d Bacon's rule; "the form that men like in general is a square,
though roundness be _forma perfectissima_," was Lawson's rule; and this
form was chosen because the garden was considered to be a purtenance and
continuation of the house, designed so as strictly to harmonize with the
architecture of the building. And Parkinson's advice was to the same
effect: "The orbicular or round form is held in its own proper existence
to be the most absolute form, containing within it all other forms
whatsoever; but few, I think, will chuse such a proportion to be joyned
to their habitation. The triangular or three-square form is such a form
also as is seldom chosen by any that may make another choise. The
four-square form is the most usually accepted with all, and doth best
agree with any man's dwelling."

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