601. During the greater part of the fourteenth century, Scotland was in a state of intestine war; but in that succeeding, it is generally believed architecture and gardening were encouraged by the Jameses. James I., as we have seen (551.), admired the gardens of Windsor, in 1420; and having been in love there, and married an Englishwoman, would in all probability imitate them. He is described in the Chronicles of Scotland as 'an excellent man, and an accomplished scholar. At his leisure hours he not only indulged himself in music, in reading and writing, in drawing and painting; but, when the circumstances of time and place, and the taste and manners of those about him, made it proper, he would sometimes instruct them in the art of cultivating kitchen and pleasure gardens, and of planting and engrafting different kinds of fruit trees.' (Scotichron, lib. xvi. cap. 30.) This proves the advanced state of horticulture in England at that period; as it was in England that James must have obtained his knowledge.
