bunnyjadwiga (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bunnyjadwiga) wrote2005-05-04 05:18 pm
bunnyjadwiga) wrote2005-05-04 05:18 pm
notes in Passing... the Tradescants
The elder and younger John Tradescants were some of the most celebrated gardeners and collectors of botanical rareties in the 17th century. Looking at a biography of them gives some note of what changes took place at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th century.
Hm.. the more things change the more they stay the same.
Anyway, we see a hint of the way the modern plant breeders have gone in the fact that the famous John Tradescant had no sense of smell but was intrigued with all flowers 'strang and rare'.
Wages: in 1612:
Apparently, "the Ancient Guild of Gardeners had existed for centuries as a mystery or fellowship" (p. 27) and was chartered by James I in 1605, and in 1616 James 'did by a second Grant straightly prohibit ane person to use the same Art or Science, unlesse he had served as an Apprentice thereunto by the space of seven yeeres." (proclamation as quoted by Allen) Apparently the Worshipful Company of Gardeners of London first got permission to sell produce in London in 1345 (see http://www.heraldicmedia.com/site/info/livery/livcomps/gardeners.html)
Allen, Mea. The Tradescants: Their plants, gardens and museum, 1570-1662. (London: Michael Joseph, 1964)
"It may seem strange that two such pioneers should rest almost forgotten in their tomb in St. Mary's churchyard, South Lambeth. Not so strange when one learns that their museum at Oxford is famed under another name, that of Ashmole. For Elias Ashmole, who professed himself the friend of John Tradescant the younger, did everything in his power to obliterate the name of Tradescant..." (Allan, p. 15)
Hm.. the more things change the more they stay the same.
Anyway, we see a hint of the way the modern plant breeders have gone in the fact that the famous John Tradescant had no sense of smell but was intrigued with all flowers 'strang and rare'.
Wages: in 1612:
"At Hatfield, a quarterly bill for the servants wages shows the family falconer, rider, coachman, kitchen boy, coachman's boy, bottleman, armorer, bargeman, laundress and footmen as recieving 25 s, 100s, 30s, and 33s 4d. But 'the French gardeners' were paid &6 5s 0d and John Tradescant &12. John was highly paid even in comparison with other gardeners of his time and later. When the Physic Garden at Chelsea was founded in 1673, Piggot, its first gardener, was paid only &30 a year, as was Richard Pratt who succeeded him in 1677. John Watts, their successor in 1679, got &50 a year. When John Tradescant was in the service of the King, in 1630, he was paid &100."(Allen, p. 27)
Apparently, "the Ancient Guild of Gardeners had existed for centuries as a mystery or fellowship" (p. 27) and was chartered by James I in 1605, and in 1616 James 'did by a second Grant straightly prohibit ane person to use the same Art or Science, unlesse he had served as an Apprentice thereunto by the space of seven yeeres." (proclamation as quoted by Allen) Apparently the Worshipful Company of Gardeners of London first got permission to sell produce in London in 1345 (see http://www.heraldicmedia.com/site/info/livery/livcomps/gardeners.html)
Allen, Mea. The Tradescants: Their plants, gardens and museum, 1570-1662. (London: Michael Joseph, 1964)