162 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND. 



chambers," for Henry \'III. In 1552, in Princess Elizabeth's 

 accounts, there are numerous entries of payments to a certain 

 Thomas Briesly, for "flowers and herbs by him provided for the 

 same purpose," The sum of ;£'io was paid in 1565 and 1567, to 

 Robert Jones, for providing boughs and flowers for the Council 

 Chamber.* Queen Elizabeth was so fond of having a constant 

 supply of flowers for strewing, that a waiting-woman was 

 appointed with a fixed salary to have flowers always in readiness. 

 So late as 1713 this office had not been abolished, as there is a 

 letter extant in the State Archives addressed to Alice Blizard, 

 who held the post of " herbe strewer to Her Majesty the Queen." 

 Parkinson, writing about what flowers are suitable for laying out 

 knots, says of both Germander and Hyssop, "they must be kept 

 in some form and proportion with cutting, and the cuttings are 

 much used as a strawing herb for houses, being pretty and sweet." 



The houses must have been made very fragrant with many 

 herbs and flowers, not only strewn on the floor but placed in 

 vases about the rooms. In the Loseley i\ccounts in 1556, the 

 item occurs, " a blewe potte for flowers id." t Parkinson says 

 of both Yew and Box, they are used "to deck up houses in the 

 winter-time." Not only in pots and vases were flowers to be 

 found, but many were skilfully arranged into little posies, and 

 worn as personal ornaments. Violets made into garlands, posies, 

 and nosegays "are delightful to look on, and pleasant to smell. "J 

 " Auriculas do seem every one of them to be a nosegay alone of 



itself they are not unfurnished with a pretty sweet 



scent, which dothe adde an increase of pleasure in those that 

 make them ornaments for their wearing. "§ Another curious 

 button-hole was the Fritillaria, which, says Parkinson, was 

 " worn abroad " by the " curious lovers of these delights." 



Some flowers had particular meaning attacked to them, and 

 were therefore worn on special occasions, a practice which has 

 not altogether died out. One interesting survival of such old 

 customs is the sprig of Thyme carried by the Order of Oddfellows 

 (Manchester Unity) at the funeral of one of their brothers, and 



* Acts of the Privy Council. New Series, \o\. \'\\., 1893. 



f Archceolugia, \o\. XXXV'I. % Gerard. § Parkinson. 



