TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ALEXANDRA 
MOS'f GRACIOUS LADY, 
Herewith I lay at Your Majesty s feet a Book of Roses, wherein 
I have striven to set down, with such poor skill and diligence as has 
been vouchsafed to vie, all that I have learned of that most Royal 
Eamily of the Kingdom of Eloivers. Eor as there are many races and 
colours of men, so are there many hues and diversities of Roses; but 
whereas, by the imperfection of our nature, the beauty of men fails to 
reach that of the Divine Image, being indeed too ofteit turned even to 
that ivliich is vile, yet shall you never find a Rose that is not most 
lovely, szveet and perfect, full of that grace ivliich comes only of 
purity, and abounding in that beauty zvhich divells only in God's 
own handhvork. 
A nd albeit such a task might appear too high for such an one as 
mine own self, and albeit I might seem umvorthily and presumptuously 
to vie with that Greek poetess of old, of zv horn it was said that ''she hath 
left little, but all Roses" ; yet, being mightily encouraged thereto by Your 
Majesty s gracious countenance and protection, I have to the best of my 
power endeavoured to accomplish it. A nd forasmuch as mere zuords must 
needs fail to give just meed of praise to the beauty of Roses, I have been 
beholden to the skill of a cunning limner, who has striven so to portray 
each leaf and blossom that all 7nay I'eadily knozv and love the same. 
Wherefore, 7nost Royal Lady, it 7'e7iiai7is 07dy for 77ie to dedicate, 
accordmg to Your Majesty s gracious per77iissio7i, 77iy Roses to our ozun 
peerless Rose, 77iy Q7iee7i of flozvers to the Q7tee7i of our E7iglish hearts ; 
beseechmg you herewith to accept the lm77ible a7id dutiful devotio7i of 
Your Majesty s 77iost faithful a7id obedient se7wa7it, 
ELLEN W/LLMOTT 
January, 1910. 
