apricote, peach, plumb, necktarine, w^{ch} spread but not very high;
between Each is a cherry stript up to the top and spreads, Composeing an
arch over the others. There are borders of flowers round and a handsome
Gravel round. The Grass plott is Large; in the middle a little Gravel in
an oval or round, where is a Large fountain of stone full of stone
Images to spout the water. This Garden is the breadth of the dwelleing
house—the dineing roome and drawing roome Looke into it.
Out of this (which is ffenced by a breast wall w^{th} jron pallasadoes
painted blew w^{th} Gilt topp) you ascend severall stepps through an
jronwork’d gate to a ground divided into Long grass walks, severall of
w^{ch} ascends y^e hill and between the Ground improv’d w^{th} Dwarfe
trees of ffruite and flowers and greenes in all shapes, intermixt w^{th}
beds of strawberyes for ornament and use. Thus to another bank w^{th}
stepps to a Green Cross walke, and then more trees and devices. Thence
to two mounts cut smoothe—between is a Cannall. These mounts are
severall stepps up under which are jce houses; they are a square fflatt
on the top ffenced with banks round and seates, beyond which is a summer
house in a tree, which shews a great way off the Country. There are Low
Cut hedges on Each bank, and painted sticks w^{th} Gilt tops in y^e
greens and flower potts, and thus is one terrass above another. Over
their stables are Chambers for y^e men, over the Kitchen and Dairy and
buttery and scullery are roomes for Laundry, and for the maids.
S^r Thomas Cooke’s house has such an Enclosed walk before the gate,
w^{th} swinging gates at Each End and a Larger in the middle.
Without it is a Row of oakes w^{th} thick heads w^{ch} makes it very
shady. You Enter a Close gate into a Court, w^{th} a broad paved walk
between two Large Grass-plotts, besett w^{th} Green Cyprus yew and holly
in Piramids, and two Large Statues in the middle, the wall Clothed
w^{th} box holly filleroy cut even. The ffront is two juttings out at
the Ends flatt in the middle Like a half Roman H. You Rise a step or two
into a good Hall pav’d w^{th} black and white marble, the sides painted
black and white resembling nitches or arches for seates. On the Right
hand is a good Dineing roome wanscoated oake without varnish, the
pannell Large, and within a drawing roome w^{ch} Lookes into the garden,
wanscoated. Over, Right, another square one. Between these runs an
Entry, where in are Closets, and y^e Butlers office, to y^e Kitchen and
offices, into y^e Stable, Coach yard and into a Laundry Court. In the
Middle ffronting y^e Entrance is a Door into y^e garden. Just by is a
Servants hall and way to y^e Cellars under. The Great Staires noble and
Lofty, all wanscoate, hung w^{th} very good pictures. Above in the
rooffe is frettwork and an oval Curiously painted with angells and
ffigures.
Here are two very Good appartments, bed Chambers dressing-roome, Closets
and presses; besides there are two other good Chambers w^{th} Closets,
and one Large roome—y^e frame of y^e Chimney piece carv’d with all
variety of fruites, herbes &c painted proper and all hollow work. Very
good Pictures in all y^e roomes over Chimneys and doores, all fix’d into
y^e wanscoate,—noe ffurniture. There is a very good p^r of back staires
goes hence up to y^e Garret’s, one very Large, 6 other, besides Little
room. There you ascend into a Cupilow, windows round shews a vast
prospect of the place; from thence you may descend another such a good
p^r of back staires to y^e kitchen. The Garden is in forme as M^r Ruth’s
first flatt, but Larger, w^{th} a Larger fountaine, walled in w^{th}
ffree stone, a pedistal w^{th} Little Cupids and Dolphins and shells on
w^{ch} are Images, and on y^e top a Crown made all to spout out water.
