_Weel set about wi' gillyflowers._--P. 394. v. 5.
From whatever source the popular ideas of heaven be derived, the mention
of gillyflowers is not uncommon. Thus, in the Dead Men's Song--
The fields about this city faire
Were all with roses set;
_Gillyflowers_, and carnations faire,
Which canker could not fret.
RITSON'S _Ancient Songs_, p. 288.
The description, given in the legend of _Sir Owain_, of the terrestrial
paradise, at which the blessed arrive, after passing through purgatory,
omits gillyflowers, though it mentions many others. As the passage is
curious, and the legend has never been published, many persons may not
be displeased to see it extracted--
Fair were her erbers with flowres,
Rose and lili divers colours,
Primrol and parvink;
Mint, feverfoy, and eglenterre
Colombin, and mo ther wer
Than ani man mai bithenke.
It berth erbes of other maner,
Than ani in erth groweth here,
Tho that is lest of priis;
Evermore thai grene springeth,
For winter no somer it no clingeth,
And sweeter than licorice.
_But plait a wand o' bonnie birk_, &c.--P. 396. v. 3.
The custom of binding the new-laid sod of the church-yard with osiers,
or other saplings, prevailed both in England and Scotland, and served to
protect the turf from injury by cattle, or otherwise. It is alluded to
by Gay, in the _What d'ye call it_--
Stay, let me pledge, 'tis my last earthly liquor,
When I am dead you'll bind my grave with _wicker_.
In the _Shepherd's Week_, the same custom is alluded to, and the cause
explained:--
With _wicker rods_ we fenced her tomb around,
To ward, from man and beast, the hallowed ground,
Lest her new grave the parson's cattle raze,
For both his horse and cow the church-yard graze.
_Fifth Pastoral._