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274 HISTORY OF LACE. Aprons, too, of lace appeared in this reign. The queen, as we have mentioned, wears one in her portrait at Gripsholm. 60 “ Those aprons white, of finest threat], So choicelie tied, so dearly bought; So finely fringed, so nicely spread; So quaintly cut, so richly wrought,” writes the author of “ Pleasant Quippes for Upstart Gentlewomen,” in 1596. The fashion continued to the end of the eighteenth century. Fig. 110. Fig. 111. iKnstiiiisiaiita «!asin=; ISiiBii mmrm Christening caps, needle-made Brussels, eighteenth century. Laced handkerchiefs now came into fashion. “ Maydes and gentlewomen,” writes Stowe, “ gave to their favourites, as tokens of their love, little handkerchiefs of about three or four inches square, wrought round about,” with a button at each corner. 61 The best were edged with a small gold lace. Gentlemen wore them in their hats as favours of their mistresses. Some cost sixpence, some twelvepence, and the richest sixteenpence. Of the difference between purles and true lace it is diffi cult now to decide. The former word is of frequent occurrence among the New Year’s gifts, where we have “ sleeves covered 60 In 1584-5, Queen Elizabeth sends a most wonderful apron to be washed and starched, of cambric, edged with lace of gold, silver, and in-grain carnation silk, “ operat’ super oss’,” with “ pearl buttons pro ornatione diet’ apron.”—G. W.A. Eliz. 2f> & 27. 61 “ A handkerchief she had, All wrought with silke and gold, Which she, to stay her trickling tears, Before her eyes did hold.” Ballad of George Barnwell.