18 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 



At all great functions, both during the processions or while 

 performing the services, the priests were crowned with flowers. 

 This was specially the custom at St. Paul's, 1 in London ; and 

 when, on June 30th, 1405, Bishop Roger de Walden was in- 

 stalled there, he and the Canons of the Cathedral walked in 

 solemn procession, wearing garlands of red roses. 2 Some land 

 in Essex was leased in 1274 by Henry de Borham, Dean of 

 St. Paul's, to a kinswoman for the yearly rent of a chaplet of 

 roses at the Feast of St. John the Baptist. 3 Perhaps he wore 

 the crown thus supplied during his tenure of office. 



The use of these " coronse sacerdotales," or wreaths worn by 

 the priests on feast days, continued for many centuries, 4 and 

 their prevalence up to the time of the Reformation is apparent 

 from various churchwardens' accounts. These entries, however, 

 are not frequent, as the gardens attached to the churches were 

 evidently, as a rule, able to supply sufficient flowers for ordinary 

 use, and it was only for great occasions, or on special feast-days, 

 when larger quantities were required, that they had to be bought. 



For instance, at St. Mary Hill, where some entries are found 

 in the accounts, there was a garden near the church. 8 



A.D. 



1483-1497. St. Mary Hill. Churchwarden's Account : " For birch at 

 Midsomer, 8d. — Box and palme on Palmesonday, is. — Polis on 

 Estir evyne, iod. — Garlondes on Corpus Christi day, iod. — A 



;' dozen and a half rose garlondes on St. Barnebe's day, 8£d. — 



for rose garlondis and wodrove garlondis on Seynt Barnebe's 

 day, 1 id. — for two doss, di bocse garlondes for prests and 

 clerkes on St. Barnebe daye. 



1510. For palme flowrys and cake on Palme Sunday, iod. 

 Also at St. Martin Outwich, London, 1524 : 



Item — For rose garlands on Corpus Christi day, 6d. — Item — For 

 byrche at Midsomer, 2d. — Item — For rose garlands, brede, 

 wyne, & ale on ij Sent Marten's days, i5jd. — Item — For holy 

 and ivy at Chrystmas, 2£d. 



1525. Paid for palme on Palme Sunday, 2jd. Paid for brome ageynst 

 Ester, id. Payd for rosse garlonds on Corpus Christi daye, 6d. 



1 Polydore Vergil, De rerum Inventoribus, lib. ii. 



2 Historia de Episeopis et Decanis Londiniensibus, by H. Wharton, 

 1695, p. 150. 



3 " Unam capellam rose," Ancient Deeds Record Office, A6458. 



4 " Ceremonial Use of Flowers," Nineteenth Century, 1880. 



6 Nichols, Illustrations of the Manners and Expenses in England . . . 

 deduced from Accounts of Churchwardens, etc., 1797. 



