54 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 



There were both red and white double roses, as well as the 

 single, and the common dog-rose and sweetbriar. They were 

 planted along the walls, or singly, here and there in the garden, 

 or clambering over the arbour. The double-red (a variety of 

 Rosa Gallica) was the most prized, and as if this red rose was 

 the most lovely thing that could be imagined, it is thus brought 

 into an Ave Maria of the early fifteenth century : 



*' Heil be thou, Marie, that art flour of alle 

 As roose in eerbir so reed I" 1 



Chaucer praises the buds of the double rose, which are more 

 lasting than the quickly-falling petals of the single kinds : 



" I love wel sweitie roses rede : 

 , , For brode roses, and open also, 



Ben passed in a day or two ; 

 But knoppes 2 wilen fresshe be 

 Two dayes atte leest or three." 



When the red or white rose became the badge of two contending 

 parties, it doubtless depended on the side taken by the owner 

 of the garden which colour prevailed therein. The " fresh 

 redde rose neWe, against the sommer sunne," 3 or the " white 

 rose of England that is frishe and wol not fade. Both the rote 

 & the stalke that is of great honoure." 4 Roses were the 

 commonest of all flowers, for weaving into wreaths and gar- 

 lands : 



" And on hire hed ful semely for to see 

 A rose gerlond fresh and wel smelling." 6 



" And also on his head was sette 

 Of roses redde a chapelette." 6 



The periwinkle, with trailing leaves, was suitable for wreaths, 

 and many other flowers were used. Emely in her garden 

 gathered " floures, party whyte and reede, to make a sotil 

 gerland for hire heede." 7 But these pretty chaplets of flowers 

 were not only worn by beautiful maidens, for even the far from 

 prepossessing sompnour, among the Canterbury pilgrims, had 



1 Early Eng. Text Soc. 2 =buds. 



3 Assembly of Fowles, by Chaucer. 



* Political poem, 1460-71, Early Eng. Text Soc/vol. iv. 



6 Knight's Tale. « Romaunt of the Rose. T Knight's Tale. 



