OCR Text |
Show SUBSTITUTE FOR ROYAL ARMS Placing of Cap and Bells on English Paper Was the Origin of the Word "Foolscap." Several explanations have been given giv-en of the meaning of the word "foolscap" "fools-cap" as applied to a certain class of paper. One of the explanations is tfiat when Charles I of England found his revenue short, he granted certain privileges, priv-ileges, amounting to monopolies, and among these was the manufacture of paper, the exclusive right to which was sold to certain parties, who grew rich and enriched the government at the expense of those who were obliged to use the paper. At this time all English paper bore, in. watermarks, the royal arms. The parliament under Cromwell made a jest of this law, and' among other indignities to the memory mem-ory of Charles it was ordered that the royal arms be removed from the paper and the fool's cap and bells be substituted. These were in their, turn removed when the Rump parliament was dismissed, but paper for the size of the parliament's journal still bears the name of "foolscap." |