CHAP, vi S Y L V A 301 



was anciently call'd Holmes-Dale ; famous for the 

 flight of the Danes : The inhabitants of great anti- 

 quity (in their manners, habits, speech) have a proverb, 

 Holmes-Dale never won ; ne never shall. It had 

 once a fort, call'd Homes-Dale Castle : I know not 

 whether it might not be that of Rygate ; but leaving 

 this uncertain, and return to the plant, I have often 

 wonder'd at our curiosity after foreign plants, and 

 expensive difficulties, to the neglect of the culture of 

 this vulgar, but incomparable tree ; whether we will 

 propagate it for use and defence, or for sight and 

 ornament. 



1 A hedge of holly, thieves that would invade, 

 Repulses like a growing palizade ; 

 Whose numerous leaves such orient greens invest, 

 As in deep Winter do the Spring arrest. 



Which makes me wonder why it should be reckon'd 

 among the unfortunate trees, by Macrobius, Sat. lib. 

 in. cap. 20. others among the lucky ; for so it seems 

 they us'd to send branches of it, as well as of oak 

 (the most fortunate, according to the Gentile theo- 

 logy) with their strenae (new-year's gifts) begun (as 

 Symachus tells us) by K. Tatius, almost as old as 

 Rome her self. 



But to say no more of these superstitious fopperies, 

 which are many other about this tree, we still dress 

 up both our churches and houses, on Christmas 

 and other festival days, with this cheerful green and 

 rutilant berries. 



1 Mala furta hominum densis mucronibus arcens 



Securum defendit inexpugnabilis hortum ; 

 Exornatque simul, toto spectabilis anno, 

 Et numero, & viridi foliorum luce nitentum. 



Couleii PI. I. 6. 



