" This dress gradually
increased in richness and ornamentation: the doublet and
breeches being changed from cloth to velvet and satin, the hat
trimmed with plumes of gay feathers, and the neck adorned with
bands of cambric, trimmed with Flanders and Brussels lace. The
perfection and costliness to which the costume eventually reached
is best shown by a description of Sir Richard Fanshaw ambassador
of the king, as presented in the diary of his spouse. "Sir
Richard was dressed," she writes, "in a very rich suit of clothes
of a dark FILLEMONTE brocade, laced with silver and gold lace--
nine laces--every one as broad as my hand, and a little silver
and gold lace laid between them, both of very curious
workmanship; his suit was trimmed with scarlet taffety ribbon;
his stockings of white silk upon long scarlet silk ones; his
shoes black, with scarlet shoestrings and gaiters; his linen very
fine, laced with rich Flanders lace; a black beaver buttoned on
the left side with a jewel of twelve hundred pounds' value, a
rich curious wrought gold chain, made in the Indies at which hung
the king his master's picture, richly set with diamonds; on his
fingers he wore two rich rings; his gloves trimmed with the same
ribbon as his clothes."
The uttermost extravagance and luxury in dress now obtained;
indeed, to such a passion and pride did it reach that the monarch
resolved on giving it some check by inventing a suit of plainer
pretensions, which should become the national costume, and admit
no change.
Pages:
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420