoys, Muskmelons, Artichoaks, Kidney-Beans, &c. and up and down the Beds let there be planted such common Flowers as may serve for Garniture or Shew; as Columbines, Star-wort, Flos-Solis, Holy-oaks, common Carnations, Pinks, Lilies, Gilliflowers, &c. As likewise let there be Provision made in eve∣ry Quarter for Physick-Herbs: And likewise in the Kitchen-Garden, or near it, let there be a large Recepticle of Water; in or near which let there be a quantity of rotten Horse-Dung, or Pigeons-Dung, to soak, which, after it has been heated by the Sun for some time, may serve the Occasions of the Garden. Likewise, let there be Stores or Magazines to all the Gardens, or a Compost of rotten Dung,

whether of Horse or Sheep, with Lime di∣screetly us'd, some Ashes, the Earth of rottin Wood, the Dust or Powder of old Wythies, and the like; which, after it has been well temper'd together, and thoroughly digested, (which will not be under a Year or two,) it will be still at hand to serve the Seed-Plots, and other Occasions of the Garden: And this sort of Compost will not be very apt to breed Weeds, especially if the Pots or Seed-Plots be powder'd with the Earth in the hollow of an old Tree finely sifted.

Likewise in some convenient Place without the Kitchen-Garden, there ought to be some Provision made for Cherry-Trees, Plum-Trees, Filbrids, Walnuts, Quinces, Mulber∣ries, with the like; as also for Goose-berries, Ras-berries, Currans, Straw-berries, &c. The Walls of all the Kitchen-Garden to be planted with Vines, and all sorts of Wall-Fruit. There must be likewise a Plantation or Nursery. All which, with many other things of this Na∣ture, are to be left to the Care and Conside∣ration of the Gardeners, who ought to have their Lodges near the Walls, and over-looking the several Gardens, with Postern or Privy-Doors into them, and good Mastiff-Bitches to guard them.

As for Vineyards, I account them a super∣fluous Curiositv; for they will never come to much, unless it be in a Soil, or Rising-Ground, near some great River, where the Beams of the Sun reflecting from the smooth

Surface of the Water against the neighbour∣ing Banks, may contribute something possibly, especially in a hot Season, to the Maturation of the Grapes. Besides, that in the Model I here propose, there is Wall-room sufficient to make a considerable quantity of Wine. There is one thing farther to be regarded in the Pleasure-Garden, which is, to have Seats within the Walls on every side, in the nature of Vaults or Summer-Houses, finely paved, with Arch-work, and some little rise by Steps; by which means such as walk may ease them∣selves, and enjoy either the Sun or the Shade, and be secur'd from the Annoyance of Winds and Rains, at all Seasons of the Day and of the Year. And thus much may suffice for a rude Draught of the Gardens.

We are now in the last place to consider of other Buildings, as Stables, Coach-Houses, as also of the Courts or Approaches to this Coun∣try-House. The Courts then leading to the Front ought to be two at least; the Figure or Form of them, whether square or oval, may be left to Fancy. The First or Outward-Court of Approach ought to be eighty Paces in the sides at least, with proportionable Gates of Grate-work, Walks, &c. The Walls to be planted with Philirea's, and at the Entrance two stately Pyramids of forty Foot high at least, with Angels or gilded Balls on the top, and within the Gate a convenient Lodge for the Porter, in the midst of the Grass-Plots Statues. The second Court would require to

be of the same wideness, but not of the same depth, but rather something less than the for∣mer, and to be ascended by Steps or De∣grees; at the Entrance, the Arms and Atchieve∣ments of the Family, with their Supporters, or some Figures of Gigantick Form. In the midst of the Parterrees on either hand, Foun∣tains, if there be sufficient Store of Water, with Cypress-Trees round the Borders. Through this Court we are to ascend by De∣grees or Stairs into the Dwelling-House; but the Form and Figure of such Stairs is to be left to the Architect. On the sides of the Inner-Court a Terras would be very proper, and the Walls on the Top or Crest may be adorn'd with Flower-Pots, little Pyramids, Anticks, and the like.

