An Account of Denmark

9 Of the Right of Wearing a large Head of Hair peculiar to the Royal Family

256 CHAPTER IX Of the Right of Wearing a large Head of Hair peculiar to the Royal Family  It will not be amiss in this Place to give some Account of a Custom of our Ancestors, relating to the Hair worn by the Royal Family: For ’tis recorded , that our Forefathers had a particular Law concerning it; viz. That such as were chosen Kings by the People, or were of the Regal Family, should preserve their Hair, and wear it parted from the Forehead, on both Sides the Head, and anointed with sweet Oyl, as an Ornament and peculiar Mark of their being of the Royal Family; whilst all other Persons, how nobly born soever, had no right to wear a large Head of Hair; but were obliged to go with their Heads shorn or shaved, upon the Account (as ’tis probable) that they should be more ready and expedite in their continual military Exercises, as the Roman Histories tell us of Julius Caesar, and several others. Aimoinus, lib. 1. cap. 4. says “The Franks chusing for themselves a King, according to the Custom of other Nations, raised, Pharamond to the Throne, to whom succeeded his Son Clodio-crinitus; For at that time the Kings of the Franks wore large Heads of Hair.” Also lib. 3. cap. 61. “Gundoaldus being brought up by his Mother after the regal manner , wore a long Head of Hair, according to the Custom of the ancient Chapter IX  257 Kings of the Franks.” In like Manner Agathius, lib. de Bell. Goth. 1. where he speaks of Clodoveus, one of our Kings, who was taken in Battle by the Burgundians, (he calls him Clodamirus). “As soon (says he) as his Horse had thrown him, the Burgundians espying his large Head of Hair, which fell back over his Shoulders, presently knew him to be the Enemy’s General ; for ’tis not lawful for the Kings of the Franks to cut off their Hair, but even from their Childhood they remain untrimm’d, and always keep a large Head of Hair hanging low down upon their Backs.” And we have many Instances that it was our Ancestor’s Custom, whenever they either deprived any one of the Crown, or took away all Hopes of obtaining the Kingdom, to cut off his Head of Hair. Aimoinus in the same Place “He earnestly beholding him, commanded his Hair to be cut off, denying him to be his Son. Also Having caused his Hair to be cut off a second Time, he put him in Prison at Cologne; from whence making his Escape, he fled to Narses, and suffer’d his Hair to grow again, etc.” Which Story Gregory of Tours, lib. 6. cap. 24. likewise records. Also cap. 44. where he speaks of King Theodorick. “The Franks (says he,) rose up in Arms against him, and cast him out of the Kingdom, and cut off his Head of Hair by Force.” But there is a very remarkable, or rather horrible Story related by Gregory of Tours, concerning Crotilda, the Queen Mother; who chose rather to have the Heads of her two Grandsons cut off than their Hair. ’Tis in his 3rd Book, cap. 18. “Our Mother (says the King to his Brother) has kept our Brother’s Sons with her, and intends to advance them to the Throne; we must concert what Measures ought to be taken in this Affair; whether we shall order their Hair to be cut off, and so reduce them to the State of common Subjects; or whether we shall cause them to be put to Death, and afterwards divide the Kingdom between us: Then they sent Archadius with a Pair of Scissors in one Hand, and a naked Sword in t’other to the Queen; who approaching her, showed them both to her, and said,Your Sons, most Glorious Queen, have sent me to know your Pleasure, what Destiny you are pleased to allot to these two Youths; whether by suffering their Hair to be cut off, you will have them to live; or whether you had rather have both their Throats cut. Whereupon She chose rather to see them both kill’d, than to have their Hair cut off.” I further observe, that it was the Fashion when our Kings went to single Combat, to have their long Hair tied up in 258  Francogallia a large knot atop...