Testamenta Vetusta; Being Illustrations from Wills, of Manners, Customs, and C. As Well As of the Descents and Possessions of Many Distinguished Families

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1826 edition. Excerpt: ... NOTES IN EXPLANATION, ACCORDING TO REFERENCE. P. 10. In the reign of Henry III. and with more frequency in that of his son and successor, enamelled cups and rings were brought into England from Rome and France, particularly those of the manufactory at Limoges. Vide "Limogia," in Du Cange; Inventory of the Crown' Jewels, 3 Edw. III. Archaologia, vol. x. p. 241. After the victorious acquirement of France by Edward III. new luxuries, especially those of jewelry, splendid armour, and apparel, became more common, chalices (calices) or standing cups for the altar, were then considered as most costly bequests, and were marked with the arms of the donor in enamel. They were usually accompanied with a paten or salver "calicem cum patina." The most ancient specimens of enamel, now known, are upon what is called the "Iron Crown," preserved at Monza near Milan, and upon an ornament in theAshmolean Museum at Oxford, said to have belonged to King Alfred. Id. Beds of sumptuous materials and workmanship in embroidery became a fashion with the nobility; at first of inferior stuffs. Camoke, camoka, chamiere, and camelette, was a stuff originally made of camel's hair by the Orientals, afterwards of silk only, and called "camlette." Du Cange. In Chaucer's Dreme we have: "Of downe of pure dove's white, I wol give him a fether bed, Raied wel with gold, and right wel clad In fine blacke sattin, d'outremere', And many a pillow; and every here * Of cloth of Raynes, to slepe on softe," 'Extra marine, beyond sea. * A sheet. Such a bed is depicted in an illuminated Froissart (MSS. Harl. 4380. Brit. Mus.) where the chamber and bed of Anne, Queen of Richard the Second, are represented. "Serica," or silk, before the sixth century was unknown, as a manufacture, in...