Next, for the Stables they are to be two, answerable to the two Apartments of the House, and they are to be plac'd at about twenty Paces distance from the ends of the first Court Walls, that there may be sufficient room for Teams to go to the back-sides of the Apartments, to serve the Occasions of the House, as I have before-mention'd; which Entrance should be of Palisade-work. Each Stable ought to contain Sixty Hor••es at least, besides Coach-Houses; over which to be Lodg∣ings for the Grooms, Coach-men, and such Foot-men, and other Servants as are appointed to attend them. Each Stable therefore will re∣quire to have a hundred Paces, if single; for as for double Stables, they are not graceful,

nor can there be sufficient room within for Provender, Harness, and other Furniture. I would likewise have some Water discharging it self into the Cisterns, at the Entrances into the Stables, as also within the Stables, for many Uses, in order to keep them neat: For the Stables to be built in a long, strait line, is not so graceful; let each Stable then consist of two Circles, in form of a Greek Gamma 〈☐〉〈☐〉, thus: For in this Position or Figure they will look like two Piles or grand Wings of Out∣building, inclosing the Approach to the House with great State: So that the two Stables ex∣tending themselves in Front on either side the Dwelling-House, the whole Front of Build∣ing, viz. Stables, Dwelling-House, with their interjacent Passages, will be about Two hun∣dred and twenty Paces wide; which interja∣cent Passages betwixt the Stables and the First or Outward-Court Walls, require, I say, to be Palisade-work; as likewise a long Pale or Rail-work of the same Figure and Shape, run∣ning across from the end of one Stable to the end of the other, with double Gates in the middle, opposite to the Entrances of the Court, would be very convenient and grace∣ful.

It will be convenient likewise for the House, as also for Strangers, if there be a pretty neat Inn built at a little distance from the end of one Stable, and this for the Accommodation of such as have recourse to my Lord; and at the like distance from the end of the other

Stable, a fair Dog-Kennel, with its Appurte∣nances and Lodings for the Keeper and Hunts∣men: Below each Stable let there be a fair Fish-Pond, for watering the Horses when they are breath'd about the Lawns; which Ponds should be grac'd with Swans and other Fowl, and be∣ing abundantly supplied with the Waters run∣ning continually from the Fountains of the Gardens and higher Grounds, will be extraor∣dinary fat from the Common Draughts and Swill of the House. I could wish, I confess, much more Fountain-Ornaments than what I speak of in this Design; but when I consider the Nature of our Climate, we cannot be so liberal this way as would otherwise be requi∣red for the Beauty of a Noble Seat: For the Frosts are long, and our Soil generally moist and weeping in the Winter; so that the Pipes will be oftentimes in disorder, and to be open∣ing the Ground perhaps under the very Foun∣dations of the Building, would be a thing of great Expence, Trouble, and Hazard; tho' it must be said too, that we having Lead in good store, such Expences will be less chargeable. Many Fountains likewise in a Garden, especi∣ally in our cold Region, will chill the Ground, and be a Hindrance to the Growth of choicer Plants, if the Water be not very carefully conveighed under Ground by Pipes accurately soldred, and of a just Diame••er: Tho' so few as are here design'd, may, without dispute, be us'd and preserv'd without any considerable Damage or Hazard, especially when we con∣sider

the declining Posture of the Ground in all the Gardens and Courts; by which means the Current will be very Natural, and one Fountain feed or supply another.

From the Dwelling-House let us, in the next place, take a Walk along the Grand A∣venue to the Gate or Entrance of the Park, of which I spake at the beginning; where must be a Grange or Farm, with other Build∣ings, for the Use and Service of our Country Mansion: For it cannot be imagin'd that the Port and Expences of a Nobleman's Family can be supplied by the Clouds, tho' they drop never so much Fatness. And the many Arti∣ficers and Labourers depending upon such a Structure, must of necessity require some suit∣able Provision to be made for them also. This Design or Building therefore which I mention in the last place, ought to be perfected in the First; forasmuch as before we build a House we ought to have a Place of Accommodation for the Workmen and Labourers who are to build it: And before any such Project be thought upon, the Undertaker ought to be provided with a Country which does abound with good store of Timber, as also with Stone, Lime, Ground fit to make Brick, and above all, as I said at the beginning, to be near a Navigable River; for without these Circumstances, so great a Design will fall to the Ground before it be brought above Ground.

