•^ The tAjternoon of the Tear $£ 



gilly flower,' beloved in Chaucer's day. In the six- 

 teenth and seventeenth centuries carnations vied with 

 roses. Bullein, in his Bulwarke of Defence (1562), calls the 

 gilliflower ' a domesticall flower,' which is, I think, not 

 only a delightful phrase but an apt description, for, like 

 roses, carnations are homely flowers. ' They are no less 

 profitable then pleasante,' says Bullein, ' they do not only 

 preserve the bodies of men, but also doth kepe the minde 

 and spirituall partes, from terable and fearefull dreames, 

 through their heavenly savour, and moste sweete pleasant 

 odor . . . there is no Apothicarie can by any naturall 

 Arte, make any confection so pleasant as this, which 

 nature hath wrought most wonderous in pleasying of 

 the sences, both of seeing and smellyng.' 



Gerard expresses astonishment that so beautiful a 

 flower was not mentioned by the ancient Greek and 

 Roman writers. * It is marvell,' he says, * that such a 

 famous flower, so pleasant and sweete, should lie hid and 

 not be made knowen by the olde writers, which may be 

 thought not inferior to the Rose in beautie, smell and 

 varietie.' And Parkinson writes with equal enthusiasm. 

 I But what shall I say to the Queene of delight and of 

 flowers, Carnations, Gilloflowers, whose bravery, variety, 

 and sweete smell joyned together, tyeth every ones 

 affection with great earnestnesse, both to like and to have 

 them.' The most famous grower of carnations in Queen 

 Elizabeth's reign was ' Master Tuggie ' of Westminster, 

 and perhaps he was responsible for at least some of those 

 enchanting names in the Paradisus — Master Tuggie's 

 Princesse, Ruffling Robin, Lustie Gallant, Master 

 Bradshawe his daintie Ladie, Fair Maid of Kent, 

 John Witte his great tawny gillow flower, The Red 



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