HERBS USED IN DECORATIONS, ETC. 117 



a herb, and was called the White Lavender Bloom. Herbs 

 have not appeared on many signboards, but in 1638 the 

 marigold was the sign of "Francis Eglisfield, a book- 

 seller in St Paul's churchyard," ^ as it still is of Child's 

 Bank — and several signs of the " Rosemary Branch " 

 have been known. 



The Blessed Thistle was a much prized herb, and its 

 cousin, the Spear Thistle, makes a game for Scotch 

 children ; it is sometimes called " Marian," and when the 

 flower-heads have turned to " blow-balls " the children 

 puff away the down and call : — 



"Marian, Marian, wliat's the time of day? 

 One o'clock, two o'clock, its time we were away.'' 



Dandelions are still commoner toys. 



Grimmer associations are tied up with the bouquet 

 presented to Judges at the Assizes, for originally this 

 bouquet was a bunch of herbs, given to him to ward off 

 the gaol-fever, that was cheerfully accepted as a matter 

 of course for prisoners. Thornton, writing in 1810, 

 says of Rue, that it is " supposed to be antipestilential " 

 and l(ence our benches of judges are " regaled" with its 

 unpleasing odour. Lupines are not properly to be in- 

 cluded here, but Parkinson must be quoted as to a curious 

 use of their seeds. In Plautus' days, " they were used 

 in Comedies instead of money, when in any scene thereof 

 there was any show of payment." One is glad he con- 

 descends to tell us this detail of ancient stage-plays. 

 Among herbs used for nosegays he mentions Basil, Sweet 

 Marjoram, Maudehne and Costmary, and evidently con- 

 templates their being worn for ornament, and speaking of 

 the prickly strawberry remarks it is " fit for a Gentle- 

 woman to weare on her arme, etc., as a raritie instead of 

 a flower." Scents were more perpetually to be obtained 

 by carrying a pomander, which was originally an orange 



' "The History of Signboards." 



