| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Ros’amond (Fair). | | |
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Higden, monk of Chester, says: “She was the fayre daughter of Walter, Lord Clifford, concubine of Henry II., and poisoned by Queen Elianor, A.D. 1177. Henry made for her a house of wonderfull working, so that no man or woman might come to her. This house was named Labyrinthus, and was wrought like unto a knot in a garden called a maze. But the queen came to her by a clue of thredde, and so dealt with her that she lived not long after. She was buried at Godstow, in an house of nunnes, with these verses upon her tombe:— | 1 |
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| “Hic jacet in tumba Rosa mundi, non Rosa munda: |
| Non redolet, sed olet, quæ redole’rë solet.” |
| Here Rose the graced, not Rose the chaste, reposes; |
| The smell that rises is no smell of roses. | |
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 Rosamond Clifford is introduced by Sir Walter Scott in two of his novels—The Talisman and Woodstock. | 2 |
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| “Jane Clifford was her name, as books aver; |
| Fair Rosamond was but her nom de guerre.” | |
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Dryden: Epilogue to Henry II. |
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