580 ON THE PRICE OF TEXTILE FABRICS. 



But there are a few purchases of articles of clothing. In 1653 

 the new fellows of King's College, Cambridge, buy a * toga/ 

 for the solitary chorister who had not been superannuated, at 

 29.$-. 6d. As they generally gave 5^. a yard for the cloth, it is 

 probable that this toga contained about 5i yards. But Master 

 is the principal purchaser of ready-made clothing. In 1654 

 he gives 32^. 6d. for his servant's livery coat. In 1656 he 

 pays 24$-. for his servant's stuff suit ; and in 1657, 25^. In 1658 

 a serge suit for his servant cost 28^. In 1662 he buys an 

 Indian gown for himself at 52^. 6d. t a stuff riding-cloak for 

 32^. 6d. in the same year, and the same article at 35^. 6d. in 

 1664. In 1666 a coachman's livery cloak costs him yos. In 

 1667 an Indian gown cost 41^., and in 1672 he buys a worsted 

 camlet cloak for 27 s. 6d. In 1687 frieze coats are bought in 

 London at 2Ctf. 6d. 



SILK FABRICS. It is not always certain that one can 

 affirm a material to be silk. Some are clearly of this kind, as 

 velvet, satin, sarsnet, taffeta. Sometimes the same word is 

 used for a woollen and a silken fabric, as grogram, when the 

 record occasionally mentions the material. Sometimes a 

 word is used for linen, woollen and silken stuffs, as damask and 

 stamel, when the price is the best guide. One article, now 

 generally I believe woollen, was then plainly silk. This is 

 plush. Some silks, as tabby, lutestring and Mantua, come into 

 the market late. 



Scattered over the whole period are eighteen entries of 

 velvet. The price, making allowance for quality, does not 

 greatly change. It was used for the clothing of wealthy men, 

 perhaps of women, and for church purposes. The highest 

 price is that in the latest entry. But I believe that the general 

 average, 23^. 1 1 f */., fairly represents the price at which velvet 

 was procurable through the whole period, though it is 

 somewhat cheaper during the first twenty years, when the 

 entries are most numerous. The purchases made in 1608 on 

 behalf of Prince Henry are at a high price. 



Next to velvet in price comes satin. I have found it in 



