The great garden of the Louvre was very old: it had treilles or trellised walks from one end to the other, hedges, arbours, and grass. It was planted with roses and other flowers, herbs and vegetables. There were two smaller ones, called the King’s and Queen’s garden.[57]
The great garden went up to what is now the Rue St. Honoré, and was bounded by the city walls. To any one who is fond of flowers and gardening, it is most interesting to read the old bills and accounts preserved in different registers, and to see something of what these ancient gardens were like.
“Compte 1362, of Pierre Culdöë, lieutenant, and the noble Messire Jean de Damille, chevalier, chastelain of the castle of the Louvre, of the receipts, &c., for certain works which have been done in the gardens of the said Louvre, à la plaisance du Roy, nostre Seigneur, beginning in the month of May ‘362,’ and finishing in the month of March CCCLXIII.”
Then follow many interesting accounts, of which, however, it is impossible to give more than a few specimens. For instance, sums of money are paid to—
“Perin Durant, gardener, for having got many good herbs and planted the same in the said gardens of the Louvre in the month of March, 1362.”
“To Pierre Hubert, trellis-maker, for having fastened up the hedges round the said gardens in the month of February, and done up about half the said hedges which the wind had blown down; for wood, osier, and trouble.”[58]
“To Jean Baril, for having made a heap of earth (mound) with a summer-house of trellised wood on the top, with the arms of the King, Queen and nos seigneurs de France upon it, and having made a drawbridge to it in the month of March, 1362, for wood, osier, and trouble.”
“To Jean Caillon and Geffroy de Febon, gardeners, for their trouble in having planted sage, hyssop, lavender, strawberries, and several other herbs in the gardens of the said Louvre, for having dug the garden all round, put in herbs and seeds, renewed all the paths and grass plots (préaux) and taken away the weeds and rubbish.”
“To Jean Dudoy, gardener, for having ... taken away all the weeds, stones, and rubbish, and made several beds of sage, hyssop, lavender, balsam, strawberries, and violets, and planted bulbs of lilies, double red rose trees, and many other good herbs which he got.”
“To Sevestre Vallerin, the work of his arm (la peine de bras) for his trouble in having weeded the paths which go among the préaux (courts or grass plots), and the beds in which are the rose trees, strawberries, violets, sage, hyssop, lavender, balsam, parsley, and other good herbs: and also for having watered four summer-houses and a great square room to make the plants grow (pour faire venir les herbes).”