GLOVES.
About the year 790, Charlemagne granted an unlimited right of hunting to the Abbot and Monks of Sithin, for making their Gloves and Girdles of the Skins of the Deer they killed, and Covers for their Books. [Mabillon de Re Diplom. p. 611. Grose.]
Anciently richly adorned and decorated with precious Stones,—as in the Rolls of Parliament, anno 53 Hen. III. A. D. 1267. "Et de 2 Paribus Chirothecarum cum lapidibus." [Warton's History of Poetry, vol. I. p. 182, note. Grose.]
Edward Vere, Earl of Oxford, according to Mr. Walpole's account, on the authority of Stowe,—"having travelled into Italy, is recorded to have been the first that brought into England embroidered Gloves and Perfumes; and presenting the Queen [Elizabeth] with a Pair of the former, she was so pleased with them, as to be drawn with them in one of her Portraits." [Royal and Noble Authors, vol. i. p. 159. Note to Winter's Tale, edit. Johnson and Steevens, 1778, p. 388.]
"Give Gloves to the Reapers, a Largesse to cry."
[Tusser, v. Hist. of Hawsted. 190.]
The Monastery of Bury allowed its Servants two pence apiece for Glove-Silver in Autumn. [Hist. of Hawsted. 190.]
The rural Bridegroom, in Laneham's (or Langham's) Account of the Entertainment of Queen Elizabeth at Kenelworth Castle, 1575, had—a Payr of Harvest Gloves on his Hands, as a sign of good Husbandry. Id. in eod.
When Sir Thomas Pope, the Founder of Trinity College, Oxford, visited it, 1556, "The Bursars offered him a present of embroidered Gloves." [Warton's Life of Sir Thomas Pope, p. 119.]
When Sir Thomas Pope had founded the College, the University complimented him with a Letter of Thanks, which was accompanied with a Present of rich Gloves, 1556. [Warton's Life, p. 132, note.] The Gloves were sent both to himself and Lady, and cost 6s. 8d. [Id. in eod.]
After the death of Sir Thomas Pope, his Widow married Sir Hugh Powlett; on which occasion the College presented her, as the Wife of the Founder, with a Pair of very rich Gloves, the charge for which runs—Pro Pari Chirothecarum dat. Dom. Powlett et Domine Fundatrici, xvi s. Idem, p. 185. See also p. 191, ubi sæpe; and p. 411. "Pro Chirothecis Magistri Pope, xxxii s.
An article charged in the Bursar's books of Trinity College, Oxford, is "pro fumigatis Chirothecis." [Warton.] These were often given to College-Tenants, and Guests of Distinction; but this fell into disuse soon after the Reign of Charles I. Idem. [Grose.]
George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, received a Glove from Queen Elizabeth. The Queen had dropped it, when he taking it up to return to her, she presented it to him as a mark of her esteem. He adorned it with Jewels, and wore it in the front of his Hat on days of Tournaments. It is expressed in a print of him by Robert White. [Bray's Tour, p. 319.]
See for Gloves worn in Hats, Old Plays, vol. ii. p. 132, second edition: King Lear, act iii. sc. 4. edit, 1778 by Johnson and Steevens.
N. B. Such Tokens as these were called Favours[375], from whence we derive the term for Ribbons given on Weddings. I presume they are supposed to be given by the hand of the Bride.
Dr. Glisson, in his last visit to Queen Elizabeth, received from her a Pair of rich Spanish leather Gloves, embossed on the backs and tops with gold embroidery, and fringed round with gold plate. The Queen, as he tells us, pulled them from her own Royal Hands, saying, "Here, Glisson, wear them for my sake." Life of Corinna (or Mrs. Eliz. Thomas), p. xxxi.
Perfumed Gloves[376]; v. supra.
"These Gloves the Count sent me; they are an excellent Perfume."
Much Ado about Nothing, act ii. sc. 4.
Gloves given at Weddings. Old Plays, vol. v. p. 8.
A Glove hung up in a Church, as a public Challenge. Gilpin's Life of Bernard Gilpin, by Mr. Gilpin, p. 179.
Swearing by Gloves, in jocular conversation, very common. "Aye, by these Gloves!" is an expression I have somewhere seen.
Ladies' Sleeves, as well as Gloves, were worn as tokens of Gallantry. Vide Troil. and Cress, act. v. sc. 2. edit. Johnson and Steevens, 1778.
Gifts that admitted of it (especially to Women from Men) were usually worn on the Sleeve.
"I knew her by this Jewel on her Sleeve."
Love's Labour Lost, act v. sc. 1.
Fairings, and such Tokens, were of this sort. Hence the Question and Answer.
Q. What have you brought me? (from the Fair, &c.)
A. A new nothing, to pin on your Sleeve.
Hence also to pin one's Faith upon another's Sleeve.
"Wear my Heart upon my Sleeve."
Othello, act i. sc. 1.
F. Grose, Esq. to S. Pegge, F. S. A.
September 4, 1784.
Dear Sir,
I have had such a variety of interruptions (agreeable ones), that I have made no hand of your Gloves: all that has occurred on that subject, I here send you.
Blood, who attempted to steal the Crown, presented Mr. Edwards, Keeper of the Jewel Office, with four Pair of White Gloves, as from his Wife, in gratitude for his civility to her in a pretended qualm or sickness. The whole transaction is in Maitland's History of London.
To give one's Glove was considered as a challenge. See Shakspeare, in Hen. V. It is still considered in that light by the Highlanders, of which I once saw an instance in Flanders. Dropping the Gauntlet, at the Coronation, is a kind of challenge.
When the Judge invites the Justices to dine with him at a County Assize, a Glove is handed about by the Crier or Clerk of the Court, who delivers the invitation; into this Glove every one invited puts a shilling.
A Bribe is called a Pair of Gloves.
In a Play, I think called the Twin Rivals, an Alderman presents his Glove, filled with Broad Pieces, to a Nobleman, as a Bribe to procure a Commission for his Son.
Item, for three dozen Leder Gloves, 12s. Vide Account of Henry VII. in Remembrancer's Office.
I set off next week for Christchurch, where I propose staying a month, or six weeks at farthest. My best wishes attend you and yours.
Adieu!
F. Grose.