Cap

CAP (Fool's)

" For William Somar, the king's fool, a cappe of green clothe fringed with red crule and lined with fryse." Henry VIII's reign. ————————

CAP (Night)

Night caps are first mentioned in the times of the Tudors. In the inventory of the wardrobe of Henry VIII, we find " a nightcappe of black velvett embroidered." They were worn in the day-time by elderly men and invalids. In 1762 the French night cap was worn by women of fashion in the daytime. It sat close to the ears and cheeks, leaving but little of the face to be seen. ————————

CAP

A head covering for both sexes (in French, bonnet). The Belgic Britons appear to have worn some head covering. Anglo-Saxons wore caps made of many materials according to the station of the wearers, those of the higher class had ornaments of metal and embroidery. About the close of the 12th century, the Danes and Normans wore a cap more like a colf which did not cover the back of the head. In 1369 caps of various colours, mostly red, were popular, and had costly linings. During the reigns of Henry V, Henry VI, and Henry VII, caps of most peculiar shapes were worn. In later years, caps of silver and gold were used. During the reign of Henry VIII what were called " Milan Bonnets," so named from the duchy in which they were first made, when also the modern name of Milliner (Milainer) applied to ladles' caps and bonnet makers in England, were greatly in fashion. They were composed of the costliest stuffs, cloth of gold and silver, velvet and satin, slashed and puffed like the dresses, jewelled and bordered with feathers, etc. The fashion in caps was constantly changing, and there are innumerable varieties, so fantastic and preposterous, in the majority of instances, in its forms, that the monstrosities of the Middle Ages, which provoked the censure and satire of the poets and others, appear graceful by comparison.