And now a word about pockets

I'm watching the Tudors, season two now, and there are many historical inaccuracies. Changing of ages of important figures, combining two of the King's sisters into one, that sort of thing. But it's not meant to be a documentary so that's cool. The people, houses and clothes are all gorgeous enough to hold my attention no matter what.

But in the episode I just watched someone tells someone else to check their pocket and she pulls this piece of paper out of the pocket in her skirt. Which wouldn't be invented for another couple hundred years...

At the time of the Renaissance pockets were still external, and called pouches. So pickpockets, aka cutpurses, had an easy time of it. Slice the cords holding the pouch and voila, you've got the whole thing.