144 THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



England, once on his way to a field of battle, had to 

 climb a rocky path, and he noticed as he went along 

 the bushes of yellow broom clinging to the rocks. 

 Breaking off a branch he placed it in his helmet 

 with the words: "This golden plant shall be my 

 emblem henceforth. Rooted firmly among rocks and 

 upholding that which is ready to fall." His son, 

 Henry, was called "the royal sprig of Genesta." 

 The golden plume of broom-flowers was worn by 

 the Plantagenets until the last one of the line, Rich- 

 ard III, lost the Crown of England to Henry VII, 

 the first of the Tudors. 



In 1264 the Planta genesta was honored by St. 

 Louis, who instituted the Order of Genest on his 

 marriage with Marguerite. The Knights of the 

 Genest wore chains made of the broom-flower alter- 

 nating with the fleur-de-lis. Shakespeare speaks of 

 a "broom-staff" and sends Puck 



with broom before 

 To sweep the dust behind the door. 



Whether Puck's broom was made from the Genesta 

 or not we do not know; but we do know that the 

 broom, in common with other briars, was used to 

 make besoms for sweeping and also for staffs to walk 

 with and to lean upon. 