The walls full of fruite, in y^e middle you ascend severall stepps to a
bank on w^{ch} are jron painted pallasadoes w^{th} Gilt top; gates to
the same. Here is a Large square w^{th} green walks and gravell and
ovall in the middle, with devices of Little paths of gravell to Cut the
grass into shapes, squares and 3 squares. In the middle stands a
Gladiator on a pedistal, and on y^e walls are Cupids at each riseing of
the walls for the bank. On the Left side is a summer house w^{th} paints
of the seasons of y^e yeare. Thence into another Garden for kitchen
stuff and hott beds, with convenient houses. From this great fflatt you
ascend severall stepps at three places—equal distance, and then Long
green walks between borders of strawberies, dwarf trees, and some w^{th}
green squares sett with Cyprus, Mirtle, yew, Holly cut fine and flowers,
thus three severall bancks, the spaces so adorn’d. Then you pass on to a
long green walke, the Right side or End is a fine summer house, the bank
all along guarded with dwarffe trees; the other to y^e field side rowes
of tall walnuts, with quick sett hedges cutt. This Carryes on not only
the breadth of the house but the Length of the whole ground, w^{ch} is
for y^e other garden for use; and just at the End of the pleasure garden
begins a Large and Long pond or Cannall—y^e Length of the walke, w^{ch}
is its bank cut fine. There is another great pond on the Right side of
the house, and two more in the grounds belonging to it on the Left.
M^{rs} Steeven has a very pretty neate house and gardens, before the
doore is a part railed in as before, only this is Close at Each end
w^{th} high wall and seates. In the middle is a gate w^{ch} Leads to the
gate of the Court, grass walled round, a broad pavement to the house,
and round Stepps—4 or 5. You Enter into a passage w^{ch} Leads to a
little parlour, thence a step or two down to an Entry, w^{ch} Leads away
to a Little Court or passage, which runs to the streete and back to y^e
garden.
On one side is a building, a summer parlour for a still roome, w^{th}
brick kitchen and offices and Coach house and stables, w^{th} Chambers
over for the men. There is in the first parlour a Large Closet, on the
Left is a Large parlour and drawing-roome, all very neate and well
wanscoated. Under the staircase is a little roome for a butler, thence
the staires to the Cellars; this is between the back staires w^{ch} are
very good and light, and wanscoated up to the garrets, and the great
staires w^{ch} are very handsome painted white, the Rooffe an oval of
Cupids. Here are two handsome Chambers with dressing-roomes and light
and dark Closets and presses. Next floore is to such appartments againe.
Over all are three good Garrets and two roomes for stores, and it is
sashed up to the top w^{th} Low windows to sit in. Every Corner is
improved for Cupboards and necessarys, and the doores to them made
suiteable to y^e wanscoate. The garden goes out opposite to y^e Entrance
the walls full of all fruite neately kept. Here are six Grass walks
three and three, guarded w^{th} dwarfe fruite trees, a Large gravell
walk round by the wall, and gravell between Each Grass walk. The front
is a breast wall w^{th} a yew hedge cut neate, and jron pallisadoes
painten and Gilt tops, with gates Leading to another Garden of grass Cut
in shapes and knotts, w^{th} flowers and all sorts of greens cut in
shapes, w^{th} paths of Gravel to fform them. On the Left side a
Coddling hedge secured a walke of orange and Lemmon trees in perfection.
This is Closed with a green house all the breadth of the garden, through
w^{ch} you Enter another of fflowers; thence into orchard and kitchen
garden w^{ch} is Cast in Exact forms to Look neate. In the green Garden
was Large alloes plants and all sorts of Perpetualls as well as
annualls.
There are abundance of houses built of brick, with fine gardens and
Courts, w^{th} open gates and railes to view, w^{ch} are used as
Lodgings for the Company; and now the wells are built about, and a Large
Light roome to walk in brick’d, and a pump put on the well. A Coffee
house and two roomes for gameing, and shops for sweetmeates and fruite.
