This was the shape of the ideal garden—
"And whan I had a while goon,
I saugh a gardyn right anoon,
Full long and broad; and every delle
Enclosed was, and walled welle
With high walles embatailled.
* * * * *
I felle fast in a waymenting
By which art, or by what engyne
I might come into that gardyne;
But way I couthe fynd noon
Into that gardyne for to goon.
* * * * *
Tho' gan I go a fulle grete pas,
Environyng evene in compas,
The closing of the square walle,
Tyl that I fonde a wiket smalle
So shett that I ne'er myght in gon,
And other entre was ther noon."
Romaunt of the Rose.
This square enclosure was bounded either by a high wall—"circummured with brick," "with high walles embatailled,"—or with a thick high hedge—"encompassed on all the four sides with a stately arched hedge." These hedges were made chiefly of Holly or Hornbeam, and we can judge of their size by Evelyn's description of his "impregnable hedge of about 400ft. in length, 9ft. high, and 5ft. in diameter." Many of these hedges still remain in our old gardens. Within this enclosure the garden was accurately laid out in formal shapes,[343:1] with paths either quite straight or in some strictly mathematical figures—
"And all without were walkes and alleyes dight
With divers trees enrang'd in even rankes;
And here and there were pleasant arbors pight,
And shadie seats, and sundry flowring bankes,
To sit and rest the walkers' wearie shankes."