iJforaf* C^cremorvlc/". 29 



before the calends of May — the day on which, in Asia Minor, the 

 festival of the flowers commences. In Italy, France, and Germany, 

 the festival of the flowers, or the festival of spring, begins about the 

 same date — i.e., towards the end of April — and terminates on the 

 feast of St. John. 



The festival of the Floralia was introduced into Britain by the 

 Romans ; and for centuries all ranks of people went out a-Maying 

 early on the first of the month. The juvenile part of both sexes, 

 in the north, were wont to rise a little after midnight, and walk to 

 some neighbouring wood, accompanied with music and the blowing 

 of horns, 



" To get sweet Setywall [red Valerian], 

 The Honeysuckle, the Harlock, 

 The Lily and the Lady-smock, 

 To deck their summer hall." 



They also gathered branches from the trees, and adorned them 

 with nosegays and crowns of flowers, returning with their booty 

 homewards, about the rising of the sun, forthwith to decorate their 

 doors and windows with the flowery spoil. The after-part of the 

 day, says an ancient chronicler, was " chiefly spent in dancing 

 round a tall pole, which is called a May-pole ; which, being placed 

 in a convenient part of the village, stands there, as it were, 

 consecrated to the goddess of flowers, without the least violation 

 offered it in the whole circle of the year." 



" Your May-pole deck with flowery coronal ; 

 Sprinkle the flowery coronal with wine ; 

 And in the nimble-footed galliard, all, 

 Shepherd and shepherdess, lively join. 

 Hither from village sweet and hamlet fair, 

 From bordering cot and distant glen repair : 

 Let youth indulge its sport, to old bequeath its care." 



Old John Stowe tells us that on May-day, in the morning, 

 " every man, except impediment, would walk into the sweet 

 meadows and green woods, there to rejoice their spirits with the 

 beauty and savour of sweet flowers, and with the harmony of 

 birds .praising God in their kind." In the days of Henry VIII. it 

 was the custom for all classes to observe the May-day festival, and 

 we are told that the king himself rode a-Maying from Greenwich to 

 Shooter's Hill, with his Queen Katherine, accompanied by many 

 lords and ladies. Chaucer relates how on May-day 



" Went forth all the Court both most and least ; 

 To fetch the floures fresh, and branch and blome. 

 And namely Hawthorn brought both page and grome ; 

 And then rejoysen in their great delite, 

 Eke each at other threw the floures bright. 

 The Primrose, Violette, and the Golde, 

 With garlands partly blue and white." 



The young maidens repaired at daybreak to the meadows and 

 hill-sides, for the purpose of gathering the precious May-dew, where- 