Monday morning is their day, the Company meete and then they have some
Little diversion, as raceing of boys or Rabbets or Piggs. In the Evening
the company meete in the Greenes, first in the upper Green many steps
up, where are Gentlemen Bowling, Ladyes walking. There are Little Shopps
and a gameing or danceing roome, the same man at the wells keepes it,
sells Coffee there also. The Lower green is not farr off—just in the
heart of the town: its a much neater green and warmer. The whole side of
this is a very Large roome w^{th} Large sashe windows to the green,
w^{th} Cusheons in the windows and seates all along. There are two
hazard boards; at the End is a Milliner and China Shop, this is
belonging to the Great tavern or Eateing house, and all the Length of
this roome to the street ward is a Piaza wall, and a row of trees Cutt
and platted together as the ffashion of the place, w^{th} tops running
up a top with heads. The Crosse in the Streete has a Good Clock.
On the hill where is the race posts they have made a ring as in Hide
Parke, and they Come in Coaches and drive round, but it is only Lords
day nights and some nights. There has been 40 Coaches and six which are
the Gentlemen in the County round, and 20 and 2 horses. The Company in
y^e town Epshum shall be Clutter’d w^{th} Company from Satturday to
Tuesday and then they many times goe, being so neare London, so come
againe on more Satturdays.
Ffrom Epsham I went to Banstead where the parson of the Parish has
diverted himself in his garden these fifty yeares, is now old and
doates, but has Curious hedges, one Garden w^{th} Grass plotts and Earth
walks Cut and wedd. His grass plotts has stones of divers fformes and
sizes which he names Gods and Goddesses; and hedges and arbours of thorn
soe neately Cut, and in all ffigures in great rounds. One is a Large
arbour: You Enter a straite passage as unto a Cell, but within a roome,
round y^t by a narrow Entry you Come to a Large Square with trees and
seates, all quick sett hedges cut fine. One is a tree w^{ch} the ivy has
Covered and there are staires up directly upright, and on y^e top is an
Eight square Bench—round, the Green grows up Close about it cut even,
this he Calls “Tenneriff” being in that fform. Next it is another tree,
there is a fflatt and on it is a table or stoole on w^{ch} is a Great
white stone in form of some statue that apole w^{th} 9 stones round less
the muses—this is Parnassus. There are severall heads painted w^{ch} are
named Mogul Grand Seignior, Cham of Tartary, Zarr of Muscovy, placed in
severall places. Another Garden is Grass plotts w^{th} yews and holly
Lawrells, round this on the bank is sett stones very thick, some very
much bigger for officers, this is the whole Confederate army and their
Generalls. Here is a trumpeter, Hercules and Bacchus and a hedge of
Lawrell 7 foote broad. Here are also two trees Cover’d with Ivy and
thorne Cut smooth and made in ffashion of two great pillars for Hercules
pillars. There is in y^e middle some platted together and makes a Cover
to a seate below, and there is a Rose Cut out—you may talk as under the
Rose. In his house he has many Curiosetyes of stones, one like a brick
of bread, another Like a shoulder of mutton, a piece of wood from an old
tree as Like a mounteer capp w^{th} a button on the top, another like a
furbellow’d peticoat, another stone like an apple paired and a piece Cut
out and grown Deadish—its said this is Petrify’d into stone as the moss
in Knarsborough and the wood at Apsley in Bedfordshire; here were many
Shells, Birds, jndian shoes, bootes, purses &c.
Ffrom Epsham to Leatherhead 3 mile, we pass by S^r Robert Howards which
I have described. Here is a little town where they make much Leather,
and other little trades, many Butchers which supply Epsham. Here it is
that the water which sinks away at Swallow hole at Mole under Box Hill
which is 7 mile off, and here it Bubbles up in twenty places from a
hill, and Compases a great river half a mile off, over which a long
bridge of 14 great arches of stone by their Height shews sometimes the
water to be very deep. A little farther its so deep as cannot be
fforded, here the Channell is not so broad, only four Large Arches. We
goe over thence a mile and halfe to M^r Moores ffine house on a hill,
its built w^{th} brick and stone Coyned, and the windows Stone, nine
sashes to the Garden; the jutting out in the middle is three windows.
