Note 512 — Chapter III · PILGRIMS AND PILGRIMAGES

Among the ornaments worn by Chaucer’s pardoner was a “vernicle” on his cap, as may be seen above in the plate, p. 336. Sir Thomas More, in his “Dialogue,” describes as follows the vernicle represented on pilgrims’ medals: How, says he, can it be maintained that Christ blames images, “where he lykyd to leve the holy vernacle, thexpresse ymage also of hys blessid vysage, as a token to remain in honour among such as lovyd hym from ye tyme of hys bytter passyon hytherto, whych as it was by the myracle of hys blessid holy hand expressed and lefte in ye sudari: so hath yt bene by lyke myracle in that thyn corruptyble cloth kepte and preservyd uncorrupted thys xv. C. yere freshe and well perceyved, to ye inwarde cumforte, spyrytuall reioysyng and grete encreace of fervoure and devocyon in the harts of good crysten people” (Sig. B. iii.).