Draft of a paper concerning the history of dress, undated (Series 87.02) - No. 0083

[Page 83]

No. 4                   Kirtle

in  Early times we frequently Read of kirtles  The Kirtle was the outward body garment of a woman & seems to have been a kind of [pelquet?] unconnected with the Peticoat
1533      in the Ceremony of the Coronation of Anne Boleyn The Queen is Said to have worn a Circoat at the Entertainment the Ladies are said to have dind in their Kirtles hence we may deduce that circoate or surcoat more properly was occasionaly usd in the same sence as Kirtle
1554      The Kirtle of Queen mary is tight to her body & neck the Sleeves Loose but not wide  her head dress is Remarkable  See her Great Seal in Sandford 
1583      they have Kyrtles as the Call them of Silk velvet Taffetie Grograin or scarlet borderd with Gards Lace & Fringe  Stubbes anat. of abuses
note  these Kyrtles were worn with gownes
Kirtle Surcot, cotelle  alveary
1526      Sir John Nevile Gave to his daughter on her marriage 7 yards of black Satten for her Kirtle  Roll of Cures  p. 171.
1510      Cluniculum an pole or a Spayre of a womans Kyrtle   ortus verberum

Kirtle  Couvre-tle couvre-cle  The i forbids this

Kercheif in French Couvre-chef meant originaly a peice of Linnen usd to Cover the head  Kirtle meant the upper Garment of the Body.  no Doubt it was orginaly [derwd?] for couvrie   the words Cover & Tail present themselves but cannot be right