JMNK. 57 



neither of tliem mentioned by their natural his- 

 torians, or celebrated by any of their bards, who 

 would not have failed to have sung the praises of 

 such aromatic flowers, since the Clove-spice was 

 known to them and much admired. 



We learn from Chaucer, the father of the Eng- 

 lish poets, that the Clove Gillyflower was culti- 

 vated in this country as early as the reign of 

 Edward the Third, and that it was used to give 

 a spicy flavour to ale and wine, and from hence 

 it was called Sop in wine : 



** Ther springen herbes grcte and smale. 

 The licoris and the setewale, 

 And many a clone g-ilofre, 



to put in ale, 



Whether it be moist or stale." 



Chaucer. 



It seems to have been a flower of high esti- 

 mation in Queen Elizabeth's time, since we find 

 it so often celebrated by the poets of her day. 

 Spenser, who was remarked for his care in re- 

 taining the old manner of spelling, calls them 

 Coronations, probably because they were used 

 on these festive occasions, and from hence the 

 name of Carnation seems a corruption. Some 

 writers are of opinion that they were called Car- 

 nation after a flesh colour so distinguished, whilst 



