❧ By the Queene.
WHereas the Queenes Maiestie, for auoyding of the great inconuenience that hath growen and dayly doeth increase within this her Realme, by the inordinate excesse in Apparel, hath in her Princely wisedome and care for reformation thereof, by sundry former Proclamations, straightly charged and commanded those in Authoritie vnder her to see her Lawes prouided in that behalfe duely executed; Whereof notwithstanding, partly through their negligence, and partly by the manifest contempt and disobedience of the parties offending, no reformation at all hath followed; Her Maiestie finding by experience that by Clemencie, whereunto shee is most inclinable, so long as there is any hope of redresse, this increasing euill hath not bene cured, hath thought sit to seeke to remedie the same, by correction and seueritie to be vsed against both these kindes of offenders, in regard of the present difficulties of this time, wherein the decay and lacke of Hospitalitie appeares in the better sort in all Countreys, principally occasioned by the immeasurable charges and expences which they are put to in superfluous apparelling their wiues, children, and families, the confusion also of degrees in all places being great, where the meanest are as richly apparelled as their betters, and the pride that such inferiour persons take in their garments, driuing many for their maintenance to robbing and stealing by the hie way: And yet in her Gracious disposition, being willing to haue that course of punishment to be the last meane of reformation, did in the end of this last Terme of the holy Trinitie, in her Highnesse Court of Starre-Chamber, at an assembly of diuers Lords of her Priuie Counsell, and most of the Iudges being Iustices of Assise, in the open hearing of many Iustices of the Peace of all the partes of the Realme, and of a multitude of her Maiesties Subiects there present, by way of admonition signifie her Princely determination to haue (specially at this time) for many vrgent considerations, this intolerable abuse and vnmeasurable disorder refourmed. And albeit her Highnesse knowes how she might iustly make great profit as well by the executions of her Lawes standing in force for the Penalties already due, as also against both the sayd kindes of offenders for their manifest contempt against her Maiesties sayd Proclamations; Yet her Maiestie not respecting her aduantages in these cases, but seriously intending the reformation of the abuses, and the common good and benefite of all her louing Subiects by these most Royall & Gracious proceedings, hath not onely added by these presents such fauourable tolerations and qualifications to such points of the former Lawes, now standing in force, as by alteration of time may seeme in some part hard to be exactly obserued, but also hath commanded the due execution of those partes of those Lawes that be most agreeable to this time, and easie and necessary to be obserued, without charging either kind of the sayd offenders, for any offence already past, vnlesse it be against such as shall hereafter offend, or not obserue the speciall partes and branches of the Lawes now standing in force, and Articles hereafter following, according to such toleration and moderation thereof, as is hereafter expressed and set downe.
That is to say: For Mens Apparell.
❧ Her Maiestie doeth straightly charge and commaund, That
None shall weare in his Apparell
-
- Cloth of gold, or siluer tissued.
- Silke of colour Purple.
-
- Cloth of gold or siluer.
- Cincelled Sattin.
- Silke or cloth mixed or imbrodered with Pearle, Gold or Siluer, woollē Cloth made out of the Realme.
-
- Passemaine lace, or any other lace. of gold or siluer, or mixed with gold & siluer, with gold and silke, with siluer and silke. Vnder the degree of a Barons sonne. except Gentlemen in ordinarie Office, attending vpon her Maiestie in her house or chamber: Such as haue bin imploied in Ambassage to forren Princes: Such as may dispēd v. C. marks by the yeere, for terme of life in possession aboue all charges. And Knights for wearing onely of Spurres, Swordes, Rapiers and Daggers, and those other things therewith ensuing. And likewise Captaines being in her Maiesties pay.
-
- Spurres.
- Swordes.
- Rapiers.
- Daggers.
- Skaines.
- Woodkniues.
- Hangers.
- Buckles, or studs of girdles.
-
- Veluet in
- Downes.
- Clokes.
- Coates or othervppermost Garments.
- Embroderie with silke.
- Netherstocks of silke.
- Veluet in
-
- Veluet in
- Ierkins.
- Hose.
- Doublets.
- Sattin. in
- Gownes.
- Clokes.
- Coates, or other vppermost Garments.
- Damaske. in
- Gownes.
- Clokes.
- Coates, or other vppermost Garments.
- Taffata. in
- Gownes.
- Clokes.
- Coates, or other vppermost Garments.
- Grogeran. in
- Gownes.
- Clokes.
- Coates, or other vppermost Garments.
