In England in the early 17th century, patterns for embroidery were provided by print sellers. Many of these were designs inspired by images of birds, animals, insects and plants found in illustrated natural history and botanical books, which were very popular at the time. This was a commercial provision for the needs of the amateur embroiderer; the print sellers not only provided books and separate sheets of embroidery designs but also patterns printed or drawn directly onto a textile ground as seen here. The use by amateur embroiderers of prepared designs was know from at least the 16th century. Mary Queen of Scots, while imprisoned in Lochleven Castle in 1568, petitioned for 'an imbroderer to drawe forthe such worke as she would be occupied about'.