1U4 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND. 



to illness, and perhaps have done her friends and relations 

 more harm than good. Among the plants she is recommended 

 to use are "yellow lillies, floure de luce purpure, periwinkle, 

 house-leek, red and white roses, Solomon's seal, woodbine, peony, 

 marigold, besides all the herbs, such as dill, burnet, dandelion, 

 and fruits, cherries, quinces, peach-leaves, apples, and nuts.'' 



The Household Books of the fifth Earl of Northumberland 

 (1502), contain the following list of " herbes to stylle." " Borage, 

 columbine, buglos, sorrel, cowsloppes, scabious, wild tansey, 

 wormwood, endyff, sauge, dandelion, and hart's tonge." Many 

 herbs in every garden were grown solely for this purpose, and 

 these sweet waters were used in cooking as well as for medicine. 

 A neighbourly gift of distilled herbs was often exchanged, and it 

 is not uncommon to find records of such presents as " sweet 

 waters," "rose water," or "syrup of roses," being accepted 

 by the wealthy from their poorer friends. Similar offerings of 

 flowers or fruit were no less frequent. The Parson of Titteshall 

 sent the Squire of Hunstanton a present of pears and apples, 

 " his boye " receiving a penny for bringing them. On another 

 occasion " wenches," from the same parish, brought him red 

 roses.* The Bishop of Norwich sent the Duke of Buckingham 

 a dish of cherries^, and one May day " four maydens of Kanisham 

 brought presents of hawthorne to my Lord's Grace, being in his 

 orchard." t One feels tempted to pause to entwine a pretty storj' 

 round these four maidens of Kanisham. A\'ithout much strain 

 on the invagination, and with the help of these simple records, 

 it is easy to conjure up delightful visions, and to picture many 

 a fascinating scene of homely countr}- life in Tudor times. 



* Le Strange, Houscliold Books (1540). 



J Duke of Buckingham's Household Accounts. 



