John Knox – Objects and the Archive

Posted on July 25, 2026July 30, 2026 by vanished comforts

French revenue of Mary, Queen of Scots

William Fowler (died January 1572), an Edinburgh merchant, served as a treasurer of the French revenues of Mary, Queen of Scots.1 He was also a textile merchant, and his registered will lists his merchant stock of fabrics and ready made items such as hats, bonnets, belts, and "counterfeit pearls for masking".2 I've transcribed much of…

Posted on February 18, 2026July 25, 2026 by vanished comforts

John Knox’s stinking women: Costume and critics

In 1556, John Knox wrote a letter to his female Protestant following in Edinburgh, advising on suitable clothing for the godly. The new-ish French farthingale was deprecated.1 After finding some scriptural justification for censuring hairstyles, Knox wrote: 'Gif sic thingis as Esay the Prophet repruiffit in the wemen of his time be dampnabill, verdingallis, and…

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