At the Entrance of the Park therefore I would have a little Town or Village, con∣sisting of about thirty or forty Houses, built or rang'd in one streight Street, leading to the Park-Gate; the Building to be low, uniform, and suitable for such as may inhabite them, as Carpenters, Masons, Plaisterers, a Glasier and Plummer, Smiths, as Lock-smith, Gun-smith, and for Tools and Implements of Husbandry, a Wheelwright, Sadler, Taylor, Shooe-ma∣ker, Mercer or Chandler, a Butcher; in a word, for all sorts of Artificers and Labou∣rers, which any Nobleman's House can stand in need of. Some perhaps may think it to be more expedient to have such Artificers inroll'd in the Number of the Domesticks, or those who unite in Liveries. I grant indeed there ought to be an Imployment for every Fellow who attends upon a Nobleman, besides that of eating and drinking, and waiting upon his Lord now and then at the tail of a Coach: For there is no greater Bane to a Nobleman than to have a Troop of unprofitable, idle Lobcocks, or Rogues always at his Heels; for such being never inur'd to Labour, or Busi∣ness, when once they are purg'd out of the Family, betake themselves to Gaming, Ale∣house keeping, sharking, or padding upon the Road, or perhaps have the Honour to be knock'd on the Head in Soldiers Coats. Such Servants as these were the Dogs who devour'd Actaeon: Let them be imploy'd therefore in the Gardens, in the Kitchens, Stables,

and about the Game: For as for Artificers, if they be not in a settled Estate, such as that of Marriage, or of House-keepers, they will up∣on every turn be taking a rambling Frisk, and leave their Lord in the lurch. The best way therefore is to settle them in a Village, as I have describ'd, where they may have a com∣fortable Subsistence with their Wives and Chil∣dren, and be always at hand to serve their Pa∣tron's Occasions, and to confer with one ano∣ther upon the common Concerns of the Fa∣mily they depend on, living in a provident, industrious and reputable manner; and to this End I would not by any means have an Inn or Ale-house in any such our Village; for this will soon tempt them to Idleness and Wast: And if they were once in two Years to be rigg'd out in a Livery, 'twould add Splendour to their Lord, and be an Engage∣ment on them to stick to his Service.

In the midst of the Street I am now speak∣ing of, I would have two other Buildings on either side, running out in form of a Cross, viz. a Grauge or Farm on the one side, and on the other an Hospital, with a neat Church or Chapel, that so my Lord might remember, as he receives Blessings on the one hand, it is his Duty to repay something to God Almighty on the other.

The Grange or Farm-House should have three sides of building, and the fourth side open towards the street. I would have the Farm to Consist of Six Teems and Conse∣quently

twelve Men Servants besides a Head Bayliff or Steward to Oversee them, and to keep an Account of all the Productions of the Farm, and how deliver'd out. In this Grange there must be all Conveniencies for Maultery, Dairy, Brewing and Baking: For from hence all my Nobleman's Provisions must come as the Occasions of the house shall require, for to encumber a Palace herewith would be an Intolerable Annoyance. Besides Herds and Plowmen there must be a sufficient Number of Servants likewise for the Dairy, for Brewing, for Baking and for other occasi∣ons of the Grange, at the least eight Females, over which 'twere convenient there should be an Ancient Matron of Honesty and Experience appointed, and to Govern these Affairs. The whole Number of such Servants then cannot be less then Twenty five: All the Men Ser∣vants to lie two and two in one common Room, near whom the Head-Bayliff, or Ste∣ward rather, ought to have a sitting Lodging with a Room to keep his Accounts. The up∣per Rooms of the Grange to be for Grana∣ries, Maulting Rooms and other Store-Houses with thorough Lights: Behind the Farm-House must lie the Stable and Out-Houses rang'd in a Convenient Order, together with a large Dove-House, and Ponds for tame Fowl, and for the occasions of Cattle.

