LEGENDS OF NATIONAL FLOWERS 167 



" I like the Leeke above all herbes and flowers, 

 When first we wore the same the field was ours; 

 The leeke is white and greene, whereby is ment 



That Britons are both stout and eminent. 

 Next to the lion and the unicorne 

 The leeke's the fairest emblem that is worne." 



The Iris of France. 



" Though right be aft put down by strength, 

 As mony a day we saw that, 

 The Fleur-de-lis, that lost her right. 

 Is Queen again for a' that." 



Sir Walter Scott. 



The iris, or fleur-de-lys, has been for many years 

 the emblematic flower of France, and was borne on 

 the royal standard as the special national flower. 



There is a legend that Clotilda, the wife of the 

 war-like King Clovis, had long prayed for the conver- 

 sion of her husband, and at length Clovis, having 

 led his army against the Huns, and being in imminent 

 danger of defeat, recommended himself to the God 

 of his sainted wife. The tide of battle turned, he 

 obtained a complete victory, and was baptised by 

 St. Remigius. 



On this occasion, owing to a vision of St. Clotilda, 

 the iris was substituted in the arms of France for 

 the three frogs or toads, which Clovis had hitherto 

 borne on his shield. 



In the pictures of St. Clotilda, she is generally 

 represented as attended by an angel, holding a shield 

 on which are the three fleurs-de-lys. This occurred 

 early in the sixth century. 



Louis VII., in consequence of a dream, assumed 

 it as his device in 1137, when engaged in the second 



