Lord Lyttelton, after giving an account of his person and temper, speaking of his munificence, says, he assigned the tenth part of the Provisions of his _Household_ to be constantly given in daily alms to the poor; which one must imagine to have been a very considerable donation, considering the hospitable manner of living in those days. "His own table (continues his Lordship) was frugal, his diet plain, and in his dress he affected the utmost simplicity, disliking all ornaments which might encumber him in his exercise, or shew an effeminate regard to his person." He introduced the Angevin fashion of wearing short cloaks or mantles (contrary to the mode that prevailed in William Rufus's Reign), which he himself had worn from his childhood, and from which he obtained the sobriquet, or nick-name, of Court-Mantle[128]. In this he would soon be followed by his Court, and the People; for it is every day seen how fast the fashions of the Great descend into the remotest parts of the Kingdom. Lord Lyttelton, however, observes, that the long garments introduced temp. Will. Rufus, were not wholly laid aside; so that Henry's fashion did not prevail universally[129]. The use of silk made by silk-worms (the _Bombycina_) was brought hither from Sicily about this time; there was also a costly stuff at this day in great request here, called in Latin _Aurifrisium_. What it was called in English, Mr. Camden declares himself ignorant[130]; but supposes it _not_ to mean Embroidery, although, by other testimonies, _that_ was much worn by the Nobility, and was termed in Latin _Opera Phrigia_, and the corruption seems very easy and allowable. "Whatever it was," says he, "it was much desired by the Popes, and highly esteemed in Italy." [128] _i.e._ Short Mantle.--"Ab Infantiâ vocabatur Henricus _Curtmantell_, nam iste primus omnium _curta mantella_ ab Andegaviâ (Anjou) in Angliam transvexit." Brompton, p. 1150. [129] Vide note to vol. iii. octavo. [130] Camden's Remains, p. 194.