As for Orchards or Plantations of Fruit-Trees, having spoken already to this point, I shall only hint, that if the Soil were pro∣per

for it, I would have the Fruit-Trees plan∣ted in long Walks, as it is in Normandy; for this looks much more suitable to the Grandeur of a Noble Seat, tho' I fear such Trees in our Country would not be very prosperous as being too much expos'd to the weather: However, if Fruit Trees be not planted, 'twould be very Convenient and Ornamen∣tal to have such Walks in length and Cross∣ways, of Lime-Trees, Elms, Oaks, and the like: For to see the Campain without Gar∣niture would look a little too bald, and to have it choakt up with little Enclosures would look too Yeoman-like, and would be a distur∣bance to Recreations of the Field, as Hawk∣ing and Hunting, and be stoppage also to the wholsome Air, and to the Prospect of the remoter Countrys.

There must likewise be store of Fish-Ponds: For there will be sufficient Water for these, running daily from the Gardens and Offices of the Palace and the Ground about it. The Fish-Ponds must be design'd one below another, some for stews, some for feeding, and some for spawning. The Spawning-Pools must be but little, and every Three years New ones to be made in another place: For in a little piece of Ground freshly broke up, Fish will mul∣tiply prodigiously for the First year, the next year less, and in the third year the Spawning-Pool will be good for little, the strength and Nutritive Virtue of the fresh Earth being spent.

Amongst our Pools, I would have one if possible for Pikes; for 'tis an excellent Fish, tho' destructive of the other Fry, nor apt to thrive in a Pond unless fed with a good Current. Carps, Tench, Perch, Roch and Gudgeons should be the main Stock of our Pools; and one Caution ought to be given viz. Never to break the Ice in case of a se∣vere Frost, which Thing indeed is Contrary to the Common Practice: For I found by Experience, that in the year 1683 (one of the severest for Frost we have ever known in England) that all my Fish died in those Ponds where I brake the Ice, only in a lit∣tle Pool or Pit which I took no care of, believing it to be frozen to the Bottom, there the Fish all escap'd and grew Extraordinary: The Reason for their Growth was the same with that for there Preservation: For as I conceive, there are many nitrous particles or kinds of spirits issuing continually through the Body of the Earth, from which nitrous Exhalations or Atoms all Things derive a seminal virtue, and have there accretion; so that the Rigorous Season sealing up all the Exteriour Passages and Pores of the Earth, and covering the Water too with a thick coat of Ice, impenetrable by the Air, and through which such Exhalations cannot pass, the Fish by this means receive much more Nourishment than at other Times, the Bot∣toms and Sides of the Pool which lie under the Ice being free to admit of such perspir••ti∣on

which cannot fly out into the open Air as at other times, by reason of the congeal'd Surface of the Water; and this is the true Reason of Juvenal's Observation of some sorts of Fish that they were longo frigore pingues; and upon the same Account it is likewise that Fish are found in the Northern Seas in much greater Numbers and of a larger Bulk than in the Southern. And truly I can averr it upon my own Experience, that after the se∣vere Winter before-mention'd, when the Ice was thaw'd, I took out of my Pools Carps big with Spawn some 14 some 16 Inches long, which the Summer before were not above 4 or 5 Inches in length; so that they grew 10 or 11 Inches, or better, in Eight Months space, which could proceed from nothing but the Extremity of the Cold. The Reason why Fish turn up their Bellies and die upon the breaking of a Pool, is this: When a hole is made in the Ice, the compress'd Water flows out thereat in a full Stream or Gush: This Motion of the Water upon the Inlet of fresh Air draws the Fish to the breach from out of there Banks or Holds where they lay warm, tho much incommoded for want of Air, which the closeness of the surface would not allow them: Coming therefore to the broken places for Respiration, the excessive coldness of the Air presently be numming them, and de∣prives them of sense and afterwards of life: This they who pretend to stealing of Fish understand too well, and the less the hole

is, so a man can but turn and wind his hand in it, the greater will be the crowd of Fish about it, and consequently they will fall more easily within the Clutches of such Fish-Mongers. There's no Expedient therefore better than not to break the Ice at all in case of an extraordinary Frost. As for other Observations relating to a Farm, they have been breifly glanc'd upon in the foregoing Chapters.

