sprinkling of the guests witii essences 

 and perfumes at those feasts where 

 each host vied with his neighbour to 

 procure new sensations. As years 

 passed, the love for scents of various 

 kinds increased and spread to diiTerent 

 countries. Doughty knights were 

 pleased to have their doublets made 

 of scented Spanish leather, while bits 

 of it were sold to perfume feminine 

 belongings. 



Queen Elizabeth was very fond of 

 all strong essences and fragrant waters. 

 The Medicis brought from Italy into 

 France cosmetics and perfumes, some 

 of the latter said to conceal deadly 

 poisons and used as a means for taking 

 off those of whom they were anxious 

 to be rid, so that such innocent-looking 

 objects as a pair of scented gloves or 

 a fragrant nosegay might conceal a 

 death-dealing foe. 



From the earliest times violets were 

 48 



