FOURTEENTH AND FIFTEENTH CENTURIES 55 
“ a garland set upon his heed.” The annual rendering of a 
rose was a common kind of ” quit rent.” Sometimes the exact 
sort of rose is carefully specified in the lease as “ a rose from 
a rose-tree,” 1 or “ a red rose,” 2 or “ a double rose,” 3 or again, 
“ a barbed arrow with a rose.” 4 A flower or seed of the clove, 
pink, or gilliflower was also frequently the payment, and 
even a daisy might be held sufficient. 5 The lily ranked next 
to the rose in importance in a garden, and vied with the rose 
for a share in the poet’s song. 6 The white lily (.Lilium candi- 
dum ) served to typify all that was good and pure, or beautiful : 
4t First wol I you the name of Seinte Cecilie 
Expoune, as men may in hire storie see : 
It is to sayn in English, Heven’s lilie.” 7 
“ That Emelie, that fairer was to seene 
Than is the lilie or hire stalke grene.” 8 
" Upon his hand he bore for his delyt 
An eagle tame, as any lily whyte.” 9 
The yellow flag and purple iris are sometimes indiscriminately 
spoken of as lilies. In the old medical MS. already referred to, 
the lilie” that waxit in 5erdis” (groweth in gardens) is described 
as white as any milk, and the three other kinds of the field 
and wood were yellow, “ like saffron,” and one “ blue purple ” ; 
but these are also spoken of as “ gladdon ” and “ yreos.” 
Other flowers were brought in from the fields and woods, and 
perhaps improved by cultivation. The geranium of the flower 
garden in the Middle Ages was the wild cranesbill, or small 
herb Robert. The wild scabious and poppy were in the place 
1 “ Unam rosam de rosario ,” Ancient Deeds Record Office, vol. iv., 
A7962. 
2 Among the receipts of Bicester Abbey, 19th Rich. II., for lands and 
tenements : “ Una rosa rubea recept’ di Henrico Bowols de Curtlyng- 
ton . . . et de uno g’no gariophili rec’ de Rog’ o de Stodele . . .,” etc. 
(Dunkin, History of Bullington and Ploughley). In most instances the 
clove seed =the clove spice of commerce. 
3 " Rosam dupplicatum,” Ancient Deeds Record Office, A10395. 
4 18th Ed. I., ibid. A6529. 
6 2nd Ed. II., “ Flore minore consolido,” ibid., A8168. 
6 “ Lillys ” and “ roses ” are the only flowers mentioned on the 
gardeners’ rolls of Norwich Priory. 
7 The Second Noune’s Tale. 8 Knight’s Tale, 9 Ibid . 
