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290 HISTORY OF LAOE. “ There is not a gentleman now in the fashion,” says Peacham, 4 ' “ whose hand of Italian cntwork now standeth him not in the least three or four pounds. Yes, a semster in Holborn told me that there are of threescore pounds.” We read how two-thirds of a woman’s dower was often expended in the purchase of cutwork and Flanders lace. In the warrant of the great wardrobe for the marriage expenses of the ill-fated princess Elizabeth, on which occasion it is recorded of poor Arabella Stuart, the “ Lady Arabella, though still in the Tower, has shewn her joy by buying four new gowns, one of which cost 1500?.,” 50 in addition to “ gold cheine laze, silver spangled, silver looped, myllen bone lace, drawneworke poynte, black silk Naples lace,” &c., all in the most astonishing quantity, we have the astounding entry of 1692 ounces of silver bone lace. 51 No wonder, in after days, the princess caused so much anxiety to the palatine’s privy purse, Colonel Schomberg, who in vain implores her to have her linen and lace bought beforehand, and paid at every fair. 52 “ You brought,” he writes, “ 3000?. north of linen from England, and have bought 1000?. worth here,” and yet “ you are ill provided.” 63 on special occasions, such as births, deaths, and marriages. This is still a common custom in Warwickshire; and many families can proudly show em broidered bed linen, which has been used on state occasions, and carefully pre served in old carved chests for three centuries and more.”—A Shalrspeare Me morial, 1864. is “ The Truth of the Times,” W. Peacham, 1638. 50 “State Papers, Dom.” Jas. I. vol. lxxii. No. 28. 51 Warrant on the Great Wardrobe, 1612-13, Princess Elizabeth’s marriage. 52 .Frankfort fair, at which most of the German princes made their purchases. 53 “ German Correspondence ”1614-15 P. R. O. We find among the accounts of Col. Schomberg and others:— “ To a merchant of Strasbourg, for laces which she had sent from Italy, 288 rix- dollars.” And in addition to numerous entries of silver and other laces :— “ Pour dentelle et linge kare pour Madame, 115 florins.” “ Donne' Madame de Caus pour dcs mouekoirs h point couppee pour Madame, 41.” “ Une petite dentelle h point couppc, 31.” &c. Point coupe handkerchiefs seem to have been greatly in fashion. Hen Jonson, “ Bartholomew Fair,” 1614, mentions them:— “ A cutwork handkerchief she gave me.”