DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49977#0083
FOURTEENTH AND FIFTEENTH CENTURIES.
61
stalke that is of great honoure.” * * * § Roses were the commonest of
all flowers, for weaving into wreaths and garlands :—•
“ And on hire hed ful semely for to see
A rose gerlond fresh and wel smelling.” f
“ And also on his head was sette
Of roses redde a chapelette.” t
The periwinkle, with trailing leaves, was suitable for wreaths, and
many other flowers were used. Emely in her garden gathered
“ floures, party whyte and reede, to make a sotil gerland for hire
heede.” § But these pretty chaplets of flowers were not only
worn by beautiful maidens, for we find even the far from
prepossessing sompnour, among the Canterbury pilgrims, had
“ a garland set upon his heed.” The annual rendering of a red
rose was a common kind of “ quit rent,” also a flower or seed of
the clove pink, or gilliflower, || was frequently the payment. The
lily ranked next to the rose in importance in a garden, and
vied with the rose for a share in the poet’s song.^f The white
lily (LfZfwm candidwri) served to typify all that was good and
pure, or beautiful.
“ First wol I you the name of Seinte Cecilie
Expoune, as men may in hire storie see :
It is to sayn in English, Heven’s lilie.” **
“ That Emelie, that fairer was to seene
Than is the lilie or hire stalke grene.”ff
“ Upon his hand he bore for his delyt
An eagle tame, as any lily whyte.”
* Political poem, 1460-71.—Early Eng. Text Soc„ Vol. IV.
f Knight's Tale.
f Romaunt of the Rose.
§ Knight's Tale.
|| Among the receipts of Bicester Abbey, 19th Rich. II., for lands and
tenements “ una rosa rubea recept’ di Henrico Bowols de Curtlyngton . . . et
de uno g’no gariophili rec’ de Rog’ o de Stodele ”... &c.—Dunkin, Hist, of
Bullington and Ploughley. In most instances the clove seed = the clove spice
of commerce.
51 “ Lillys ” and “ roses ” are the only flowers mentioned on the gardeners’
rolls of Norwich Priory.
** The Second Noune's Tale.
j~f Knight's Tale.
±± Ibid.
61
stalke that is of great honoure.” * * * § Roses were the commonest of
all flowers, for weaving into wreaths and garlands :—•
“ And on hire hed ful semely for to see
A rose gerlond fresh and wel smelling.” f
“ And also on his head was sette
Of roses redde a chapelette.” t
The periwinkle, with trailing leaves, was suitable for wreaths, and
many other flowers were used. Emely in her garden gathered
“ floures, party whyte and reede, to make a sotil gerland for hire
heede.” § But these pretty chaplets of flowers were not only
worn by beautiful maidens, for we find even the far from
prepossessing sompnour, among the Canterbury pilgrims, had
“ a garland set upon his heed.” The annual rendering of a red
rose was a common kind of “ quit rent,” also a flower or seed of
the clove pink, or gilliflower, || was frequently the payment. The
lily ranked next to the rose in importance in a garden, and
vied with the rose for a share in the poet’s song.^f The white
lily (LfZfwm candidwri) served to typify all that was good and
pure, or beautiful.
“ First wol I you the name of Seinte Cecilie
Expoune, as men may in hire storie see :
It is to sayn in English, Heven’s lilie.” **
“ That Emelie, that fairer was to seene
Than is the lilie or hire stalke grene.”ff
“ Upon his hand he bore for his delyt
An eagle tame, as any lily whyte.”
* Political poem, 1460-71.—Early Eng. Text Soc„ Vol. IV.
f Knight's Tale.
f Romaunt of the Rose.
§ Knight's Tale.
|| Among the receipts of Bicester Abbey, 19th Rich. II., for lands and
tenements “ una rosa rubea recept’ di Henrico Bowols de Curtlyngton . . . et
de uno g’no gariophili rec’ de Rog’ o de Stodele ”... &c.—Dunkin, Hist, of
Bullington and Ploughley. In most instances the clove seed = the clove spice
of commerce.
51 “ Lillys ” and “ roses ” are the only flowers mentioned on the gardeners’
rolls of Norwich Priory.
** The Second Noune's Tale.
j~f Knight's Tale.
±± Ibid.