'One doublet of yelow million fustian, th'one halfe
buttoned with peche-colour buttons, and the other half
laced downwards; one payer of peche-colour, laced with
smale tawnye lace; a graye hat with a copper edge rounde
about it, with a band p'cell of the same hatt; a payer
of watchet (blue) stockings. Likewise he hath twoe
clokes, th'one of vessey colour, garded with twoe yards
of black clothe and twisted lace of carnacion colour,
and lyned with crymsone bayes; and th'other is a red
shipp russet colour, striped about th'cape and down the
fore face, twisted with two rows of twisted lace, russet
and gold buttons afore and uppon the shoulder, being of
the clothe itself, set with the said twisted lace and
the buttons of russet silk and gold.'
This will give some notion of the elaborate liveries worn, and also it
will show how, having understood the forms of the garments and the
material which may be used, the rest, ornament and fancy, depend on
the sense of the reader.
A change has come over the streets, the town is full of Spaniards
come over with Philip, and these bring with them many innovations in
dress. The most noticeable is the high-peaked Spanish hat, a velvet
bag with a narrow brim, worn on one side of the head. There is, also,
a hard-crowned hat, round the crown-base of which is a gold cord
clasped by a jewel; a feather is stuck into this hat. Yet the mass of
citizens wear the flat cap, some of them, the older men, have a coif
tied under their chins, and over this the flat cap. Again, older men
wear black velvet skull caps.
[Illustration: {A man of the time of Mary}]
With these Spaniards comes, also, the first appearance of the ruff,
very neat and small.
Although the overcoats of Henry's and Edward's reigns still form the
principal wear, the short Spanish cloak has come in, cut in full
folds, and reaching not far below the waist. They also brought in the
cloak with a turned up high collar; and some had sleeves to their
cloaks.
[Illustration: A MAN OF THE TIME OF MARY (1553-1558)
The half-way between the dress of 1530 and 1560. A cloak very much
of the period, and a tunic in the state of evolution towards the
doublet.]
One sees more beards and moustaches, short clipped beards, and beards
with two points.
Shoes are now more to the shape of the foot, and high boots strapped
up over the knee, also half-boots with the tops turned over to be
seen. Often, where the hose meet the trunks, these are turned down.
[Illustration: {A man of the time of Mary; two types of boot}]
The doublets become shaped more closely to the body, all showing the
gradual change towards the Elizabethan costume, but still retaining
the characteristics of earlier times, as the long skirt to the
doublet, and the opening to show the collar of the shirt, or partlet
strip.
Ladies now show more hair, parted, as before, in the centre, but now
puffed out at the sides.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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