_Bishops' Lawn Sleeves_ (Vol. vi., p. 271.).--J. G. T. has inquired
concerning the date and origin of the present robes of Anglican bishops.
Mr. Trevor thus describes the bishop's dress in Convocation, which is the
proper dress of the episcopate:
"The chimere is the Convocation habit of a doctor of divinity in
Oxford, made of silk instead of cloth, as the rochet is an alb of lawn
in place of linen, _honoris causâ_: the detaching the sleeves from the
rochet, and sewing them to the upper garment instead, is obviously a
contrivance of the robe-makers. Dr. Hody says that the scarlet robe
worn by the bishops in the House of Lords is the doctor's gown at
Cambridge; the first archbishops after the Reformation being of that
university. (_Hody_, 140.) At Parker's consecration he appeared first
in a scarlet gown and hood; then at the Holy Communion he and two of
the consecrating bishops {438} wore white surplices, while the senior
had a cope: and after his consecration he and the two diocesan bishops
endued themselves in the now customary dress of a bishop, the
archbishop having about his neck a collar of sables (_Cardw. Doc.
Ann._, i. 243.). Before the Reformation, it was remarked as peculiar to
the English bishops, that they always wore their white rochets, 'except
when hunting.' (_Hody_, 141.)"--_The Two Convocations, Note on_, p.
195.