The top is in a peak painted frisco, and a Cornish round on Each side; a
low building Each End Like Wings w^{th} same Cornish Leaded and flower
potts on it, w^{ch} are the offices on one Side, and Lead to a summer
House and backward to the private Entrance, a Court y^t you ascend by
steps of stone and jron barristers with turnings and halfe paces to the
part of y^e house in Constant use. The ffront in the Entrance is as the
Garden, only here are but Eight windows, only two in the middle jutting
the top, and that here you see not those two Low wings. You Enter by the
Church yard, noe great Court or roome for it, a very Little court w^{ch}
on the right hand Leads into y^e garden on a banck green walke, to a
seate or summer house finely painted and stands on four pillars. Within
this Leads into a gravel walk w^{ch} goes round y^e first Garden. The
summer house you might pass through to the same green banck walk, which
Leads to a broad Grass walk on the right hand up the hill near a quarter
of a mile, Each side planted w^{th} trees, and y^e ground some for
kitchen gardens orchards hott beds. The top of the hill has two white
seates and a summer house, this has white open gates, Large as the walk.
Here is a very fine pond runs across the breadth of the gardens and
orchards. The Garden at the house is all flatt, much in Grass walks and
bancks sett w^{th} green, most yews. There is a great gravel walk to the
fountain from the middle of the house, w^{ch} is filled by a Long
Cannall as broad as the walk; at the farther End is a trion gilt, with a
horn w^{ch} can blow the water 20 yards. Here are seates on the bancks,
and y^e ground is set much in Grass walks w^{th} dwarfe greens, which
Cutts the grass plotts into four, which are Cutt into fflower deluces
and Severall Devices w^{th} paths of Gravell, borders of mould, in which
are greens of all sorts, Piramids and then round jnterchangeable. Beyond
this is another space as Large, w^{th} a round space w^{th} a Large
stone ffigure, and severall Less ffigures of brass in the little squares
and strapps of grass, w^{ch} was fform’d by Cross and round gravell
walks. There is two broad Gravell walks runns aslaunt like two wings
from the first garden, as it were parrallel w^{th} the Cannall, and
these terminate in a wood w^{ch} has a Glide through trees Cut aslant,
agreable to the walks to give the view quite to Hampton town.
* * * * *
Thence to Hampton Court by Kingston 6 mile, all by the park, the palace
Enters just by the Thames. On the gate is Lyon, Unicorn and fflower
potts, the Starre and garter and Draggon y^e thistle and rose Carv’d.
Here is a space where the Stables on one side and houses for suttlers
for to provide for the servants. The front is in a Demy Circle—At the
gates four towers of Brick. Beyond the half moone are two straite
buildings in w^{ch} are gates, at the Ends two such brick towers, soe
you Enter through those four towers. The guard Court on the Left goes to
y^e old Buildings. On the Right you enter a long paved Entry; on one
side are Lodgings, at the End are Cloysters round a Court which has a
Large ffountaine in Grass, and at Each Corner a painted post for balls
or Statues. The grass is planted round with Lawrell and yew, ffilleroy
and Cyprus, cut a round head, and a Piramid. The Cloysters Lead to the
royal Staircase which is very Lofty and spacious w^{th} arches for
seates, the steps jron railes Carv’d and gilt, the wall black and gold
painted w^{th} armory like a wanscoate. Over that is Curious paintings,
the twelve Cæsars, over that the banquet of the Gods, all at Length,
with Ceres over y^e side board w^{th} plenty. The rooffe is angells and
Cherubims, the ffront on the halfe pace is Julian and the spectre that
appear’d to him, in a tent of green, the Curtain drawn soe bold as if
real w^{th} gold ffringe. Here you Enter y^e guard Chamber adorn’d with
pikes, Halberts, Biounetts Daggers and Pistolls and gunns, w^{th}
Bandeleers or pouches for amunition, all set in workes and ffigures
about the Wanscoate, over y^e Chimney Pistolls and Daggers sett like the
starre in the garter. Thence you go into an anty room hung w^{th}
tapestry, thence into y^e Common audience roome where was a throne and
Cannopy, crimson Damaske with Gold ffringe; the form the same round the
roome. Here was King Charles y^e firsts Picture on horseback over the
mantlepiece. All the rooffes of the roomes are Curiosly painted w^{th}
different storyes. Out of this you Enter the Grand state roome which has
King Williams Picture at Length on the Mantlepiece, ffine Pictures over
all doores and Carvings in wood. The throne and Cannopy here was Scarlet
velvet with Rich Gold orrice and window Curtains. Thence into the
dineing roome where hangs in y^e middle a Chrystall Branch for Candles.
