French? Hoods

[sstormwatch]

Something came up on the Tribe site for Elizabethan costuming, and I've gone and shot off my mouth, er fingers? Anyway, went into a long discourse over French hoods, with regards to someone else's posted research, which I politely disagree in some aspects with, but agree with other parts of

Comments

[sarahbellem]

I think you pointed out some excellent contradictions, there. Some thoughts

[sstormwatch]

You give me a lot to consider already, thank you. Feel free to comment more when the brain returns.

[jillwheezul]

I'm trying to recall any period reference to a hood that specified either French or English. It would be an interesting study.

[sstormwatch]

Usually, they don't. There are a few different terms I see, hoods, whoods, habiliments, maybe billiments (tho that term is iffy, as it might be the jewels or a specific portion that as a group make up the hood).

But I did find one quote, which came from Jane Ashelford's book, "The Art of Dress", that directly called something a French hood.

“That Mrs. Anne shall wear out her French apparel, so that your ladyship shall thereby be no loser. Howbeit, she must needs have a bonnet of velvet and a frontlet of the same. I saw her yesterday in her velvet bonnet that my Lady Sussex had ‘tired [dressed] her in, and me thought it became her nothing so well as the French hood; but the Queen’s pleasure must needs be fulfilled” (Quote from the Lisle Letters, as noted in Ashelford, 21).

I have yet to read the complete Lisle Letters, but have wanted to get the large multi-volume copy, but have to wait for my college library to re-open for the ILL opportunity as alumni, since my regular library has not been able to get them for me.

[myladyswardrobe]

Ha! you found the same one as I did. I have the complete book and that is so far the only reference I have found to it.

Bingo! Reference IN PERIOD to the term "French Hood".

[myladyswardrobe]

The Lisle Letters edited by Muriel St Clare Byrne.

Page270/71.

# 180.
"John Hussee to Lady Lisle
17 September 1537.

(Bess comment: This is a small extract from a long letter that is detailing what is happening to Lady Lisle's daughters Anne and Katherine when at Court. Apparently they do not have appropriate apparel. Anne (the younger) is one of the Queen's Ladies whereas Katherine (the elder) is assigned as a lady to one of the Queen's ladies!).

....
My Lady of Sussex have given Mrs Anne a kirtle of crimson damask and sleeves to the same, and also she hath promised Mrs Katherine a gown of taffeta....However since that time James is come from the court, and saith that the Queen's pleasure [is] that Mrs Anne shall wear out her French Apparel, so that your ladyship shall thereby be no loser. Howbeit she must needs have a bonnet of velvet and a frontlet of the same. I saw her yesterday in her velvet bonnet that my Lady Sussex had 'tired her in, and methought it become her nothing so well as the French hood; but the Queen's pleasure

Re: Bingo! Reference IN PERIOD to the term "French Hood".

[sstormwatch]

Oh, thank you Bess! That is good to know that the term actually is appropriate, and where it can be found.

Someday I shall have that set of books.

[love3angle]

LOL! I saw your Tribe post and thought GOODIE! Now she'll write it! :-) tee hee, can't wait!

[sstormwatch]

I didn't feel I could write it, since I knew that there is to be a major scholarly article coming soon on French hoods, written by Melanie Schuessler in Medieval Clothing & Textiles #5 (due in March according to Amazon). I don't know what she has written, and I don't know what she covers, so I was reluctant to do so.

[love3angle]

Yeah, but that doesn't mean you can't write your own, even if it's just a summation for your website. You've done somuch work, theorizing, and collecting of images to support your conculsions, you'd really just be putting all that in one place. :-)

C'mon... you know you wanna... :-)

[sstormwatch]

Good thought there. Right or wrong, it is worth putting in my best write up.