Muffs for Men In Elizabeth's Day

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23037, 14 May 1938, Page 6 (Supplement)

Muffs for Men In Elizabeth's Day

"MUFFS would soom to have been introduced into England in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, probably from France, for the oldest known picture of one an English lady wearing one on a chain, and is dated 1598. When first used in that country they appear to have been common to both sexes, for, in 1608, in the wardrobe accounts of Henry, Prince of Wales, Bon of James the First, there are two entries of charges of £7 and £3 for very elaborate, muffs for His Royal Highness, and this custom of using them by men lasted for 200 years. An early instance of their masculine use occurs in a poem, in 1600, by Samuel Rowlands, and draws our attention to: — A most accomplished Ciivalior That the world's apo of fashion doth appear, Walking the streets his humour to disclose, Jn the French doublet and tho German hose. The muffe, cloak, Spanish hat, Toledo blado, Italian ruff, a shoo right Spanish made. In the comic opera " Lionel and Clarissa,V by Isaac Bickerstaff, which appeared about 1768, wo have described to us:— A coxcomb, a fop, a dainty milk sop; Who essene'd and dizen'd from bottom to top, Looks just like a doll for a milliner's shop. A thins: full of prate, and prido and conceit; All fashion; no weight; Who shrugs and takes snuff and carries a inulf; A minnikin, finicking, French powder-puff.