ing down her shoulders." (Dyer, p. 353.) And from Heywood we quote the couplet:
"At length the blushing bride comes, with her hair
Dishevelled 'bout her shoulders."
Flowers were lavishly used at weddings. Rosemary, for remembrance, was especially suitable.
"Were the rosemary branches dipped, and all
The hippocras and cakes eat and drunk off;
Were these two arms encompass'd with the hands
Of bachelors to lead me to the church."
Rosemary, however, was not the only flower strewed before the bride on her way to church or in the church itself. The following bit of verse is found in the fifteenth song of Drayton's unpoetic but interesting Polyolbion:
"Thus for the nuptial hour, all fitted point device,
Whilst some still busied are in decking of the bride,
Some others were again as seriously employ'd
In strewing of those herbs, at bridals used that be;
Which everywhere they throw with bounteous hands and free.
The healthful balm and mint, from their full laps do fly.
The scentful camomile, the verdurous costmary.
The hot muscado oft with milder maudlin cast;
Strong tansy, fennel cool, they prodigally waste:
Clear isop, and therewith the comfortable thyme,
Germander with the rest, each thing then in her prime;
As well of wholesome herbs, as every pleasant flower,
Which nature here produced, to fit this happy hour.
Amongst these strewing kinds, some other wild that grow,
As burnel, all aboard, and meadow-wort they throw."
