176 TO THE RIVER PLYM. 



As to the head, the hood of the last age had given way to a coarse 

 round felt hat, a cap or a bonnet among the men. The female, as 

 a matron, wore a plain coif or velvet bonnet ; but, if a maiden, had 

 her head uncovered, and permitted her tresses to hang down either 

 simply or braided with ribbonds. 



The men wore their hair at full length, until the capricious Hen- 

 ry VIII. decreed, that his attendants and courtiers should l poll their 

 heads/ 



Henry directed also, that cloth of gold and and tissue should only 

 adorn the duke and marquis ; purple should be reserved for the royal 

 family; silks and velvets might be worn by the opulent commoner; 

 but none inferior to an earl in dignity might use embroidery. 



Beneath these gay habits the legs could boast no tighter 

 nor richer covering than boots, made of cloth. A pair of black silk 

 hose, made in Spain, was a present worthy the acceptance of a king. 



The Scots afford no materials for any particular observation on 

 their dress. The ladies, in spite of a legal ordinance, 'That no wo- 

 man cum to the kirk nor mercat with her face muffalit,' appear, by 

 the declamations of their contemporary poets, to have continued to 

 use the fashion which they thought most becoming. 



TO THE RIVER PLYM. 



Loved Plym I I owe thee many a blessed hour, 



When, 'scaped the Town's dull din, thy banks I've sought, 



And roamed at will feeding the unfettered thought 



With dreams elysian ; while the placid power, 



That dwells in greenwood shades, sweet influence brought, 



And hallowed all my musings. Oh ! how oft, 



Amid these lonely wanderings, hath the soft 



And balmy Eve, with gentle pace and slow, 



Stolen on my devious walk, lulling awhile 



All bitter sense of past or present woe ; 



And when, upon the woods, Day's lingering smile 



Diffused its last rich tint of deepened glow, 



A holier joy past utterance was given, 



And wrapt in sweet illusion, Earth to me seemed Heaven ! 



HENRY INCLEDON JOHNS. 

 Plymouth. 



Printed and Published hi/ G. Hearder, Bi/ckwell Street, Phrmouth. 



