The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral
the green, to plant a covert alley upon carpenter's work, about twelve
foot in height, by which you may go in shade into the garden. As for the
making of knots or figures, with divers colored earths, that they may
lie under the windows of the house on that side which the garden stands,
they be but toys; you may see as good sights, many times, in tarts. The
garden is best to be square, encompassed on all the four sides with a
stately arched hedge. The arches to be upon pillars of carpenter's work,
of some ten foot high, and six foot broad; and the spaces between of the
same dimension with the breadth of the arch. Over the arches let there
be an entire hedge of some four foot high, framed also upon carpenter's
work; and upon the upper hedge, over every arch, a little turret, with
a belly, enough to receive a cage of birds: and over every space between
the arches some other little figure, with broad plates of round colored
glass gilt, for the sun to play upon. But this hedge I intend to be
raised upon a bank, not steep, but gently slope, of some six foot, set
all with flowers. Also I understand, that this square of the garden,
should not be the whole breadth of the ground, but to leave on either
side, ground enough for diversity of side alleys; unto which the two
covert alleys of the green, may deliver you. But there must be no alleys
with hedges, at either end of this great enclosure; not at the hither
end, for letting your prospect upon this fair hedge from the green; nor
at the further end, for letting your prospect from the hedge, through
the arches upon the heath.
For the ordering of the ground, within the great hedge, I leave it to
variety of device; advising nevertheless, that whatsoever form you cast
it into, first, it be not too busy, or full of work. Wherein I, for my
part, do not like images cut out in juniper or other garden stuff; they
be for children. Little low hedges, round, like welts, with some pretty
pyramids, I like well; and in some places, fair columns upon frames of
carpenter's work. I would also have the alleys, spacious and fair. You
may have closer alleys, upon the side grounds, but none in the main
garden. I wish also, in the very middle, a fair mount, with three
ascents, and alleys, enough for four to walk abreast; which I would
have to be perfect circles, without any bulwarks or embossments; and the
whole mount to be thirty foot high; and some fine banqueting-house, with
some chimneys neatly cast, and without too much glass.
For fountains, they are a great beauty and refreshment; but pools mar
all, and make the garden unwholesome, and full of flies and frogs.
Fountains I intend to be of two natures: the one that sprinkleth or
spouteth water; the other a fair receipt of water, of some thirty or
forty foot square, but without fish, or slime, or mud. For the first,
the ornaments of images gilt, or of marble, which are in use, do well:
but the main matter is so to convey the water, as it never stay,
either in the bowls or in the cistern; that the water be never by
rest discolored, green or red or the like; or gather any mossiness or
putrefaction. Besides that, it is to be cleansed every day by the hand.
Also some steps up to it, and some fine pavement about it, doth well. As
for the other kind of fountain, which we may call a bathing pool, it
may admit much curiosity and beauty; wherewith we will not trouble
ourselves: as, that the bottom be finely paved, and with images; the
sides likewise; and withal embellished with colored glass, and such
things of lustre; encompassed also with fine rails of low statuas. But
the main point is the same which we mentioned in the former kind of
fountain; which is, that the water be in perpetual motion, fed by a
water higher than the pool, and delivered into it by fair spouts, and
then discharged away under ground, by some equality of bores, that it
stay little. And for fine devices, of arching water without spilling,
and making it rise in several forms (of feathers, drinking glasses,
canopies, and the like), they be pretty things to look on, but nothing
to health and sweetness.
For the heath, which was the third part of our plot, I wish it to be
framed, as much as may be, to a natural wildness. Trees I would have
none in it, but some thickets made only of sweet-briar and honeysuckle,
and some wild vine amongst; and the ground set with violets,
strawberries, and primroses. For these are sweet, and prosper in the
shade. And these to be in the heath, here and there, not in any order. I
like also little heaps, in the nature of mole-hills (such as are in wild
heaths), to be set, some with wild thyme; some with pinks; some with
germander, that gives a good flower to the eye; some with periwinkle;
some with violets; some with strawberries; some with cowslips; some with
daisies; some with red roses; some with lilium convallium; some with
sweet-williams red; some with bear's-foot: and the like low flowers,
being withal sweet and sightly. Part of which heaps, are to be with
standards of little bushes pricked upon their top, and part without. The
standards to be roses; juniper; holly; berberries (but here and there,
because of the smell of their blossoms); red currants; gooseberries;
rosemary; bays; sweetbriar; and such like. But these standards to be
kept with cutting, that they grow not out of course.
For the side grounds, you are to fill them with variety of alleys,
private, to give a full shade, some of them, wheresoever the sun be.
