Puritans and lace:
In his book "The Romance of the Lace Pillow" page 47, Thomas Wright
speaks of:
1) The Rev. Henry Smith: "He was no Puritan, he tells us, and therefore
had nothing to say against lace, but it grieved him to see gentlemen
forced to "sell their land" in order to "decke their wiues".
2) Under Cromwell the use of lace was discontinued among the midle and
lower classes. The "quality" (i.e. upper classes) still used it, though
sparingly. We hear of awonderful handkerchief consisting chiefly of
broad point lace which had belonged to Cromwell's mother, and if many of
the ladies were amore given, as their enemies worded iit, to "gossiping
Scripture", than to decking their persons, nevertheless there were
others who did not deny themselves "whisks" (lace gorgets), while their
husband thought it no sn to wear cuff and bands.
It goes on to see on p48, that the use of lace was discouraged among the
Puritans.
Looks to me that the upper classes and clergy laid down the law for
ordinary people, whilst flauting it themselves.
Agnes Boddington - dreary, wet Elloughton in UK
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