ewels.

G.K.

* * * * *

HEAD-DRESS OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY, IN ENGLAND.

In Wickliffe's _Commentaries upon the Ten Commandments_, in the
midst of a moral exhortation, he manages, by a few bold touches, to give
us a picture of the fashionable head-dress of his day:--

"And let each woman beware, that neither by countenance, nor by array of
body nor of head, she stir any to covet her to sin. Not crooking
(curling) her hair, neither laying it up on high, nor the head arrayed
about with gold and precious stones; not seeking curious clothing, nor
of nice shape, showing herself to be seemly to fools. For all such
arrays of women St. Peter and St. Paul, by the Holy Ghost's teaching,
openly forbid."

D.P.

* * * * *

SALADS.

Oil for salads is mentioned in the Paston Letters, in 1466, in which
year Sir John Paston writes to his mother, that he has sent her "ii.
potts off oyl for salady's, whyche oyl was goode a myght be when he
delyv'yd yt, and schuld be goode at the reseyving yff itt was not
mishandled nor miscarryd." This indicates that vegetables for the table
were then cultivated in England, although the common opinion is, that
most of our fruit and garden productions were destroyed during the civil
wars between the houses of York and Lancaster. A good salad, however,
had become so scarce some years afterwards, that Katharine, the queen of
Henry VIII., is said, on a particular occasion, to have sent to the
continent to procure one.

D.P.

* * * * *

ADVERTISEMENT OF THE OPENING OF THE LONDON COFFEE HOUSE, UPWARDS OF A
CENTURY AGO.

"May, 1731.

"Whereas it is customary for Coffee Houses and other Public Houses to
take 8_s._ for a quart of Arrack, and 6_s._ for a quart of Brandy or
Rum, made into Punch;

_This is to give Notice_,

That James Ashley has opened, on Ludgate Hill, the London Coffee House,
Punch House, Dorchester Beer and Welsh Ale Warehouse, where the finest
and best old Arrack, Rum, and French Brandy is made into Punch, with the
other of the finest ingredients--viz.:

"A quart of Arrack made into Punch for six shillings; and so in
proportion to the smallest quantity, which is half-a-quartern for
fourpence halfpenny.

"A quart of Rum or Brandy made into Punch for four shillings; and so in
proportion to the smallest quantity, which is half-a-quartern for
threepence; and Gentlemen ma