It was frequently used in medieval feudal tenure contracts as a means of payment of peppercorn rent for land. For example, in 1262 in Bedfordshire an area of land called The Hyde was held by someone `for the rent of one clove of gilliflower`, and Elmore Court in Gloucester was granted to the Guise family by John De Burgh for the rent of `The clove of one Gillyflower` each year.