Draft of a paper concerning the history of dress, undated (Series 87.02) - No. 0034

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No 15                   Hood
     16

The Hood seems to have been the only kind of Covering for the head used in England in ancient times, it was Calculated solely for convenience without the Least regard to appearance, but seems to have been the constant & indispensable companion of an English man whenever he went into the open air
The Forms of it no doubt differd in different Periods  it always however Consisted of a Covering for the head ample & Capacious, ending in a kind of short Capuchin which fell over the shoulders & Buttend Doubled under the chin,  to this was added a Broad strap of cloth fixd to the hood, Calld a Tippet, which servd for a handle to fasten it to the girdle or to hold in the hand while the hood hung over the shoulders  also when the hood was worn to hold it in its Place & give additional warmth by passing two or three times round the neck
on the Robes of the Garter the hood makes a very Conspicuous figure, it is also a necessary Part of the Peers Parliament Robes,  the Dresses of all the orders of the university masters of arts Doctors &c have their respective hood by which they are distinguishd from each other
in Funeral Processions the hoods of the mourners are very singular the tippet hangingd down behind almost to their heels like a long Tail, this is seen in the 1586      Funeral of Sir Philip Sidney 1586 where also the manner of Carrying the hood over the should with the Tippet either held in the hand or tuckd into the girdle is fully expressed,  it appears from this that the hood was worn over the ornamental head dress of a Cap or a bonnet
in Coming into a chamber it was taken from the head Master walsh having
1530       enterd the Cardinal (Wolseys) Chamber began to Pluck off his hood.   Howe
The Hood was a Part of the uniform of an english Soldier, at the Battle of
1485       Bosworth the Soldiers of the Left wing Commanded by Sir John Savage were all alike Clad in White Coats & Hoods of Frize  Baker 
1380      Wat Tylers mob having beheaded the archbishop took his head & having Nailed on it his hood  they fixd it on a Pole  Howe
if the Rebels found any man with Pen & ink, they Pulled off his hood  it was Pastime to them if they found any not sworn to them to take from him his hood & behead him