Draft of a paper concerning the history of dress, undated (Series 87.02) - No. 0019

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mail   the word which is the French word maille is applicable only to this kind of armor which Gray in his elegant verses calls (1) Hauberks  Twisted mail,  The figure of this Peice of armor exactly resembles that of a Linnen Shirt & from this circumstance we may be satisfied that the shirt of our ancestors worn as a habit in the days of Hen 7th was Simelar in form to the Shirt now worn & probably made of Linnen

1134     For a Shirt of mail see the Tomb of Robt Duke of Normandy Elder
1128     Brother of Hen 1st & that Earl of Flanders  Sandford Genealogical history also has Plates of Seals P.54
our ancestors seem to have distinguishd Mail from bright armor  The former tho [bright armor?] it warded of a Cut or a Push Could not resist the blow
1413     of a mace  Bright armor was therefore Substituted in its Stead, Hen 5th is the First of our monarchs who appears on his Great Seal in Bright armor
Henry in his history of England Vol 3 page 584 says that Shirts of the people in general were made of Linnen in the Reign of Wm 1st. on what authority does not appear
1577     the Highland Sects wore Saffron Shirts under their mantle in the Irish Fashion   Harrison p 5.8.
1580    Cote of mail  Lorica ex annellis