Item, for three dozen Leder Gloves, 12s. Vide Account of Henry VII. in Remembrancer's Office. I set off next week for Christchurch, where I propose staying a month, or six weeks at farthest. My best wishes attend you and yours. Adieu! F. GROSE. ERMINE GENTLEWOMEN'S APPAREL. What we call _Ermine_ is an erroneous conception, for we give the name to White Fur tufted with Black, whereas it is the Black only that is properly Ermine, of which numberless instances may be produced, and this is one. _Powderings on her Bonnet._--This may require an explanation to those who are unacquainted with the language of that age. What we call Ermine, is a compound, which will bear a little analysis, for it is formed of the Fur of one animal, and the tip of the Tail of another. The White Ground is, properly speaking, _Minever_, so called from a Russian animal of that name. [v. Philips's Dictionary, in voce.] The Ermine is the Armenian Mouse, the tip of whose Tail is Black, which being placed as a falling tuft upon the Minever, forms what we collectively call Ermine, the value of which is enhanced the more, as one animal can afford but one tuft. [v. Bailey's Dict, in voce.] Every one of these tufts is termed a _Powdering_. The Heralds make a distinction between the singular _Ermine_, and the Plural, _Ermines_; the latter, in their language, importing Black powdered with White: and they go into still more minute modifications, _Erminois_, &c. APPAREL FOR THE HEADS OF GENTLEWOMEN. First, none shall wear an Ermine, or Lettice-Bonnet, unless she be a Gentlewoman born, having Arms. Item, a _Gentleman_'s Wife, she being a Gentlewoman born, shall wear an Ermine or Lettice Bonnet, having _one_ Powdering in the Top. And if she be of honourable stock, to have _two_ Powderings, one before another, in the Top. Item, an _Esquire_'s Wife to have _two_ Powderings. Item, an _Esquire_'s Wife _for the Body_ to wear _five_ Powderings; and if she be of great Blood, _two_ before, which maketh seven. Item, a _Knight_'s Wife to wear on her Bonnet, _seven_ Powderings, or _eight_ at the most, because of higher Blood, as before. Item, a _Banneret_'s Wife to wear _ten_ Powderings. Item, a _Baron_'s Wife _thirteen_. Item, a _Viscount_'s [Wife] to wear _eighteen_. Item, a _Countess_ to wear _twenty-four_. And above that Estate the number convenient, at their pleasures. Ex Bibl. Harl. No. 1776. fol. 31. b. MOURNING. The French Queens, before the Reign of Charles VIII. wore _White_ upon the death of the King; and were called "_Reines Blanches_." It was changed to _Black_ on the death of Charles VIII. 1498. [See P. Dan. Hist. iv. 590.] In a Wardrobe account for half a year, to Lady-day 1684 (a MS. purchased by Mr. Brander at the sale of the Library of Geo. Scot, Esq. of Woolston-Hall, 1781), are the following entries for the King's Mourning.