Surely bands are no part of the peculiar dress of the clergy, &c., but the
ordinary dress of the people, retained by certain classes or professions,
because they wished for something regular and distinctive. So the wigs of
the judges were the fashionable dress 150 years ago. It is curious that the
clergy have cut down their bands, while the lawyers still glory in
comparatively large and flowing ones. Bands altered greatly in their form.
Taylor, the Water Poet, I think, says--
"The eighth Henry, as I understand,
Was the first prince that ever wore a band,"
or, indeed, person of any sort. The date of the same thing in France is
mentioned in Vellay, but I forget it now.