ic.

[Illustration: {The man of law}]

THE MAN OF LAW

is in a coat of parti-colours, his belt of silk with small metal bars
on it.

THE FRANKELEYN OR COUNTRY GENTLEMAN

has a white silk purse and a two-edged dagger, or akelace, at his
girdle.

'Then come the HABERDASHER, the CARPENTER, the WEAVER, the DYER, and
the TAPESTRY WORKER, all in the livery of their companies. They all
carry pouches, girdles, and knives, mounted in silver.'

THE SHIPMAN

is in a gown of falding (a coarse cloth), reaching to his knees. A
dagger is under his arm, on a lace hanging round his neck.

THE DOCTOR

wears a gown of red and blue (pers was a blue cloth) lined with
taffeta and sendal.

[Illustration: {The wife of Bath}]

THE WIFE OF BATH.

Her wimples of fine linen--

'I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound
That on a Sonday were upon hir heed.'

Her hose was of fine scarlet red; her shoes were moist and new. Her
hat was as broad as a buckler, and she wore a foot-mantle about her
hips.

THE PLOUGHMAN

wears a tabard, a loose smock without sleeves.

THE REVE OR STEWARD

wears a long surcoat of blue cloth (pers).

THE SOMNOUR

(an officer who summoned persons before the ecclesiastical courts)
wears on his head a garland--'as greet as it were for an ale-stake.'

[Illustration: {The pardoner}]

THE PARDONER

has long yellow hair falling about his shoulders; his hood is turned
back, and he wears a tall cap, on which is sewn a Vernicle. This is
the handkerchief of St. Veronica on which there was an impression of
our Lord's face.

This completes the list of Pilgrims, but it will be useful to give a
few more descriptions of dress as described by Chaucer. The
Carpenter's wife in the Miller's Tale is described:

'Fair was this yonge wyf, and ther-with-al
As any wesele hir body gent (slim) and small.
A ceynt (belt) she werede barred al of silk,
A barneclooth (apron) eek as whyt as morne milk
Upon hir lendes (loins), ful of many a gore.
Whyt was hir smok and brouded al before
And eek behinde, on hir coler aboute,
Of col-blak silk, within and eek withoute.
The tapes of his whyte voluper (a cap)
Were of the same suyte--of hir coler;
Hir filet broad of silk, and set ful hye.

* * * * *

And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether
Tasseld with silk and perked with latoun (a compound
of copper and zinc).

* * *