ong the most sweet-scented flowers, next to Musk Roses and Strawberry
leaves dying, "the flower of the Vines; it is a little dust, like the
dust of a bent, which grows among the duster in the first coming
forth." And Chaucer says: "Scorners faren like the foul toode, that may
noughte endure the soote smel of the Vine roote when it
flourisheth."--_The Persones Tale._

Nor must we dismiss the Vine without a few words respecting its sacred
associations, for it is very much owing to these associations that it
has been so endeared to our forefathers and ourselves. Having its native
home in the East, it enters largely into the history and imagery of the
Bible. There is no plant so often mentioned in the Bible, and always
with honour, till the honour culminates in the great similitude, in
which our Lord chose the Vine as the one only plant to which He
condescended to compare Himself--"I am the true Vine!" No wonder that a
plant so honoured should ever have been the symbol of joy and plenty, of
national peace and domestic happiness.

FOOTNOTES:

[301:1] According to Vopiscus, England is indebted to the Emperor Probus
(A.D. 276-282) for the Vine: "Gallis omnibus et Britannis et Hispanis
hinc permisit ut vites haberent, et Vinum conficerent."

[302:1] At Stonehouse "there are two arpens of Vineyard."--_Domesday
Book_, quoted by Rudder. Also "the Vineyard" was the residence of the
Abbots of Gloucester. It was at St. Mary de Lode near Gloucester, and
"the Vineyard and Park were given to the Bishopric of Gloucester at its
foundation and again confirmed 6th Edward VI."--RUDDER.

[303:1] "Edinburgh Review," April, 1860.

[303:2] See Preface to "Palladius on Husbandrie," p. viii. (Early
English Text Society), for a further account of old English Vineyards.

[303:3] For a very interesting account of the formation of lynches, and
their connection with the ancient communal cultivation of the soil see
Seebohm's "English Village Community," p. 5.

[304:1] On this Vineyard Mr. Skrine, the present owner of Claverton, has
kindly informed me that it was sold in 1701 by Mr. Richard Holder for
L21,367, of which L28 was for "four hogsheads of wine of the Vineyards
of Claverton."

[304:2] Andrew Boorde was evidently a lover of good wine, and his
account is: "This I do say that all the kingdoms of the world have not
so many sundry kindes of wine as we in England, and yet _there is
nothing to make of_."--_Breviary of Health_, 1598.