22 WILD FLOWERS. 



broom-flowers interwoven with the white lily (as 

 emblematic of humility and purity), and bearing a 

 golden cross, with the motto, " Exaltat humilis." 



In the year 1368, Charles V. granted to his cham- 

 berlain, Geoffry de Belleville, the right to wear, in 

 all feasts and companies, the insignia of the broom- 

 pod ;* this was, evidently, a thing quite distinct 

 from the badge of the Milites genestella ; and, in- 

 deed, at a later period, that of our own Henry IV., 

 we find it described as the livery of the King of 

 France. In the year 1389, Charles VI. gave the 

 same decoration to his kinsmen, the King of Sicily 

 and the Prince of Tarenturn, making them, by the 

 gift, knights of the Star of the Broom-pods ;*f* so 

 that a certain dignity, not before appertaining to it, 

 was now evidently attached to the insignia. And in 

 the year 1393, we even find him ordering his gold- 

 smith, John Compere, to make for Richard II., of 

 England, and his uncles, the Dukes of Gloucester, 

 York, and Lancaster, collars formed of two twisted 

 stalks interlaced with broom-pods, enamelled in 

 white and green, and thickly set with pearls ; with 

 which alternated fifty letters forming "the word 

 James (? jamais), ten times repeated/' The value 

 of the whole amounted to upwards of eight hun- 

 dred and thirty francs. At a later period, however, 

 such jewels became far more costly; one of the three 

 described amongst the crown jewels after the acces- 

 sion of Henry IV., being, " overages de genestes, 

 garnisez de iiii balez, iii saphirs, xxvi perles, poisant 



* Collier de la cosse de genista, 

 t Cqsse de geneste. 



