Note 551 — Chapter X

Under the Carlovingians, priestly garments were often enriched with splendid fringes, trimmed with bells. A Bishop of Elne, who died in 915, left to his church a stole embroidered with gold and garnished with bells. So rich were the fringes at that epoch, that King Robert, praying one day in the church, became aware that while he was lost in meditation a thief had ripped off part of the fringes of his mantle. He interrupted his proceedings by saying, “My friend, suppose you content yourself with what you have taken, and leave the rest for some other member of your guild.” See “Histoire du Tissu Ancien,” Union Central des Arts Décoratifs. For a fringe with bells, see the beautiful example in Bock’s “Liturgische Gewänder” (plates xli. xlii. xliii. vol. ii. p. 297), already quoted.