INTRODUCTION. 17 
the combat — on the other hand, the combination of 
yellow, green, and violet, proclaimed that the knight 
returned triumphant from the conflict, and had 
gained the reward of love. 
In France, where the symbolical meaning of 
colours was formed into a regular system, great 
importance was attached lo the art of expressing 
ideas by the selection of particular colours for 
dresses, trimmings, &c. Francis L, however, broke 
through all the rules of etiquette on this point. In 
the reign of that monarch, widows were permitted 
to wear any colours and stuffs they pleased for 
under-garments, and for gowns they were at liberty 
to choose one of two colours, a privilege which they 
had not previously enjoyed. In course of time, the 
practice of adopting colours for the purpose of 
emblematic representations gradually declined, and 
was observed only in the choice of arms and liveries, 
in which it has been retained, with certain modifi- 
cations, to the present day. 
In the ages of chivalry, red was highly esteemed 
as the colour of love, and accordingly, the rose was, 
on account of its tint, a favourite emblem. Thus, 
in the romance of Perceforet, a hat adorned with 
1* 
