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18 Mantles were semicircular in cut and held in divers ways, and their borders were adorned with

rectangular metal plaques, each pierced with five holes, a double cord being passed through these holes and fastened behind.

An affection for jewels, rings and collars of pearls, diadems and clasps, was common to all the nobles of all the nations, while caps, wimples, and veils crowned the fair with grace, and permitted some diversity of expression.

In the twelfth century the English historian declares that in France fashion danced the gayest tunes and was uproarious in her demand for extravagance, and, if French chroniclers are to be believed, moderation marked the footsteps of the native mondaine, whose shoes were comparatively low

and bore small points. But I doubt not that, then as now, each woman was a profit to her own country, and did her duty to commerce by practising prodigality with unswerving enthusiasm.