LODOWICK, DUKE OF RICHMOND AND LENNOX.
Engraved by J. Barrà.
In an inventory of the wardrobe and jewels of Henry V., taken in 1423 at his decease, mention is made of heukes of scarlet cloth and camlet, and pilches of grey fur. The word pilche is a corruption of the Latin pelliceus, or the Saxon pylce, and represented a coat of fur worn during cold weather. The modern word pelisse used to describe a child's coat is derived from the same source.[10]
"After grete hete comith colde,
No man cast his pilche away."
Chaucer.
A farewell letter of Bishop Ridley (Foxe's "Book of Martyrs"), describing the sufferings of Christ's true soldiers, says:—
"They were stoned, hewn asunder, tempted, fell, and were slain upon the edge of the sword; some wandered to and fro in sheep's pilches, in goats' pilches, forsaken, oppressed, afflicted."
PORTION OF THE PICTURE OF THE MIRACLE OF ST. BERNARD.
By Fiorenzo di Lorenzo, Pinacoteca, Perugia.
In the inventory above referred to are mentioned, "gounes de noier damask, furrez de sides de foynes et marterons." The cost of these furs is also given—"iii pares de foyns, chascun cont' c. bestes, pris le pec' xd. xiili. xs.," the marteron being more costly.