But the first peer
that stored his garden with exotick plants was William Earle of
Salisbury, [1612-1668] at his garden at [Hatfield? - J. B.] a catalogue
whereof, fairly writt in a skin of vellum, consisting of 830 plants,
is in the hands of Elias Ashmole, Esq. at South Lambeth.
But 'twas Sir John Danvers, of Chelsey, who first taught us the way of
Italian gardens. He had well travelled France and Italy, and made good
observations. He had in a fair body an harmonicall mind. In his youth
his complexion was so exceeding beautiful and fine that Thomas Bond,
Esq. of Ogbourne St. .... in Wiltshire, who was his companion in his
travells, did say that the people would come after him in the street
to admire him. He had a very fine fancy, which lay chiefly for gardens
and architecture.
The garden at Lavington in this county, and that at Chelsey in
Middlesex, as likewise the house there, doe remaine monuments of his
ingenuity. The garden at Lavington is full of irregularities, both
naturall and artificiall, sc. elevations and depressions. Through the
length of it there runneth a fine cleare trowt stream; walled with
brick on each side, to hinder the earth from mouldring down. In this
stream are placed severall statues. At the west end is an admirable
place for a grotto, where the great arch is, over which now is the
market roade. Among severall others, there is a very pleasant
elevation on the south side of the garden, which steales, arising
almost insensibly, that is, before one is aware, and gives you a view
over the spatious corn-fields there, and so to East Lavington: where,
being landed on a fine levell, letteth you descend again with the like
easinesse; each side is flanqued with laurells.
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