142 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 
in those that make them ornaments for their wearing.” 1 
Another original button-hole was the Fritillaria, which, says 
Parkinson, was “ worn abroad ” by the “ curious lovers of 
these delights.” 
Some flowers had particular meaning attached to them, and 
were therefore worn on special occasions—a practice which has 
not altogether died out. One interesting survival of such old 
customs is the sprig of Thyme carried by the Order of Odd¬ 
fellows (Manchester Unity) at the funeral of one of their 
brothers, and cast into the grave. In olden days Rosemary 
was borne at funerals : 
“ There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance,” 
said Ophelia, and strange to say, it was also worn at marriages. 
Anne of Cleves, when she arrived at Greenwich as a bride, wore 
“ on her head a coronet of gold and precious stones, set full of 
branches of rosemary.” At a rustic wedding witnessed by 
Queen Elizabeth at Kenilworth, “ each wight had a branch 
of green broom tied on his left arm (for that side is near the 
heart) because rosemary was scant there.” 
“ Down with the rosemary and bays, 
£ Down with the mistletoe ;— 
Instead of Holly, now upraise 
The greener box, for show. 
* * * * 
When yew is out and birch comes in, 
And many flowers beside 
Both of a fresh and fragrant kin 
To honour Whitsuntide, 
Green rushes then, and sweetest bents 2 
With cooler open boughs, 
Come in for comely ornaments 
To re-adorn the house.” 
Herrick, Candlemas Eve. 
Parkinson again refers to the flowers in houses when writing 
about wallflowers. “ The sweetness of the flowers,” he says, 
“ causeth them to be generally used in nosegays and to deck 
up houses.” The “ greater flag ” was also used for the same 
purpose. Plants were grown in rooms also, and Platt gives a 
long paragraph with suggestions of the best plants to grow, 
1 Parkinson. 2 A sort of grass ( Agrostis ). 
