(16)“All clad in Lincoln green.”]This species of cloth is mentioned by Spenser (Faerie Queene, VI. ii. 5):“All in a woodman’s jacket he was cladOf Lincolne greene, belay’d with silver laceAnd on his head an hood with aglets sprad,And by his side his hunter’s horne he hanging had.”It is likewise noticed by our poet himself, in another place:“Swains in shepherds gray, and gyrles in Lincolne greene.”32See Polyolbion, song xxv., where the marginal note says, “Lincolne anciently dyed the best green in England.” Thus Coventry had formerly the reputation of dying the best blue.{xxxix}See Ray’s Proverbs, p. 178. Kendal green is equally famous, and appears to have been cloth of a similar quality. This colour was adopted by foresters to prevent their being too readily discovered by the deer. See Sir John Wynne’s History of the Guedir Family (Barrington’s Miscellanies), p. 419. Thus the Scotish Highlanders used to wear brown plaids to prevent their being distinguished among the heath. It is needless to observe that green has ever been the favourite dress of an archer, hunter, &c. See Note34.33We now call it a Saxon or grass green:“His coat is of a Saxon green, his waistcoat’s of a plaid” (O. song).Lincoln green was well known in France in or before the 13th century. Thus, in an old fabliau, transprosed by M. Le Grand (Fabliaux ou Contes, iv. 13), “Il mit donc son surcot fourré d’écureuil, et sa belle robe d’Estanfort teinte en verd.” Estanfort is Stamford, in Lincolnshire.34This cloth is, likewise, often mentioned by the old Scotish poets under the names of Lincum licht, Lincum twyne, &c., and appears to have been in universal request: and yet, notwithstanding this cloud of evidence, Mr. Pinkerton has had the confidence to assert that “no particular cloth was ever made at Lincoln.” (See Ancient Scotish Poems, ii. 430.) But, indeed, this worthy gentleman, as Johnson said of Goldsmith, only stumbles upon truth by accident.{xl}
(16)
“All clad in Lincoln green.”]
“All clad in Lincoln green.”]
“All clad in Lincoln green.”]
“All clad in Lincoln green.”]
This species of cloth is mentioned by Spenser (Faerie Queene, VI. ii. 5):
“All in a woodman’s jacket he was cladOf Lincolne greene, belay’d with silver laceAnd on his head an hood with aglets sprad,And by his side his hunter’s horne he hanging had.”
“All in a woodman’s jacket he was cladOf Lincolne greene, belay’d with silver laceAnd on his head an hood with aglets sprad,And by his side his hunter’s horne he hanging had.”
“All in a woodman’s jacket he was cladOf Lincolne greene, belay’d with silver laceAnd on his head an hood with aglets sprad,And by his side his hunter’s horne he hanging had.”
“All in a woodman’s jacket he was clad
Of Lincolne greene, belay’d with silver lace
And on his head an hood with aglets sprad,
And by his side his hunter’s horne he hanging had.”
It is likewise noticed by our poet himself, in another place:
“Swains in shepherds gray, and gyrles in Lincolne greene.”32
“Swains in shepherds gray, and gyrles in Lincolne greene.”32
“Swains in shepherds gray, and gyrles in Lincolne greene.”32
“Swains in shepherds gray, and gyrles in Lincolne greene.”32
See Polyolbion, song xxv., where the marginal note says, “Lincolne anciently dyed the best green in England.” Thus Coventry had formerly the reputation of dying the best blue.{xxxix}See Ray’s Proverbs, p. 178. Kendal green is equally famous, and appears to have been cloth of a similar quality. This colour was adopted by foresters to prevent their being too readily discovered by the deer. See Sir John Wynne’s History of the Guedir Family (Barrington’s Miscellanies), p. 419. Thus the Scotish Highlanders used to wear brown plaids to prevent their being distinguished among the heath. It is needless to observe that green has ever been the favourite dress of an archer, hunter, &c. See Note34.33We now call it a Saxon or grass green:
“His coat is of a Saxon green, his waistcoat’s of a plaid” (O. song).
“His coat is of a Saxon green, his waistcoat’s of a plaid” (O. song).
“His coat is of a Saxon green, his waistcoat’s of a plaid” (O. song).
“His coat is of a Saxon green, his waistcoat’s of a plaid” (O. song).
Lincoln green was well known in France in or before the 13th century. Thus, in an old fabliau, transprosed by M. Le Grand (Fabliaux ou Contes, iv. 13), “Il mit donc son surcot fourré d’écureuil, et sa belle robe d’Estanfort teinte en verd.” Estanfort is Stamford, in Lincolnshire.34This cloth is, likewise, often mentioned by the old Scotish poets under the names of Lincum licht, Lincum twyne, &c., and appears to have been in universal request: and yet, notwithstanding this cloud of evidence, Mr. Pinkerton has had the confidence to assert that “no particular cloth was ever made at Lincoln.” (See Ancient Scotish Poems, ii. 430.) But, indeed, this worthy gentleman, as Johnson said of Goldsmith, only stumbles upon truth by accident.{xl}