The pretty delicately-scented spikes of White Lavender are less well known than they should be, but like many other herbs they received more admiration in former days as has been already said, at the close of the sixteenth century, a literary guild was called after it. In the Parliamentary Survey (November 1649) of the Manor of Wimbledon, “Late parcel of the possessions of Henrietta Maria, the relict and late Queen of Charles Stuart, late King of England”--an exact inventory is made of the house and grounds (in which forty-four perches of land, called the Hartichoke Garden is named), and among other things, “very great and large borders of Rosemary, Rue and White Lavender and great varietie of excellent herbs” are noticed.
Lavender Cotton is a little grey plant with “very finely cut leaves, clustered buttons of a golden colour and of a sweet smell and is often used in garlands and in decking up of gardens and houses.” The French called it _Petit Cyprez_ and _Guarde Robe_, from which it may be inferred that it was one of the herbs laid in chests among furs and robes. Tusser counts it among his “strewing herbes,” and it is now chiefly used as an edging to beds or borders.
Bring, too, some branches forth of Daphne’s hair, And gladdest myrtle for the posts to wear, With spikenard weav’d and marjorams between And starr’d with yellow-golds and meadows-queen.
Amongst these strewing herbs, some others wild that grow, As burnet, all abroad, and meadow-wort they throw.
_She._ The glow-room lights, as day is failing Dew is falling over the field. _He._ The meadow-sweet its scent is exhaling, Honeysuckles their fragrance yield. _Together._ Then why should we be all the day toiling? Lads and lasses, along with me! _She._ There’s Jack o’ Lantern lustily dancing, In the marsh with flickering flame. _He._ And Daddy-long-legs, spinning and prancing, Moth and midge are doing the same. _Chorus._ Then why should we, etc.
Where peep the gaping speckled cuckoo-flowers The meadow-sweet flaunts high its showy wreath And sweet the quaking grasses hide beneath.
Shall I strew on thee rose or rue or laurel? Or quiet sea flower moulded by the sea, Or simples and growth of meadow-sweet or sorrel.
Pale Iris growing where the streams wind slowly Round the smooth shoulders of untrodden hills, White meadow-sweet and yellow daffodils.