It is almost
impossible to describe this garden, it is so full of variety and
unevenesse; nay, it would be a difficult matter for a good artist to
make a draught of it. About An°. 1686, the right honourable James
Earle of Abingdon [who had become possessed of the estate in right of
his wife], built a noble portico, full of water workes, which is on
the north side of the garden, and faceth the south. It is both portico
and grott, and was designed by Mr. Rose, of ...... in Oxfordshire.
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Wilton Garden was the third garden after these two of the Italian
mode; but in the time of King Charles the Second gardening was much
improved and became common. I doe believe I may modestly affirme that
there is now, 1691, ten times as much gardening about London as there
was Anno 1660 ; and wee have been, since that time, much improved in
forreign plants, especially since about 1683, there have been exotick
plants brought into England no lesse than seven thousand. (From Mr.
Watts, gardener of the Apothecary's garden at Chelsey, and other
botanists.)
As for Longleate Garden it was lately made. I have not seen it, but
they say 'tis noble.
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Till the breaking out of the civill warres, Tom ? Bedlam's did travell
about the countrey. They had been poore distracted men that had been
putt into Bedlam, where recovering to some sobernesse they were
licentiated to goe a begging: e.
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