William Harrison, Rector of Radwinter, and Canon of Windsor, who wrote
“A Description of England” contained in “Holinshed’s Chronicles,” has
already been referred to. He was a most observant man and one who in his
own picturesque language “had an especiall eye unto the truth of
things”; from 1586 to 1593 he was Canon of Windsor, and therefore
anything he has to say about gardens is of unusual interest. His keen
patriotism shines brightly through all his writings, and his high
opinion of his own land is not in any way reduced when he comes to
discourse upon gardens, for he writes: “I am persuaded that, albeit the
gardens of the Hesperides were in times past so greatly accounted of,
because of their delicacy, yet, if it were possible to have such an
equal judge as by certain knowledge of both were able to pronounce upon
them, I doubt not but he would give the prize unto the gardens of our
days, and generally over all Europe, in comparison of those times
wherein the old exceeded.”
Early in the succeeding century, however, we come upon some more
positive evidence of the use of Topiary work. Lawson, in 1618, shows
more clearly that Topiary had become an important branch of the art of
gardening, and that the designs carried out by some of the artists were,
to say the least of it, remarkable. As indicative of the progress
already made, he states: “Your gardener can frame your lesser wood to
the shape of men armed in the field, ready to give battell: or
swift-running Grey Hounds to chase the Deere, or hunt the Hare. This
kind of hunting shall not waste your corne, nor much your coyne.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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