Underwear in the Maciejowski Bible

Figure 2.5 Folio 28vDavid brings Goliath’s head to SaulFigure 2.6 Folio 33rDavid shears off a piece of Saul’s Mantle in the caveat EngediLegsIn the pictures above (especially the two showing Saul’s decapitated body, figures 2 and4) the hose are obviously not joined at the crotch but are completely separate – more likemodern women’s thigh-highs then like tights.FeetThere are no pictures of hose-covered legs without shoes, so it is impossible to be surefrom the images in the Maciejowski Bible that the hose had feet (vs. stirrups or simplyending at the ankle). I’d guess the hose had feet attached to them for three reasons:1. The extant examples from the 14 th and 15 th centuries have feet.2. Foot coverings provide an extra layer of warmth and protect the foot from theleather of the shoe. None of the pictures in the Maciejowski Bible suggest thatthey wore socks or wrapped their feet in rags to provide this protection.3. Feet or stirrups keep the hose from riding up the leg when you’re wearing them.Stirrups occasionally show up in late 15 th century art, but not frequently beforethat time.However, it’s impossible to say for sure.AttachmentThe two pictures of the decapitated Saul (figure 2 and 4) show that his hose are held upby cords at the front of each thigh. I would argue that the cords are suspended fromwhatever cord or waistband is holding the braies up. I make this assertion based on thetwo pictures showing men wearing only braies working in the fields that have cords13