THE FIRST EARL OF SALISBURY 209
megs." On another occasion (August nth, 1667) he records : "As soon as we had dined, we walked out into the park through the fine walk of trees, and to the vineyard, and there showed them that, which is in good order, and indeed a place of great delight : which, together with our fine walk through the park, was of as much pleasure as could be desired in the world for country pleasure and good ayre." l
For this vineyard Lord Salisbury received from France 20,000 vines, at the cost of 50, and 10,000 more were expected. But though the name still remains, the vines have long since disappeared. From the French Queen he received 500 fruit trees, and other friends sent him cherries, nectarines and other trees. " His two gardeners were Montague Jennings and John Tradescant, afterwards horticulturist to Charles L, and father of the still more celebrated John Tradescant, founder of the Tradescant Museum, now better known as the Ashmolean Museum, at Oxford." 2
Salisbury was not yet fifty years old, but his incessant labours were rapidly wearing out his feeble frame. He had been out of health for some time, and towards the end of 1611 he had a severe attack of rheumatism in his right arm. This passed off, but a few weeks later he was seized with ague and other complications. He was reported also to be melancholy and heavy- spirited ; "so as it is on all hands concluded,"
1 Diary, ed. Wheatley, II. 68, 69 ; VII. 64. 8 Brewer, p. 122.
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