Volltext Seite (XML)
( 299 ) CHAPTER XXY. CHARLES ir. TO THE HOUSE OF HANOVER. CHARLES II. “ The dangling knec-fringo, and the bib-cravat.” Dryden, Prologue, 1674. The taste for luxury only required the restoration of the Stuarts to burst out in full vigour. The following year Charles II. issued a proclamation 1 enforcing the act of his father prohibiting the entry of foreign bone lace; but, far from acting as he preached, he purchases Flanders lace at 18s. the yard, for the trimming of his fine lawn “ collobium sindonis,” 2 a sort of surplice worn during the ceremony of the anointment at the coronation. The hand spinners of gold wire, thread lace, and spangles, of the City of London, no longer puritanically inclined, now speak out boldly. “ Having heard a report the Parliament intend to pass an Act against the wearing of their manufacture, they hope it in tends the reform, not the destruction of their craft, for by it many thousands would be ruined. Let every person,” say they, “be prohibited from wearing gold, silver, and thread lace—that will encourage the gentry to do so.” 3 In 1G62 is passed an act prohibiting the importation of foreign 1 1661. Nov. ‘20. “ State Papers, Dom.” Charles II. vol. xliv. P. II. O. 2 “ To William Briers, for making the Colobium Simlouis of fine lawn laced with fine Flanders lace, 33s. id. “ To Valentine Stucky, for 14 yards and a half of very fine Flanders lace for the same, at 18s. per yard, 12?. 6s. 6d.”— Aec. of the E. of Sandwich, Master of the H. IF. for the Coronation of King Charles II. 23 April 1661. P. R. O. 3 In the Gr. VV. A. for 29 and 30 occurs a curious entry by the master of the great wardrobe :—“ I doe hereby charge myself with 5000 Li vres by me received in the realm of France for gold and silver fringes by me there sold, belong to a rich embroidered Bed of his said Majesty, which at one shilling and sevenpence lib. English, Being the value of the Ex change at that time, amounts to £395 16s. 8 d. “(Signed) R. Montague. “May 28, 1678.”