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“ ©f oltbe nnb ruge* flomcs

SStcren gstrrlueti ftallt nntl b0«rcs.”t— Marriage of Cleopatras.

Glendower. —“ She bids you,

Upon the wanton rushes lay you down,

And rest your gentle head upon her lap.”

Henry IV., Part I. Act III. Scene 1., Archdeacon of Bangor's House.

“ Their honours are upon coming, and the room not ready.

Rushes and seats instantly.”

The Widow’s Tears, Old Play, vol. vi. p. 162.

“ Sweet lady, I do honour the meanest rush in this chamber for your love.

Every Man out of his Humour.

Dr. Bulleyne, in his Bulwark of Defence, printed 1562, observes,that “ rushes that growe upon dry groundes be good to strewe in halles,chambers, and galleries, to walk upon, defending apparel, as traynes ofgownes and kertles, from the dust;” and Dekker speaks of bulrushesbeing applied to the same use. Laevinius Lemnius, a physician anddivine of Zealand, visited London in the 16th century, and wrote anaccount in Latin of his travels, which was translated by Thomas Newton,in 1576. He remarks, with great admiration, the cleanliness of theEnglish , and adds, “ their chambers and parlours, strawed over withsweete herbes, refreshed mee ; their nosegayes finelye entermingled withsondry sortes of fraguante floures in their bed-chambers and privieroomes, with comfortable smell cheered mee up, and entierlye delightedall my sences.”

The planta-genista, or broom, having been ordinarily used for strewingfloors, became an emblem of humility; and was borne as such by Fulke,earl of Anjou, grandfather of Henry II. , king of England, in his

* Red.

t Chambers.