BLANKET. 577 



the Clare purchases of 1384 and 1287, appears to have 

 been a kind of light blue, and to have borne a high price, 

 if we can argue that the rates paid on these occasions were 

 customary. 



Burnet, which 'is found once, and is then quoted at a 

 high price, is, it seems, from the quotations given by 

 Ducange, a dyed brown, as russet is often a natural brown. 

 Ponnetum, found in Ireland in the year 1287, I am unable 

 to trace. 



Blodium, which will be found under the year 1388, is a 

 kind of red cloth, the "dyeing of which does not seem to have 

 contributed very much to the cost of the article. Scarlet 

 cloth, which is quoted once, is, however, very dear, half a 

 yard being bought at the rate of 15*. the yard. Green and 

 white cloth are named, but the former does not seem to have 

 been dear. 



Sometimes the cloth was of variegated colours, and was then 

 called c radiatus' and c stragulatus/ Such materials were used 

 as well for servants' liveries as for the robe of the wealthier 

 members of society. It does not seem that ecclesiastics and 

 persons of gravity affected sombre colours, though the statutes 

 of some monasteries prescribed russet or dark cloth. Bloxham, 

 for instance, who was warden of Merton bet ween the years 1375 

 and 1387, affected green, white, red, and scarlet cloth, though 

 he was certainly in orders, having graduated as Bachelor of 

 Divinity. 



The dress of our forefathers was ample. The robes of the 

 warden of Merton contained from eight to nine yards of cloth, 

 the riding-robe being shorter and more closely fitting. Bloxham, 

 in whose behalf most of the purchases are made between the 

 years 1377-1388, takes eight yards at first, but latterly requires 

 ten. 



Doles of cloth for livery were very common in the Middle 

 Ages. Custom, perhaps ostentation, induced the nobles to 

 collect a crowd of followers, whom they fed and clothed. 

 Similarly the founders of monasteries prescribed the dress 



pp 



