and reached just below the
elbows. These also had an edging of embroidery, or a band different in
colour to the rest of the tunic.
[Illustration: {A man of the time of William I.}]
The other form of tunic was made exactly in shape like the modern
shirt, except that the neck opening was smaller. It was loose and
easy, with wide sleeves to the elbow, and was gathered in at the waist
by a band of stuff or leather.
The skirts of the tunics were cut square or V-shaped in front and
behind. There were also tunics similar in shape to either of those
mentioned, except that the skirts were very short, and were tucked
into wide, short breeches which reached to the knee, or into the
trousers which men wore.
Under this tunic was a plain shirt, loosely fitting, the sleeves tight
and wrinkled over the wrist, the neck showing above the opening of the
tunic. This shirt was generally white, and the opening at the neck
was sometimes stitched with coloured or black wool.
Upon the legs they wore neat-fitting drawers of wool or cloth, dyed or
of natural colour, or loose trousers of the same materials, sometimes
worn loose, but more generally bound round just above the knee and at
the ankle.
[Illustration: {A man of the time of William I.}]
They wore woollen socks, and for footgear they wore shoes of skin and
leather, and boots of soft leather shaped naturally to the foot and
strapped or buckled across the instep. The tops of the boots were
sometimes ornamented with coloured bands.
The cloak worn was semicircular in shape, with or without a small
semicircle cut out at the neck. It was fastened over the right
shoulder or in the centre by means of a large round or square brooch,
or it was held in place by means of a metal ring or a stuff loop
through which the cloak was pushed; or it was tied by two cords sewn
on to the right side of the cloak, which cords took a bunch of the
stuff into a knot and so held it, the ends of the cords having tags
of metal or plain ornaments.
One may see the very same make and fashion of tunic as the Normans
wore under their armour being worn to-day by the Dervishes in Lower
Egypt--a coarse wool tunic, well padded, made in the form of tunic and
short drawers in one piece, the wide sleeves reaching just below the
elbow.
[Illustration: {A man of the time of William I.}]
The hats and caps of these men were of the most simple form--plain
round-topped skull-caps, flat caps close to the hea
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