232 ROSACEiE 



his poems, describes a scene which the great bard afterwards dramatized. 

 Ely Place, Holborn, was the ancient site of the stately palace, then the 

 London residence of the Bishops of Ely, and there the grass waved green 

 over meadows, and the vine trailed over walls, and Strawberries grew in 

 garden borders. The old historian, referring to the conduct of Richard III. 

 when Duke of Gloucester, on the morning of the execution of Lord Hastings, 

 in 1483, has this graphic passage: — "On the Fridaie (being the 13th of 

 June) manie lords assembled in the Tower, and there sate in councell, 

 devising the honourable solemnitie of the King's coronation, of which the 

 time appointed then so neere approached, that the pageants and subtilties 

 were in making day and night at Westminster, and much vittels killed that 

 afterwards was cast awaie. These lords sitting together, communing of this 

 matter, the Protector came in among them, first about nine of the clocke, 

 saluting them courteouslie, and excusing himselfe that he had beene from 

 them so long, saieing merrilie that he had beene a sleepe ; that daie, after a 

 little talking with them, he said unto the Bishop of Ely, ' My lord, you have 

 verie good strawberries in your garden in Holborne, I require you let us have 

 a messe of them.' 'Gladly, my lord,' quoth he; 'would God I had some 

 better thing as ready to your pleasure as that !' And therewithal! in all hast 

 he sent his servant for a mess of strawberries." Notwithstanding this, how- 

 ever, Morton, the then bishop, was, with others, taken prisoner, as suspected 

 of being opposed to the plans then forming. 



The Strawberry, frequent as it is now, is still prized both in its wild and 

 cultivated state ; many could say with Hurdis — 



' ' We often wander at the close of day 

 Along the shady lane or through the woods, 

 To pluck the ruddy strawberry, or smell 

 The perfumed breeze that all the fragrance steak 

 Of honeysuckle, blossom'd beans, or clover ; 

 Or haply rifles from the new-made rick 

 The hay's sweet odour, or the sweeter breath 

 Of farmer's yard, where the still patient cow 

 Stands o'er the plenteous milk-pail, ruminant." 



In the coffee-houses at Paris, a very pleasant beverage, called bavaroise h la 

 Gh-ecque, is made of the strawberry. 



2. Hautboy Strawberry {F. eldtior). — Calyx of the fruit spreading, 

 or turned backwards ; hairs of the general and partial flower-stalks spread- 

 ing. Plant perennial. This species is usually admitted into the list of 

 British plants, but it is not indigenous. It is, however, found, though rarely, 

 in copses and hedges of the South of England, whence it has escaped from 

 gardens. It has more hairy foliage than the Wood Strawberry, and is a 

 larger plant. The white flowers expand from June to August, and it is 

 remarkable for bearing, in some cases, blossoms which, having stamens only, 

 produce no fruit. This is the case with the plant also in the garden ; and 

 Strawberry cultivators are therefore careful to exclude the plants with barren 

 flowers. This species grows on the high woods of Bohemia ; hence its name 

 of Hautboy, which is a corruption of Hautbois. 



Some of the alpine fruits have, like the Pine Strawberry {F. coUiiia), a 

 sweeter flavour than any others, except the different Hautboys. Numerous 



