HERBS USED IN DECORATIONS, ETC. 107 



breadths of Blue Broad-cloth are spread all along the 

 middle of the Passage from the stone steps in the Hall, 

 to the Foot of the Steps in the Choir, ascending the 

 Theatre, by order of the Lord Almoner of the Day, 

 amounting in all 1220 yards; which cloth is strewed 

 with nine Baskets full of sweet herbs and flowers by 

 the Strewer of Herbs in Ordinary to His Majesty, 

 assisted by six women, two to a Basket, each Basket 

 containing two Bushels." All the details of his Corona- 

 tion were most carefully considered and finally settled 

 " in solemn conclave in the presence of James 11. ," says 

 Roberts in his sketch of the Approaching Coronation of 

 George II., and "little variation has taken place in the 

 Ceremony since." From a manuscript belonging to Mr 

 Eyston, of East Hundred, Wantage, dated 1 702, W.Jones 

 (" Crowns and Coronations ") quotes an : " Order for 

 a gown of scarlet cloth, with a badge of Her Majesty's 

 Cypher on it, for the Strewer of Herbs to Her Majesty, 

 as was provided at the last Coronation." This looks 

 as if she played her part in the ceremony of crowning 

 King William and Queen Mary, and was also present 

 at the crowning of Queen Anne, though Roberts, in 

 his "Complete Account of the Coronations of the Kings 

 and Queens of England " does not mention her. In the 

 State Archives is a " Warrant to the Master of the 

 Great Wardrobe for delivering of scarlet cloth to Alice 

 Blizard, herb strewer to Her Majesty," dated 30th 

 November 17 1 3, showing that whether at that date she 

 was continually at Court, or whether her services were 

 confined to the day of Coronation, she was at anyrate 

 officially recognised in the ordinary course of things, 

 and not only when any very great ceremony was im- 

 minent. I cannot be sure if the Herb Strewer appeared 

 at the Coronation of George I., but she certainly did 

 at that of George II., and in the full accounts of the 

 Coronation of George IV., which was celebrated with 



