Saye is a woollen cloth woven in the west and south of England in and around the 15th and 16th centuries.

On 21 June 1661 the diary of Samuel Pepys recorded purchasing "green Say ... for curtains in my parler".

In 1541 Cecily Aylmer, the daughter of Richard Aylmer, Mayor of Norwich, leaves Mother Manfold 'my best petticoat and an apron of saye', while Mother Plank gets 'my worst petticoat and my worst apron.'[1]

A related sort of cloth was serica,[2] which was finer, since it also contained silk.

References

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  1. ^ "CatalogueRef: NCC will register Attmere 338. Title: Aylemer (Aylmere), Cecily, dowghter of Rycharde Aylmere, citizen and alderman of Norwich. Date: 1541. Description: Will. Made of Myntlynge. Level: Item, Repository: Norfolk Record Office". nrocat.norfolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-09-27. It[e]m I bequethe to Mother Manfold my best petycote and a apron of saye It[e]m I bequethe to Mother Plank my worst petycote and my worst apron
  2. ^ "Renaissancewoman.net".
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