Its hung with tapistry, I think its here the Queen of Bohemias Picture
is over the Chimney piece—Sophia’s mother. The window Curtaines flower’d
Crimson Damaske w^{th} gold ffringe; thence the drawing roome w^{ch} has
a Silver branch in the middle, and sconces and Queen Marys Picture—here
is Crimson velvet. Out of this is the presence Chamber w^{th} a Low
screen across the roome to keep company off the bed w^{ch} is scarlet
velvet w^{th} gold orrice and hung w^{th} fine tapistry. Out of y^e
bedchamber goes the dressing roome hung w^{th} yellow damaske and
Chaires the same. Here was the queen mother Dutchess of Yorks Picture
over the Chimney, here is a doore into the private Lodgings where there
is 2 bed Chambers, one Jndian Embroydery the other a mixt damaske; and
Closets and antyroomes to the galleryes and backstaires.
Out of the dressing roome is the Queens Closet, the hangings, Chaires,
Stooles and Screen the same, all of satten stitch done in worsteads,
beasts, birds, jmages and ffruites all wrought very ffinely by Queen
Mary and her maids of honour.
From thence into a Large Long gallery Wanscoated, and pictures of all
the Roman warrs on one side, the other side was Large Lofty windows, two
marble tables in two peers w^{th} two great open jarrs on Each side,
Each table two such; at the End the same for to put potts of orange and
mirtle trees in. The window Curtaines and couches or fformes all green
and white rich damaske.
Out of this into a Long gallery, plain wanscoate without any adornment,
which is for people to waite in, Either of the servants of the houshold
or who waites in buissness of the ordinary sort, and here are doores
that Lead to the back staires and to private Lodgings. This Leads at the
End into the part was design’d for the Kings side, into a noble Gallery
w^{th} Curious Pictures of y^e scriptures painted by the Carthusion.
The King of Ffrance offer’d 3000 pound apiece for them, or indeed any
money. Here are green and white Damaske window Curtaines and Couches as
the other was. This Leads to roomes not ffinished in the same number as
on the queen’s side—one is begun to be painted on the top. The sides of
the walls are painted just Like pieces of tapestry here is Prince
Georges picture at Length, w^{th} his Dukall Corronet, and an Anchor as
High Admirall, and thus to the other roomes, to y^e guardroome and Royal
Staircase as on the Queens side, but none here ffinish’d. The Leads
gives a vast sight all about of the parke and gardens, the ffront of the
house to the garden has four Large stone ffigures Hercules, jupiter,
Mars, Neptune.
There is a long Cannall runs from the ffront a great way, and a Large
ffounttaine next the house in the first garden, w^{th} a broad Gravell
and a Cross. till I came almost to Windsor—I drove by some of the
fforest and the parke and came in another way into town by y^e Castle
across K: Charles’s Walk. jn the Castle yard is a Little box the queen
has bought of Lord Godolphin. The garden joyns to the Duke of S^t Albans
for a little retreate out of y^e Palace. You Enter a Brick Court, on the
Left is a Little Guard roome, on y^e Right a Row of roomes w^{th}
Chambers over them for the Kitchen and Pastry and Butteryes, and a
Little garden pailed in. Then you go on, and on the Left hand Enter the
house into an Entry: on the Left is a little parlour for y^e Ladies of
honour to dine in, beyond that Back Staires Pantry and a Cistern or
Place to Wash things in; by that is the guard roome, under it the
Cellars.
