_The Episcopal Mitre_ (Vol. iii., p. 62.)--Godwyn, in his _Moses and
Aaron_, London, 1631, b. i., c. 5., says that--
"A miter of fine linnen sixteene cubits long, wrapped about his head,
and a plate of purple gold, or holy crowne, two fingers broad, whereon
was graven Holinesse to the Lord, which was tied with a blew lace upon
the forefront of the miter,"
was that "which shadowed and signified the kingly office of our Saviour
Christ," in the apparel of the Jewish high priest, and ordered (Lev. xvi.
4.): and again, in his _Romanae Historiae Anthologia_, Oxford, 1631, lib.
iii. sec. 1. cap. 8., he says that the
"_Mitra_ did signifie a certaine attire for women's heads, as a coife
or such like."
For further illustration see Virgil's _AEneid_, lib. iv. l. 216.:
"Maeonia mentum mitra crinemque madentem."
Again, lib. ix. l. 616.:
"Et tunicae manicas et habent redimicula mitrae."
During the ennobling of the clergy by the Roman emperors, in the seventh
and eighth centuries, a crown was found necessary, and anciently cardinals
wore mitres; but, at the council of Lyons, in 1245, they were appointed to
wear hats.