8 
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
his badge the “ Forget-me-not.” The Hawthorn was 
assumed by the Tudors as their especial insignia, in 
remembrance of the crown which they gained at Boswortb 
being found hanging on a Thorn. 
Thus*we may give with a bouquet memories of mytho¬ 
logy, history, usefulness, beauty, and fragrance; and in 
modern times we have added to the ancient claims of 
flowers that of language—a gift bestowed on them by 
the East, 'and transplanted thence by one of the most 
gifted of Englishwomen, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. 
For this work, we have availed ourselves of all the 
goodly heritage of flower-land. And with these few lines 
of introduction, we leave them to their more worthy 
chroniclers—the Poets. 
