Articles of Dress.

GLOVES.

About the year 790, Charlemagne granted an unlimited right of hunting to the Abbot and Monks of Sithin, for making their Gloves and Girdles of the Skins of the Deer they killed, and Covers for their Books. [Mabillon de Re Diplom. p. 611. Grose.]

Anciently richly adorned and decorated with precious Stones, as in the Rolls of Parliament, anno 53 Hen. III. A. D. 1267. “Et de 2 Paribus Chirothecarum cum lapidibus." [Warton's History of Poetry, vol. I. p. 182, note. Grose.]

*

Edward Vere, Earl of Oxford, according to Mr. Walpole's account, on the authority of Stowe,—“ having travelled into Italy, is recorded to have been the first that brought into England embroidered GLOVES and Perfumes; and presenting the Queen [Elizabeth] with a Pair of the former, she was

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so pleased with them, as to be drawn with them in one of her Portraits." [Royal and Noble Authors, vol. i. Note to 159. P.:

Winter's Tale, edit. Johnson and Steevens, 1778, p. 388.]

"Give Gloves to the Reapers, a Largesse to cry."

[Tusser, v. Hist. of Hawsted. 190.]

The Monastery of Bury allowed its Servants two pence apiece for Glove-Silver in Autumn. [Hist. of Hawsted. 190.]

The rural Bridegroom, in Laneham's (or Langham's) Account of the Entertainment of Queen Elizabeth at Kenelworth Castle, 1575, had-a Payr of Harvest Gloves on his Hands, as a sign of good Husbandry. Id. in eod.

When Sir Thomas Pope, the Founder of Trinity College, Oxford, visited it, 1556, "The Bursars offered him a present of embroidered Gloves." [Warton's Life of Sir Thomas Pope, p. 119.]

When Sir Thomas Pope had founded the College, the University complimented him with a Letter of Thanks, which was accom

panied with a Present of rich Gloves, 1556. [Warton's Life, p. 132, note.] The Gloves were sent both to himself and Lady, and cost 6s. 8d. [Id. in eod.]

After the death of Sir Thomas Pope, his Widow married Sir Hugh Powlett; on which occasion the College presented her, as the Wife of the Founder, with a Pair of very rich Gloves, the charge for which runs-Pro Pari Chirothecarum dat. Dom. Powlett et Domine Fundatrici, xvi s. Idem, p. 185. See also p. 191, ubi sæpe; and 411. "Pro Chirothecis Magistri Pope, xxxii s.

P.

An article charged in the Bursar's books of Trinity College, Oxford, is "pro fumigatis Chirothecis." [Warton.] These were often given to College-Tenants, and Guests of Distinction; but this fell into disuse soon after the Reign of Charles I. Idem. [Grose.]

George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, received a Glove from Queen Elizabeth. The Queen had dropped it, when he taking it up to return to her, she presented it to him as a mark of her esteem. He adorned it with

Jewels, and wore it in the front of his Hat on days of Tournaments. It is expressed in a print of him by Robert White. [Bray's Tour, p. 319.]

See for Gloves worn in Hats, Old Plays, vol. ii. p. 132, second edition: King Lear, act iii. sc. 4. edit. 1778, by Johnson and Steevens.

N. B. Such Tokens as these were called Favours*, from whence we derive the term for Ribbons given on Weddings. I presume they are supposed to be given by the hand of the Bride.

Dr. Glisson, in his last visit to Queen Elizabeth, received from her a Pair of rich Spanish leather Gloves, embossed on the backs and tops with gold embroidery, and fringed round with gold plate. The Queen, as he tells us, pulled them from her own Royal Hands, saying, "Here, Glisson, wear them for my sake." sake." Life of Corinna (or

Mrs. Eliz. Thomas), p. xxxi.

* See Walpole's Royal and Noble Authors, vol. i. p. 131. So Shakspeare, Richard II. act v. sc. 2.

; v. supra.

Perfumed Gloves *

These Gloves the Count sent me; they are an excellent Perfume."

Much Ado about Nothing, act ii. sc. 4.

Gloves given at Weddings. Old Plays, vol. v. P. 8.

A Glove hung up in a Church, as a public Challenge. Gilpin's Life of Bernard Gilpin, by Mr. Gilpin, p. 179.

Swearing by Gloves, in jocular conversation, very common. "Aye, by these Gloves!" is an expression I have somewhere seen.

Ladies' Sleeves, as well as Gloves, were worn as tokens of Gallantry. Vide Troil. and Cress. act. v. sc. 2. edit. Johnson and Steevens, 1778.

Gifts that admitted of it (especially to Women from Men) were usually worn on the Sleeve.

"I knew her by this Jewel on her Sleeve."

Love's Labour Lost, act v. sc. 1.

* Mistress of the Sweet-Coffers, occurs in the Old Establishments. The present Queen (Charlotte) has her Gloves kept in a perfumed box.