without causing offense!

] p. 174 - "tis well she does not hear me for she wou'd not like perhaps to have a Bishops Bum placed upon her Noddle." LOL, what the?!? Can anyone translate for me?

Ann Pellet was talking of watching ladies walking about with such great quantities of false hair on their heads( see the illustration on P 173)So much wool was used as packing for the "underneath"or supporting part of the hairstyle, that Ann thought the hairstyle could double up as the Wook Pack( or sack).

The wool sack is a large stuffed stool in the House of Lords( where the Lord Chancellor ,and Bishops among others,used to sit (when we had a Lord Chancellor).

A "bum" is a rather common word for ones bottom!

So- she was saying that Miss Wall would not have liked to have had a bishops derriere sitting on top of her head( noddle= head)

] p. 175 - I was very interested in the evolving "Dress[es] of the Year" and then I noticed the illustration with the different crowns. On what occasions would earls, viscounts and barons wear these coronets? I'm assuming it would have to be a special occasion (would Sir Thomas have worn the baron's coronet?).

They were worn for very special ceremonial occasions only- such as a Coronation,when full dress robes would be worn.

Look here for the position before the hereditary peers were removed from the House of Lords( and for information on the Wool Sack!).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/01/99/lords_reform/235653.stm

] p. 185 - how does one wear a pincushion?
I assume it was worn from a belt or chatelaine, as she talks of it having a new blue piece of blue string.I find it quite pathetic that she used her old sons coat in this way, don't you?I often get the feeling she was sentimental after having somehow driven them all away from her with her pride...but these are my own musings.......