In the matter of dress, old-time accounts prove that the Morris-men
indulged in considerable variety; and even amongst present-day inheritors
of the tradition there are many differences. Still, certain features may
be regarded as common, and the dress of Mr. Salisbury (plate opp. p.
21), leader of the Bidford men, may be cited as typical. The tall hat,
though not universal, is the most popular and general headgear; and this
dancer and his men wore a broad band of plaited ribbons on their hats
some two-and-a-half inches wide, in red, green and white. The elaborately
frilled and pleated white shirt is also typical; this was tied at wrist
and elbow with blue ribbons, the ends left hanging. The breeches were of
fawn-shaded corduroy, with braces of white webbing; on the braces were
pinned, in front and at the back, level with the breast, rosettes of red,
white and blue ribbons, the ends left hanging. The tie was of the same
blue ribbon as that in the rosettes, also with the ends long and loose.
The boots, as befitted the sturdy work they had to do, were substantial;
the stockings of rough grey wool, which showed between the boots and
breeches.
[Illustration: MR. SALISBURY, LEADER OF THE BIDFORD MORRIS-MEN (1906).]
[Illustration: THE BIDFORD MORRIS SIDE.
(FIDDLER in foreground, to the right; HOBBY-HORSE--left, and
FOOL--centre, beyond Dancers.)]
In the case of Mr. Kimber, leader of the Headington men (plate opp. p.
22), the dress, it will be noticed, was simpler. A white sweater took the
place of the pleated shirt; ribbons of red, white and blue were crossed
upon the chest; the trousers were of white flannel.
Some notes on the bells and on the manner of fixing them will be found
under the heading "Bells."
The fool's dress would seem to be designed to-day, as in the olden time,
upon no particular plan, but to follow the fancy of the individual
wearer. The Bidford man, whom we saw at his really funny antics, had a
fox's mask for headgear, the muzzle lying on the man's forehead, the
brush hanging down his back. His face was raddled like a clown's; he had
a vest of cowhide, with red sleeves; stockings and breeches much like the
dancers', and he wore his bells, not on a shin-pad like them, but in a
row all round the boot-top. He carried a bladder on the end of a stick,
and with it he freely whacked the hobby-horse man and occasionally
members of the audience.
The hobby-horse man of the same company was dressed like a jockey; and,
while the dancers had a rest, he and the fool carried on innumerable
capers, sometimes backing in amongst the audience, occasionally
overturning a few, and now and then chasing any maid that could be
started on the run. If this pair be typical of the olden time, we can
answer for it that their fun was uproarious and perfectly wholesome.