From the Grange or Farm-House, let us cross over the way towards the Church or Hospital: let the Hospital then consist of two sides, one for Maim'd or Aged Men, whe∣ther Widowers or such as were never Married: The other side for Women under the same circumstances, whether Virgins or Widows; for married Couples will never accord with the Orders of a Publick Hospital. Let there be Chambers for Twelve Men and for as many Women their Cells to be on the Ground-Floor, let each Cell consist of Two little Rooms with convenient Out-let and a little Garden. On each side of the Hospital let there be a little Refectory where they shall Eat in a Collegiate way, with a Com∣mon Kitchen and Cellar to each side like∣wise: All to be manag'd by the care of some pious decay'd Gentlewoman or Matron with her Servants, which Matron or Governess also is to have convenient Lodgings and Maintenance for her Care and Labour.

At the upper Side and in the Front of this Hos∣pital, but at some convenient distance from it, let there be a little Church or Chapel, competently endow'd for the maintenance of a grave and pious Divine, who may have his Lodgings at the end of the old Mens Apartment and towards the Church. 'Tis his business to read Prayers twice a day in the Church, to observe the Fasts and Feasts as they are appointed in the Liturgy; as also to Instruct the Members of the Hospital, together with the Youth of the Village or Neighbourhood, in a vertuous way, and to preach likewise on Sundays. I would not have such a Person to be incumbred with Tythes, but to be provided for by a Salary, or by the Annexing of some part of the Parochial Dues for his Support, by the Favour and Authority of the Bishop, or in case it should be an Impropriation (as generally it happens in all the Capital Mannours of great Noblemen) it would be in the Power, I may say it would be the Duty, of such a Patron to make all suitable Provision, annexing the Parsonage to such a Church.

As for making such a Village to be a Market Town or to have the benefit of Fairs, I do not much approve of it: Such a Design indeed would draw more concourse of People, but withall 'twould make the place more noisie and dirty, and divert the Inhabitants from attending the Service of their Soul, however it might tend to their own private Profits and Advantage: For so it is, that I would have all the Families of this little Village to be maintain'd by thier Labour in the Employment and Services of him to whom they do belong, who likewise, as such Artificers or Labourers do decay in Age and Fortune, may dispose of them into his Hospital, there to end there days in Piety and Peace.

Thus have I made a rough Draught or Design of a Country-House according to the Idea in my own Mind: It is not my business to warrant this Model by all the Rules of Architecture and o•• Art. 'Tis sufficient to my purpose that I have given a General Scheme, which, with a little Amendments or Altera∣tion, will stand together in some tolerable Figure, and answer our Expectation as to the Innocent Pleasures and Delights which the Country can af∣ford.

'Tis True, all Countrys do not afford us the Na∣tural Advantages for such a Seat as I have now discrib'd; nor indeed are there many Persons to be found who have such a largness of Mind and For∣tune as to undertake and finish a Design of such ex∣pence. However, some their are, who as there Fortunes lie without the streighter limits of Anxi∣ety and Care, so are they privileg'd from the Vex∣ations of a Busie Life, and have therefore Means and Leisure in some measure or other to employ their Time, and to spend their days amidst the Enjoyments of Retreat.

