Shaving continued partially in fashion in Henry the 6th's reign, who himself in later life was Bearded like a Philosopher, accustomed to moralize over the ups and downs of life, of which he had no common share. Edward the 4th shaved out of foppery; as did that smooth-faced rascal. Richard III, who "could smile and smile and be a villain." Henry the 7th shaved himself and fleeced his people.
As may be seen in MSS, illuminations, and as we read in Chaucer and elsewhere, the majority of the people stuck to their Beards, uninfluenced by the fluctuations of court fashions. The poet, who was born in Edward the 3rd's time, and died in Henry the 4th's, speaks of "the merchant's forked Beard;" "the Franklin's white as a daisy;" " the shipman's shaken by many a tempest;" the miller's red as a fox, and broad as though it were a spade;" "the Reeve's close trimmed; the Sompnour's piled; and ends by a contemptuous allusion to the Pardonere with his small voice:
" No Beard had he, nor never none should have.
As smooth it was as it were newe shave, &c."
Henry VIII, as you may still see on many sign boards, for which his bluff, bloated face is so well adapted, had his Beard close clipped. Once he swore to Francis the 1st that he would never cut it till he had visited the latter, who swore the same; and when long Beards had become
