io8 THE BOOK OF HERBS 



great magnificence, there are most elaborate descriptions 

 of her dress, badge, mantle, etc., and also portraits 

 of her in full attire. From among many applicants, the 

 King chose Miss Fellowes, sister of the Secretary to 

 the Lord Great Chamberlain, for the coveted distinction. 

 " Miss Fellowes wore a gold badge suspended from her 

 neck by a gold chain, with an inscription indicative of 

 her office on one side, and the King's arms beautifully 

 chased on the other. Six young ladies assisted her. 

 Their costume was white, but Miss Fellowes wore, in 

 addition, a scarlet mantle trimmed with gold lace. They 

 were very elegantly dressed in "white muslin, with 

 flowered ornaments. Three large ornamented baskets 

 of flowers were brought in and placed near the ladies," ^ 

 who walked in the front of the Royal Procession. At 

 ten minutes before eleven Miss Fellowes, with her six 

 tributary herb-women heading the grand procession, 

 appeared at the Western Gate of the Abbey. . . . She 

 and her maids and the Serjeant porter came no further, 

 but remained at the entrance within the west door. 

 In a beautiful series of coloured plates depicting all the 

 costumes worn at that Coronation, there is one of Miss 

 Fellowes and her " maids." She has a small basket in 

 her left hand ; from her right hand, raised high, she 

 is letting a shower of blossoms fall. Her hair is dressed 

 in short ringlets. All the ladies wore wreaths of 

 flowers, and the " maids " have, as well, long garlands 

 falling over one shoulder and across their white dresses 

 almost to the hem. In a charming letter written by 

 Hon. Maria Twistleton to her cousin, Mrs Eardley 

 Childers, there is one more detail of these ladies. " Gold 

 Baskets of Grecian shape, filled with choicest sweets 

 were ranged at their feet, and as they passed they pre- 

 sented a magnolia to us." ^ A claim to this office was 



• " History of the Coronation of George IV." R. Huish. 

 ^ Published Nineteenth Century ^ June 1902. 



