On the third day of Christmas, ARCAT stored for me…

...three mitres,

Textiles Special Collection, TX.97, TX.92 and TX.82

A mitre is a tall folding cap, consisting of two flat, peaked parts sewn together at the sides. Two fringed lappets always hang down from the back.  It is worn over the zucchetto and removed for prayer. Mitres are the reserved headdress of bishops. There are three types of mitres as shown above:

• pretiosa (precious): decorated with precious stones and gold and worn on solemn feast days;
• auriphrygiata (gold): plain gold cloth or white silk with gold, silver or coloured embroidered bands; usually worn by bishops when they preside at the celebration of the sacraments and for private functions;
• simplex (simple): undecorated, white linen or silk with red fringes on the lappets. Cardinals vested in the presence of the Pope wear a mitre of white damask, such as the one above.

These mitres belonged to Cardinal Carter and Cardinal Ambrozic.

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.