What is said in this kind is not to be understood in Justification of those who abandon themselves to a supine and sleepy course of life, retiring to their Country-Houses as to a Seraglio, where they pass their Time in all manner of Sensuality, or Beastiality rather, as did Sardanapalas of old, and Tiberius in the Isle of Copias, sheltring their enormous Lusts from the Observation of the World under the Masque of a sequester'd life. No, no; such Brutes have always met with their Rewards, feeding and fatning within their Stys in order only to their Slaughter: The True design then of such Places of Pleasure and Re∣treat is to sweeten the Fatigues both of the Body and of the Mind, and to recover us to our former Bent of Duty, which is but in some measure to re∣store Man to his lost Station: For God doubtless

would never have placed him in a Paradise, had not a Garden of Pleasure been Consistent with Innocence; which being once forfeited, to drudge and labour amongst the Thorns and Briers were to be his Pu∣nishment, and even the very Employment of his life. Solomon, after he had built stately Palaces a∣dorn'd with Orchards, Vineyards, Pools, Gardens, and with other Ornaments of Pomp and Grandeur tells us, Eccles. 2. That all this was done by him even then when he was under the conduct of Wis∣dom; which shews plainly, that the greatest Souls, and such as are divinely inspir'd, may seek content from Temporal Blessings, tho' with Solomon too they must Remember, that all such Delights are Vanity, as are all other contrivances and enjoyments whatsoever compar'd with what is truly durable and solid.

Some Men who are born to great Fortunes may not have those Qualifications which may recommend them to Publick Employments, or Offices of State: They may want an Insinuating Address, Heat of Spi∣rit, Boldness, or perhaps a ready and refin'd Capa∣city to understand Intrigues, and to turn and wind through all the Labyrinths of a Court: Or if they ••e duly qualified, they may have perhaps more Pru∣dence then to hazard the Fortunes they were born to upon the slippery Chances of a State-Interest, or upon the Unconstant Favours of a Prince who may himself ••e the Sport possibly of Fortune; or per∣adventure, tho they be never so happy in the Air of a Court, they may still be obnoxious to popular Disgusts, which generally prove fatal. They indeed who have little to lose may venture, and possibly make there Fortunes: But one born to a flourish∣ing Estate, can rarely improve his Fortune this way, but after all his Travels and Services is in a very fair Post of wasting it. How many are there of these seeming-happy Darlings, both Princes and Sub∣jects,

who sink every day under the weight of their Golden Chains? or if they arrive through a con∣tinual Series of Honours and Success to old Age, yet then how grateful must it be to humane Nature, overworn with Business to find a place of Repose! So that the ablest Statesmen, even in the highest Tide of Prosperity, are glad to recollect there Spi∣rits a little by withdrawing themselves ever and anon from the Noise, Ceremonies, and Intrigues of a splended but fallacious Attendance, where they themselves waste there Days, and I may say Nights too in contriving to undermine Others, who at the same Time are no less vigilant to return the like Kindness into their own Bosoms: Whereas a Noble∣man or a Gentleman in his Country-House has all within his Territory at his Command, and in sub∣jection either to his Courtesie or Power. He wants no Pleasure which Man can reasonably propose. His Enjoyments are without Competition or Jea∣lousie, and such as advance the Health of his Body as well as the Content of his Mind: He lies out of sight of those more Expensive Temptations to which a City-Conversation is Obnoxious, and in lieu thereof lets the Overflowings of his Estate spread it self in a laudable Hospitality, by which he creates to himself a firm Interest in the Affections of his Country, which will be always at hand to second him upon occasion. Besides; it looks great in a Man, and carries something of a divine Cha∣racter stampt upon it, to be able to frame a Build∣ing after the Idea he has within himself; that is, to be able to give a durable Existence to something which was not before, and to adorn it with all the Graces of Symmetry and Beauty.

