Herbs in the House

[bunnyjadwiga]

Found in Warm and Snug: The History of the Bed by Lawrence Wright:
"There were two Long Galleries at Cowdray, one on each side of the court, and int he Book of Household Rules drawn up by Lord Montague in 1595 the "Yeoman of the Wardroppe" is to

see the galleryes and all lodgings reserved for st[r]angers cleanly and sweetly kepte, with herbes, flowers, and bowes in their seasons and the beddes of such as shall hither resorte att their first cominge to be mayde and the better sortes of quiltes of beddes at any tyme to be used at nightes taken off, and Yrish Rugges layd in their places.

p. 64.

So it appears that there were herbs and flowers, either strewn on the floors, or used as decoration/air freshener, in the guest 'bedrooms'.

Comments

[stringlady.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

It wasn't a phrase I'd encountered, and I was wondering why they were specifically Irish.

It's nice to know people who know things, and know people who know things, who in turn know people...

Of course, now I'm curious about something else. When guests arrive, you take off the better sorts of quilts and replace them with Irish Rugs. Taking off the pretty bedspread and giving you a nice cozy blanket, do you suppose? Or...?

I like that they're to be kept nice and fresh (with herbs) all the time, not just when the guests arrive.