- Veluet in
-
- Sattin. in
- Hose.
- Doublet.
- Damaske. in
- Hose.
- Doublet.
- Grogeran. in
- Hose.
- Doublet.
- Taffata. in
- Hose.
- Doublet.
- Sattin. in
None shal haue in their
- Saddles.
- Bridles.
- Stirrops.
- Trappings.
- Harnesse.
- Footcloth, or other furniture of their horse.
any
- Veluet.
- Gilding.
- Damasking with gold or siluer.
- Siluering.
- Studs.
- Gilt.
- Damasked with gold or siluer.
- Siluered.
- Buckles, or other garniture.
- Gilt.
- Damasked with gold or siluer.
- Siluered.
Vnder the degree of a Barons sonne. except Knights, & Gentlemen in ordinarie Office, attēding vpon her Maiestie in her house or chāber: Such as haue bin imploied in Ambassages to forren princes. Captains being in her maiesties pay: And such as may dispend v. C. markes by the yeere for terme of life in possession abone all charges.
❧ For Womens Apparell.
Her Maiestie doeth straightly charge and commaund, That
None shall weare in her Apparell.
-
- Cloth of Golde or Siluer tissued.
- Silke of coulor Purple.
-
- Cloth of Golde.
- Cloth of Siluer.
- Cinselled Satten.
- Stattens brancht with siluer or gold.
- Sattens striped with siluer or golde.
- Taffaties brancht with siluer or gold.
- Taffaties with gold or siluer grouds.
- Tinseld Taffaties tuft or plaine.
- Tinseld Cipresses.
- Cipresses flourisht with siluer or gold.
- Golde or Siluer Chamblets.
- Networks wrought wt siluer or gold.
- Tabines brancht or wrought with siluer or gold. Or any other silke or cloth mixt or embroidered with Pearle, Golde, or Siluer.
- The wiues of Barons eldest sonnes. To weare cloth of golde and Siluer, only in their Kirtles and lynings of their garments.
- And Barons daughters. To weare cloth of golde and Siluer, only in their Kirtles and lynings of their garments.
- And knights wiues To weare Cloth of Siluer in their Kirtles only.
-
- Embroderies of Golde or Siluer.
- Passemaine lace, or any other lace.
- Of golde or Siluer.
- Or mixt
- With gold & siluer.
- With gold & silke.
- With siluer & silke.
- Caules, Attires, or other garnishings for the head trimmed with Pearle.
- Barons daughters.
- The wiues of knights of the order of the Garter, or of priuie Counsellers.
- The Ladies and gentlewomen of the priuie Chamber.
- The Maidens of Honour.
- And such, whose Husbands or themselues may dispend 500. Markes by the yere for terme of life in possession aboue all charges.
-
- Veluet in
- Gownes.
- Cloakes.
- Sauegards or other vppermost garments.
- Embrodery with Silke.
- Netherstockes of Silke.
- Gentlewomen of the Priuie Chamber.
- The Maidens of Honour.
- And such whose Husbandes or themselues may dispend C. C. li. by the yeere for terme of life, in possession aboue al charges.
- Veluet in
-
- Veluet in
- Kirtles.
- Peticoates.
- Sattin in
- Gownes.
- Cloakes.
- Sauegards, or other vppermost garments.
- Gentlewomen of the Priuie Chamber.
- The Maidens of honour.
- Gentlewomen attendant vpon Countesses, Vicountesses or Ladies of the like or higher degree.
- And such whose Husbandes or themselues may dispend C. li. by the yere for terme of life, in possession aboue all charges.
-
- Sattin in Kirtles.
- Damaske. in Gownes.
- Tuft Taffetie. in Gownes.
- Plaine Taffetie. in Gownes.
- Grograine. in Gownes.
- Gentlewomen attendant vpon Knightes wiues, or Ladies of the like or higher degree.
- And such whose Husbandes or themselues may dispend xl. li. by the yeere for terme of life in possession aboue all charges.
- Veluet in
[...]
-
- Cappes, Hattes.
- Hathands, Caph [...]nds. trimmed with Golde, Siluer, or Pearle.
- Garters, Bootehos [...]. trimmed with Golde, Siluer, or Pearle.
- Silke Netherstockes. trimmed with Golde, Siluer, or Pearle.
- Enamelled
- Chaines.
- Buttons.
- Aglets.
-
- Satten, Gowne, Coate, Hose, or vppermost garments.