And if he be a Man of a Contemplative Genius, the Seat of his House cannot but suggest manlike Thoughts. The same Eminence of Ground which displays the Beauties of the Earth by day entertains

him with a much larger and more beautiful Pro∣spect of the Heavens by night, which may direct his desires towards a more glorious and more la∣sting Mansion. The Variety of Flowers beautiful and fragrant, with which his Gardens are adorn'd, opening themselves and dying one after another, must admonish him of the fading state of Earthly Pleasures, of the frailty of life, and of the suceed∣ing Generations to which he must give place. The constant Current of a Fountain or Rivolet must mind him of the Flux of Time which never returns, nor causes to run on, till it ends in Immensity. But if he find Fastidiousness amidst Fruition, •••• it happens usually in the greatest Pleasures (those ex∣cepted of the Mind) he may then recollect him∣self and think, That since such Pleasures are unsa∣tisfactory and transitory, the Mind is yet capable of farther-Enjoyments more durable and sincere, which since it cannot meet with amidst earthly Di∣virtisements, it must look for a plentiful Enter∣tainment in another Region.

Upon this Consideration, doubtless, 'twas that many brave Men, especially of the middle Age (so much Condemn'd as it was for Blindness and Super∣stition) did voluntarily exchange the Pomp and Grandeur of Life for the surest and chast Delights of Retirement; and even at this day we may observe how the most rigid Orders of the Monastick State or Institution do sweeten all their Severities with the calm and Innocent Refreshments of a Garden. So that the little Partitions of a Carthusian's Cell may yield as much Pleasure and Content to a ver∣tuous Mind as the Stupendious Fabricks, of the Lowre and the Escurial: For to speak truly, when we converse daily with Noble Structures, our Ad∣miration becomes less by Acquaintance; so that 'tis not their Greatness but their Order which does ravish the Thought; which Beauty of Order may be

found in a little Model, as well as in the Volumi∣nous Contrivances of Art. The little Wren has its pretty curious Nest proportionable to its Body and Nature, and tho' humbly built, yet is it fram'd with as much accurateness, perhaps with more then that of the Eagle in the high Rocks, and on the Top of Mountains bordering on the Clouds.

A little, well design'd House, neatly kept, and feated in a good Air and a dry Soil, as likewise on the side of a Hill, with a shady Wood or Grove about it, and a pretty Spring or running Stream before it, may afford infinite delight to one who may carry a Generous and high born Soul under the Circumstances of a narrow Fortune. The Neigh∣bouring Wood, as it yields him Fuel against the Severities of Winter, defends him from many a cold Storm and Blast; so does it relieve him by its Shades against the scorching Sun in Summer, and is to him as a continual Aviary. The sweet Stream running by his door serves not only the occasions of life, but murmuring amongst the Pebbles makes a grateful warbling noise altogether as pleasing, tho' not so thundering, as that of the Girandola. The Industry and Working of his little Bees, their elaborate Cells, with their constant Intercourse, may be as much Diversion to him, as it may be to the greatest Prince living to have the constant Visit of Friends with their numerous Trains about the Gates of his Palace. A Person of such an humble but advantageous Post is at no expence nor-labour to suck in the wholsome Air; it comes into his doors freely, and of its own accord. The neigh∣bouring Banks and Thickets yield him sweet smel∣ling Flowers and Turfs suitable to the several sea∣sons of the year, and for the service of Nature: His little Flocks of Sheep, with other such like Ani∣mals, requite his Care with constant supplies of Food and Raiment: All which and many other De∣lights,

attend him constantly without charge and travel, without disturbance and fear, without sneek∣ing Attendance, Flattery and Envy, being plac'd in that middle Region of Happiness which lies above Oppression and Necessity, and below the Menaces and Storms to which higher Fortunes are expos'd. And if an open Prospect can yield Content, he is abundantly rewarded with the various Scenes of the under spacious Valley, where he beholds num∣berless Objects, with the remoter Seats and Habi∣tations of others, chequer'd with light and shadows, answerable to the course of the Clouds and break∣ings-out of the Sun: All which succeeding one ano∣ther in a constant Flux, cannot but shew him the Mutability of Fortune, or the Interchanges of Pro∣sperity and Adversity to which the World under us is subject; and by this means he may reap in∣struction for future Occurrences, whilst he enjoys the Blessings of his present Condition, and in his little Circle be as perfectly charm'd as he who is surrounded with the unmeasurable Blessings of Na∣ture and Fortune, and with all the Contrivances of Art.