Russet is a coarse cloth made of wool and dyed with
woad
''Isatis tinctoria'', also called woad (), dyer's woad, dyer's-weed, or glastum, is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae (the mustard family) with a documented history of use as a blue dye and medicinal plant.
Its genus name, ''Isati ...
and
madder to give it a subdued grey or brown shade. By the statute of 1363, poor English people were required to wear russet or cheap
blanket.
Humble squires and priests, such as
Franciscan
The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...
s wore russet as a sign of
humility but preferred a good quality russet such as that made in
Colchester
Colchester ( ) is a city in northeastern Essex, England. It is the second-largest settlement in the county, with a population of 130,245 at the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 Census. The demonym is ''Colcestrian''.
Colchester occupies the ...
, which was better than the cheapest cloth. The medieval poem ''
Piers Plowman'' describes the virtuous Christian:
The ballad ''Of
Patient Grissel and a Noble Marquess'' which was retold as ''
Pamela'', has the heroine's aristocratic clothes of silk and velvet contrasted with her "country russet" which again signifies rustic virtue.
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...
wrote "I had rather have a plain russet-coated Captain ...than that which you call a Gentleman and is nothing else."
See also
*
Shoddy
*
Sukmana
References
{{reflist
Textiles