Of Point and Flanders,"[[995]] etc.
It is difficult now to ascertain what description of lace was that styled Colbertine.[[996]] It is constantly alluded to by the writers of the period. Randle Holme (1688) styles it, "A kind of open lace with a square grounding."[[997]] Evelyn himself, in his Fop's Dictionary (1690), gives, "Colbertine, a lace resembling net-work of the fabric of Monsieur Colbert, superintendent of the French King's manufactures;" and the Ladies' Dictionary, 1694, repeats his definition. This is more incomprehensible still, point d'Alençon being the lace that can be specially styled of "the fabric" of Colbert, and Colbertine appears to have been a coarse production.[[998]] Swift talks of knowing
"The difference between
Rich Flanders lace and Colberteen."[[999]]
Congreve makes Lady Westport say—[[1000]]
"Go hang out an old Frisonier gorget with a yard of yellow Colberteen."
And a traveller, in 1691,[[1001]] speaking of Paris, writes:—"You shall see here the finer sort of people flaunting it in tawdry gauze or Colbertine, a parcel of coarse staring ribbons; but ten of their holyday habits shall not amount to what a citizen's wife of London wears on her head every day."
JAMES II.
The reign of James II., short and troubled, brought but little change in the fashion of the day; more prominence, however, was given to the lace cravats, which were worn loosely round the throat, and with their ends hanging down over the upper part of the vest.
Charles II., in the last year of his reign, spends £20 12s. for a new cravat to be worn "on the birthday of his dear brother,"[[1002]] and James expends £29 upon one of Venice point to appear in on that of his queen. Frequent entries of lace for the attendants of the Chapel Royal form items in the Royal Wardrobe Accounts.