174 THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



stituted the iris. In consequence also of a dream, 

 Louis VII took the iris for his device in 1 137, from 

 which it became known as the fleur de Louis, later 

 contracted into fleur-de-lys and fleur-de-lis. When 

 Edward III claimed the crown of France in 1340, 

 he quartered the old French shield bearing the fleur- 

 de-lis with his English lion. The iris, or flower-de- 

 luce (as the English wrote it), did not disappear 

 from the English coat of arms until 1801. 



Shakespeare speaks of the fleur-de-lis in the Mes- 

 senger's speech in "King Henry VI" : 1 



Awake, awake, English nobility! 

 Let not sloth dim your honors new begot: 

 Cropp'd are the flower-de-luces in your arms; 

 Of England's coat one half is cut away. 



And again in the same play : 2 



LA PUCELLE. I am prepared : here is my keen-edged sword, 

 Deck'd with fine flower-de-luces on each side. 



In 'The Merry Wives of Windsor" 3 there is a 

 humorous play upon words regarding the heraldic 

 use of "the flower-de-luce." 



I, Act I, Scene I. 

 'Parti, Act I, Scene II. 

 * Act I, Scene I. 



