Draft of a paper concerning the history of dress, undated (Series 87.02) - No. 0030

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No 12                    Cassock

See introduction

The Cassock of our Reverend Divines is in effect a waistcoat & Peticoat in one   in warm weather it is not uncommon for clergymen to do duty in their Cassock alone without any breeches under them
in the famous Picture of Hans Holbein Representing Hen the 7th & his Queen & Hen 8th with Catherine Seymour his newly espousd wife opposite to him Painted in the year 1537, Hen 8 is evidently dressd in a Cassock or rather in a gown & Cassock for his outer dress is a gown Richly furred tho it Reaches no Lower than his knees
Casaque in French is an outer garment with Sleeves  this is the Cassock worn by our Cavalry in ancient times  Henry the 8rh Dress is more like the French Trousse a garment which Coverd the breech & the thighs & seems to have been Similar to the Trews of the highlanders
1554     Sir Thos Wyatt wore a shirt of mail under a velvet Cassock  Speed
Mandolian  a Cassock or Loose Coat   English Expositor
1580     Cassocke, also a soldiers Cloke, a Little Cloke or Cassock  Alveary   cloke hence we may conclude that a Cassock was not at this time a clerical habit  The Cassock now worn by the Clergy seems to be the vest doublet of our forefathers madew with Long Skirts to Serves instead as the Trusse & this seems plain because the Short Fr Cassock is effect the Truss of our ancestors
a frocke or Cassock