Lychnocausia

or Lights Moral Emblems, a set of improving poems by Robert Farlie, published in 1638. Each page of the book is embellished with a plate. Most are candles or lamps reflecting the title of the work, but a few have a figure in the picture too. Here are the best ones. They look in the most part like ordinary people.

I Weary, Give My Light to Thee. Guy in a hat, simple coat, breeches and boots lights an enormous candle.

 

 

 

I Find Things Lost. Woman in plain petticoat and shoes sweeps the floor by another really big candle.

 

 

My Light is Darkness to Thee. Man is a long coat and big hat. And a candle.

 

 

Help or Else I Die. Man in a coat, hat, breeches an shoes and a flambeau. Note the belt around the coat, the leg ties holding his hose up and the rosettes on his shoes.

 

 

In Vain Thou Coverest me. Bloke in a doublet and cloak cuddles a flaming staff. Again nice hose garters and shoe rosettes.

 

 

So You Are Not Born for Yourselves. Back to the candle motif. Man in doublet or coat (could be either) lights the candle.

 

 

‘Tis Better to Tarry. Woman in petticoat and either mad hair or a hairy coif holds the candle in a rather odd fashion.

 

 

If Thou Abroad, I Am at Home. Man in doublet and breeches holds the flare, candle on the table. Double whammy!

 

Thomas Pope 3rd Earl of Downe

Painted by an unknown artist of the English school, this portrait hangs in the Tate collection. Thomas Pope was nephew of the 2nd Earl and seems to have trodden a middle path, for although his uncle was prominent in the royalist cause, he was imprisoned by the Royalists for six weeks during the war and later in the 1650s, held by the other side for complicity in a “Cavalier Plot”. The portrait is rather old fashioned in style with a turkey carpet and silk drapes, but his clothes are smart and understated. Black doublet and breeches and an off the shoulder cloak, though the details are tricky to see in a photograph. He’s also wearing a needle lace edged falling band. There are some nice details however of his shoes and cuffs.

His silk hose are very slightly wrinkled, but his shoe rosettes are top notch and if you look closely, you can see the seams of his hose that show the triangular inset to make them fit around the foot. Also notice the inkle braid garters that match his hat band and the height of his shoe heels.

 

This detail of his right hand shows nicely his soft leather gloves, the lace on his cuffs that matches his falling band and the turn back on his doublet revealing the lining of the sleeves.