- Damaske, Gowne, Coate, Hose, or vppermost garments.
- or Castata, in Furre, whereof the kinde groweth not within the Queenes Dominions, except Foynes, gray Ienets, and Budge.
- Hat, Bonnet, Girdle, Scabberds of swords, daggers, &c. Shooes, and Pantophies. of Veluet. except. The degrees and persons aboue named, and the sonne and heire apparant of a Knight.
-
- Silke, other then Satten, Damashe, Caffata, Chamlet, in Dublets: and Sarcenet, Chamlet, or Caffata in facing of Gownes and Clokes, and in Coates, Iackets, Ierkins, Coyfes, Purses, being not of colour Scarlet, Crimson, or Blewe.
- Furre of Foynes, gray Genets, or other, as the like groweth not in the Queenes Dominions.
B [...]t hall [...].
- Spurres.
- Swordes.
- Rapiers.
- Daggers.
- Skaynes.
- Woodkniues, or Hangers.
- Buckles of Girdles.
- Gilt,
- Siluered, or
- Damasked.
except Knightes and Barons sonnes, and other of higher degree or place, and Gentlemen in ordinarie office attendant vpon the Queenes Maiesties person, which Gentlemen so attendant, may weare all the premisses, sauing Gilt, Siluered, or Damasked Spurres.
[...] shall [...]t in [...] Trappings or Harnesse of their horse, any Studdes, Buckels, gilt, siluered or damashed, or other garniture, gilt, siluered or damasked, nor Stirrops gilte, siluered, or damasked, nor any veluet in Saddels or Horse Trappers, except The persons next before mentioned, and others of higher degrees, and Gentlemen in ordinarie, vt supra.
[...]tt that [...]he Lorde
- Chauncellour.
- Treasourer.
- President of the Counsell.
- Priuie Seale.
may weare any
- Veluet, Satten, or other Silkes, except Purpure.
- Furres, except blacke Ienets.
These may [...]art as they [...] (vidz.)videlicet [...] of the
- Kings Counsell.
- Iustices of either Benche.
- Barons of the Eschequer.
- Master of the Rolles.
- Sergeants at Lawe.
- Masters of the Chauncerie.
- Of the Queenes Counsell.
- Apprentises at Lawe.
- Phisitions of the King, Queene, and Prince,
- Maiors & other head Officers of any Towne Corporate.
- Barons of the v. Ports.
except
- Veluet.
- Damaske.
- Satten.
of the colour
- Crimson.
- Violet.
- Purpure.
- Blewe.
- Note that her Maiesties meaning is not, by this order to prohibite in any person the wearing of Silke Buttons, the facing of Coates, Clokes, Hattes, and Cappes, for comelinesse onely with Taffata, Grograyne, Veluet, or other Silke, as is commonly vsed.
- [Page]Gentlewomen attendant vpon
- Dutchesses.
- Marquesses,
- Countesses,
- Gentlewomen attendant vpon Vicounts wiues, and Barons wiues, may weare in their Liueries, as the daughters of such as may dispend in. C. markes by the yeere, and as the wiues of those that may dispend [...]l. ll. valued, vt supra.
[...]
-
- Veluet, tuffed Taffata,
- Saten, or any Golde, or
- Siluer, in their Peticotes.
- Damas [...], Taffata, or other Silke in their Peticotes. except. Knights daughters, and such as be matched with them in the former article, who shall not weare a gard of any Silke vpon their Peticotes.
- Veluet, tuffed Taffata, Satten, nor any Gold or Siluer in any Cloke or Sauegard. except The wiues of Barons, Knights of the Order, or Counsellers, Ladies, and Gentlewomen of the priuie Chamber, and bed Chamber, and the maidens of honour, and all degrees aboue them.
- [...]amaskt, Taffata, or other Silke. in any Cloke or Sauegard. except Knightes wiues, and the degrees and persons aboue mentioned.
¶ No persons vnder the degrees aboue specified, shall weare any gard or welt of Silke, vpon any Peticote, Cloke, or Sauegard.
All which Articles, clauses and premisses, her Maiestie straightly commandeth to be from henceforth exactly and duely obserued in all points, and the parties offending to be further punished as violaters and contemners of her Roiall and princely commaundement by this her Highnesse proclamation expressed and published. Geuen vnder our Signet, at our Mannor of Green wich, the sixt day of Iuly, in the nine and thirtieth yeere of our Raigne.
God saue the Queene.
❧ Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Christopher Barker, printer to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie. 1597.