Chapter X: Of the Character, Customs, and Habits of this People
From 'The Topography of Ireland' by Sylvester Giraldus Cambrensis, 1187
Edited by Thomas Wright, 1863
...
Their custom is to wear small, close-fitting hoods, hanging below the
shoulders a cubit's length, and generally made of parti-coloured strips
sewn together. Under these, they use woollen rugs instead of cloaks,
with breeches and hose of one piece, or hose and breeches joined
together, which are usually dyed of some colour.[1]
Likewise, in riding, they neither use saddles, nor boots, nor spurs,
but only carry a rod in their hand, having a crook at the upper end,
with which they both urge forward and guide their horses. They use
reins which serve the purpose both of a bridle and a, bit, and do not
prevent the horses from feeding, as they always live on grass.
Moreover, they go to battle without armour, considering it a burthen,
and esteeming it brave and honourable to fight without it.
NOTES:-
[1] Seu braccis caligatis, seu caligis braccalis.
The account given by Giraldus of the ancient dress of the Irish, in a language which
supplied no equivalent terms, is necessarily obscure; but, connecting
it with other sources of information, we find that it consisted of the
following articles: --1. What our author calls caputium, was a sort of
bonnet and hood, protecting not only the head, but the neck and
shoulders from the weather. It was of a conical form, and probably made
of the same sort of stuff as the mantle. 2. The cloak or mantle; to
describe which Giraldus has framed the Latin word phalingium, from the
Irish falach, which signifies a rug or covering of any sort. This cloak
had a fringed border sown or wove down the edges. It was worn almost as
low as the ancles, and was usually made of frieze, or some such coarse
material. It was worn by the higher classes of the same fashion, but of
better quality, according to their rank and means; and was sometimes
made of the finest cloth, with a silken or woollen fringe, and of
scarlet or other colours. Many rows of the shag, or fringe, were sown on the upper
part of the mantle, partly for ornament and partly to defend the neck
from the cold; and along the edges ran a narrow fringe of the same
texture as the outward garment. 3. The covering for the lower part of
the body, the thighs and legs, consisted of close breeches, with hose
or stockings made in one, or sewn to them. It was a garment common to
the Celtic nations, and is often mentioned by Roman writers. One of the
provinces of Gaul had the name of Gallia Braccata from this
distinguishing article of the native dress The word might be translated
"trowsers" (Fr., trusser, to truss), or "trews," with which and the
plaid, both used by the Scots, there seems to have been a great
similarity in shape, material, and the particolour. The Irish were so
much attached to this national costume, that, in order to break down
the line of demarcation between the natives and the English settlers,
they were forbidden to wear it by laws passed in the 5 Edw. IV., 10
Henry VII., and 28 Henry VIII, just as the distinguishing dress of the
Scotch Highlanders was prohibited, in order to break the spirit of the
clans, after their faithful adhesion to the Stuart princes had drawn
upon them the severities of the English government. Griraldus might
have added to the list of articles formerly worn by the Irish the
brogues, made of dried skins, or half-tanned leather, and fastened with
latchets, or thongs of the same material.
