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[Page 86]
No 6 Fordingale
Seems to have been exactly the same thing as what the Ladies a few years ago wore under the name of a Round hoop The French Call this garment by the Ludicrous name of Pot en L' air if we allow Gale to be as in Truth it is a Translation of the French word air we may Conclude that the word Fordingale is a Correct translation one Letter excepted of the French word
The Fordingale does not appear on the Court Dress of Queen Elizabeth exhibited on her Great Seal it was however no doubt introduce very soon after that time
a Fordingale is Called in Dutch Verde garde in German Fartegarde in French Vertugálle in Italian Vertu galla in spanish Vertiegado minshau Latin verticula a vertendo quod circa Lumbes in gyrum vertatur
it is probable that the unchaste & uncleanly allusions so obvious in these names were invented by the men in the hope of deterring the women from the use of this Preposterous Garment but Fashion prevailel as it always does over even these opprobrious obstacles & in a short time the Ladies escapd from the Ribbaldry of the men by Calling the garment a Hoop
Fordingale, Verdugalle, French, Vertugado Spanish, The Guard of virtue because young women by hiding their Great Bellies preserve the Reputation of their chastity a whole bone Circle or hoop which Ladies wore formerly upon their hips a Sort of Hoop Peticoat Baileys dict
Douglass the monk of Glastonbury who wrote in the Time of Edwd 3d? whose MS in in the Brit. mus. Harleian Lib. No 4690 P. 82 Says of the Ladies in his time "that they woredde Such Strele Clothes that they had Long Foxtailes Sewede within their Garments to hold them forth for to [rede?] their (Pastenois)
Bearers Rowls Fordingales are things made purposely to put under the Skirts of Gowns at their setting on at the Bodies which Raise up the skirt at that Place as the wearer Pleaseth Randle Holme Book 3 P 95
1572 Vertingale for a Gentlewoman Higgins
Envasquiné in a Long Spanish or old Fashiond Vardingale Cotgrove