Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 20]
No 3 No 1. Breech No1
How the Posteriors of our Forefathers were guarded from the inclemencies of the weather we can only guess as the whole of their under Garments were Conceald, in Later times the hose were divided into understocks or Leg Stockings & overstocks or thigh Stockings but this seems to have been in use about the time of Elizabeth & James
in Earlier times when the Cassock under the Gown was the usual dress the skirt of the Cassock held fast by a Girdle surrounded the thighs & made an under garment less unnecessary , When the Cassock was changd for the Doublet a Covering for the thighs became necessary this seems to have resembled the Kelt or fillibags of the Scotch highlanders or possibly was more nearly related to the Short Cassock of our Divines a breech was however worn under it
Gouldman in his dictionary of the Latin Tongue Publishd in Cambridge in 1674 has the article Breeches Slops or Long hose he has also the word galleygaskins which he calls seamans Breeches
1553 in Holbeins Picture of Edwd 6th delevering the Charter of Bridewell to Sir Geo Barnes Ld Mayor the elevated Situation of the king gives a better view of his under dress than generaly occurs it is however indistinct, his Breech afterwards Calld overstock, appears to be a loose Garment full of folds Fastend Round the thighs not far above the Knee, the hose or understock being Girt at the same Place & Passing under the Girting of the overstock so that both are 1550 fastend at the same Point this is best explaind in the figure of the Giant Antigon in the Entry of Philip into antwerp on his way to marry Queen mary Lelland. The armor of the thighs & back parts when Buckled on, much resembled modern breeches
When Ch 2nd Escapd from the Battle of worcester in the disguise of a serving man he wore gray cloth Breeches a Leathern doublet & a green jerkin monthely magazine Sept 1810 p. 137
The Breeches bible was Printed in 1587