You are to frame some of them, likewise, for shelter, that when the
wind blows sharp you may walk as in a gallery. And those alleys must
be likewise hedged at both ends, to keep out the wind; and these closer
alleys must be ever finely gravelled, and no grass, because of going
wet. In many of these alleys, likewise, you are to set fruit-trees
of all sorts; as well upon the walls, as in ranges. And this would be
generally observed, that the borders wherein you plant your fruit-trees,
be fair and large, and low, and not steep; and set with fine flowers,
but thin and sparingly, lest they deceive the trees. At the end of both
the side grounds, I would have a mount of some pretty height, leaving
the wall of the enclosure breast high, to look abroad into the fields.
For the main garden, I do not deny, but there should be some fair
alleys ranged on both sides, with fruit-trees; and some pretty tufts of
fruit-trees, and arbors with seats, set in some decent order; but these
to be by no means set too thick; but to leave the main garden so as it
be not close, but the air open and free. For as for shade, I would have
you rest upon the alleys of the side grounds, there to walk, if you be
disposed, in the heat of the year or day; but to make account, that the
main garden is for the more temperate parts of the year; and in the heat
of summer, for the morning and the evening, or overcast days.
For aviaries, I like them not, except they be of that largeness as they
may be turfed, and have living plants and bushes set in them; that the
birds may have more scope, and natural nesting, and that no foulness
appear in the floor of the aviary. So I have made a platform of a
princely garden, partly by precept, partly by drawing, not a model, but
some general lines of it; and in this I have spared for no cost. But it
is nothing for great princes, that for the most part taking advice with
workmen, with no less cost set their things together; and sometimes add
statuas and such things for state and magnificence, but nothing to the
true pleasure of a garden.
Of Negotiating
IT IS generally better to deal by speech than by letter; and by the
mediation of a third than by a man's self. Letters are good, when a man
would draw an answer by letter back again; or when it may serve for a
man's justification afterwards to produce his own letter; or where it
may be danger to be interrupted, or heard by pieces. To deal in person
is good, when a man's face breedeth regard, as commonly with inferiors;
or in tender cases, where a man's eye, upon the countenance of him with
whom he speaketh, may give him a direction how far to go; and generally,
where a man will reserve to himself liberty, either to disavow or to
expound. In choice of instruments, it is better to choose men of a
plainer sort, that are like to do that, that is committed to them,
and to report back again faithfully the success, than those that are
cunning, to contrive, out of other men's business, somewhat to grace
themselves, and will help the matter in report for satisfaction's sake.
Use also such persons as affect the business, wherein they are employed;
for that quickeneth much; and such, as are fit for the matter; as bold
men for expostulation, fair-spoken men for persuasion, crafty men for
inquiry and observation, froward, and absurd men, for business that
doth not well bear out itself. Use also such as have been lucky, and
prevailed before, in things wherein you have employed them; for that
breeds confidence, and they will strive to maintain their prescription.
It is better to sound a person, with whom one deals afar off, than to
fall upon the point at first; except you mean to surprise him by some
short question. It is better dealing with men in appetite, than with
those that are where they would be. If a man deal with another upon
conditions, the start or first performance is all; which a man cannot
reasonably demand, except either the nature of the thing be such, which
must go before; or else a man can persuade the other party, that he
shall still need him in some other thing; or else that he be counted
the honester man. All practice is to discover, or to work. Men discover
themselves in trust, in passion, at unawares, and of necessity, when
they would have somewhat done, and cannot find an apt pretext. If you
would work any man, you must either know his nature and fashions, and
so lead him; or his ends, and so persuade him; or his weakness and
disadvantages, and so awe him; or those that have interest in him, and
so govern him. In dealing with cunning persons, we must ever consider
their ends, to interpret their speeches; and it is good to say little
to them, and that which they least look for. In all negotiations of
difficulty, a man may not look to sow and reap at once; but must prepare
business, and so ripen it by degrees.
Of Followers And Friends
COSTLY followers are not to be liked; lest while a man maketh his train
longer, he make his wings shorter. I reckon to be costly, not them alone
which charge the purse, but which are wearisome, and importune in
suits. Ordinary followers ought to challenge no higher conditions,
than countenance, recommendation, and protection from wrongs. Factious
followers are worse to be liked, which follow not upon affection to
him, with whom they range themselves, but upon discontentment conceived
against some other; whereupon commonly ensueth that ill intelligence,
that we many times see between great personages. Likewise glorious
followers, who make themselves as trumpets of the commendation of those
they follow, are full of inconvenience; for they taint business through
want of secrecy; and they export honor from a man, and make him a return
in envy. There is a kind of followers likewise, which are dangerous,
being indeed espials; which inquire the secrets of the house, and bear
tales of them, to others. Yet such men, many times, are in great favor;
for they are officious, and commonly exchange tales. The following by
certain estates of men, answerable to that, which a great person himself
professeth (as of soldiers, to him that hath been employed in the wars,
and the like), hath ever been a thing civil, and well taken, even in
monarchies; so it be without too much pomp or popularity. But the most