On the Right hand is a Large Antyroome for persons to wait, where are
Marble tables in y^e Peeres between the windows; white damaske window
curtaines and cane chaires. Next it is the Dineing roome some stepps
down, where was red silk Curtaines Chaires and stooles, and Benches
round the roome all red silk, w^{th} same coull^d orrice Lace; here was
a white marble table behind the doore as a sideboard, and a Clap table
under y^e Large Looking Glass between the windows. Next this was a
drawing roome; both these roomes were hung w^{th} small Jmage tapistry
very Lively and ffresh, here was Crimson Damaske window Curtaines,
Chaires and stooles. The next was what was Prince George’s dressing
roome, hung, and window Curtaines Chaires and stooles, all w^{th} yellow
damaske, w^{th} marble Chimney pieces as all y^e Roomes have of
Differing Coull^{rs} black white, grey, rance &c &c. Large
Looking-glasses; all the roomes in all y^e house is plaine unvarnished
oake Wanscoate which Lookes very neate. W^{th}in the dressing roome is a
Closet on one hand, the other side is a Closet y^t Leads to a little
place w^{th} a seate of Easement of Marble w^{th} sluces of water to
wash all down. There is a back doore in y^e dressing roome, to a little
anty roome with presses, a little Wanscoate table for tea, cards or
writeing, so to a back staires;—the Queen’s appartment is over it. From
y^e Greate Staire at the Entrance of the house Lands you in a passage
that Enters—the anty roome is Crimson damaske curtains. Great chaire and
Stooles and Benches; the same next it. The presence roome here is
ffigured Crimson Velvet window Curtaines, Chaires and stooles; here is
the Q. A Wife to K. James the First at Length in her Rideing habit, by
her horse and three or four Couple of hounds—these were hung w^{th}
ffine tapistry as the two below.
Next this was the Queen’s bedChamber, hung, the bed, window-curtaines
the same, all Rich Crimson Damaske. Here was the screen round the bed as
the manner is to all the Souveraignes beds. Over the Chimney was Prince
George’s Picture and by the side of the bed was the Duke of Glocester’s
in an oval. Thence into a Dressing-roome hung with Divers Coull^d
flowered sattin, chaires and stooles the same, ffine fflower’d muslin
window curtaines, A fine Little high screen burnt jappan of 4 Leaves,
another Chimney screen w^{th} 4 Leaves of the stone work in
ffigures—jndian. Out of this was y^e Queens Closet just over Prince
Georges but y^t was Locked. The other side was a little waiting roome to
Just such marble seates of Easem^t w^{th} the sluces of water as that
below was in the Queens bedChamber. Overright y^e Entrance of the
dressing-roome was another Little Closet with the tea Equipage, and
under that was such a Little tea roome within y^e drawingroome. Here in
the dressing roome was a backway to a little waiting passage, with
presses and such little wanscoate tables; this Leads to the back staires
where there is one bedchamber. The Queen’s appartment ffronts the
garden; out of the drawing roome you come on a terrass of Gravell, then
descend stepps down a green banck to a large green space that has 4
bench seates painted white; behind them is a Green bank, and a Large
space of green on Either end fill’d with trees, Lawrell ffrilleroy,
Cyprus, yews, heads a Pirramids, and Mirtles. This is ffenced with jron
palasadoes painted, to another garden cut in squares and figures, with
all sorts of fflowers and greens, which has at y^e End a Cut hedge and
Leads on to a sort of orchard with dwarfe trees. These gardens and
orchards is in Gravel Walks and Long green walks, in variety as such a
thing in miniature can admitt.