310

HISTORY OF LACE.

light-fingered gentry. The jewels worn by our great-grandmothersof the eighteenth century, though mounted in the most exquisitetaste, were for the most part false—Bristol or Alenf on “ diamonds,”paste, or “ Strass.” Lace, on the other hand, was a sure commodityand easily disposed of. At the robbery’ of Lady Anderson’s housein Red Lion Square during a fire, in 1700, the family of GeorgeHeneage, Esq., on a visit, are recorded to have lost—“ A head withfine loopt lace, of very great value; a Flanders lace hood; a pairof double ruffles and tuckers; two laced aprons, one point, theother Flanders lace; and a large black lace scarf embroidered ingold.” _

Again, at an opera row some years later, the number of caps,ruffles, and heads enumerated as stolen by the pickpockets is quitefabulous. So expert had they become that, when first the ladiestook to wearing powdered wigs, they dexterously cut open theleather backs of the hack coaches and carried off wig, head and all,before the rifled occupant had the slightest idea of their attack. 48To remedy the evil, the police request all ladies for the future tosit with their backs to the horses. 49

QUEEN ANNE.

“ Parley. —Oh, Sir, there’s the prettiest fashion lately come over! so airy, soFrench, and all that! The Pinners are double ruffled with twelve plaits of a side,and open all from the face ; the hair is frizzled up all round head, and stands us stiffns a bodkin. Then the Favourites hang loose upon the temple with a languishinglock in the middle. Then the Caule is extremely wide, and over all is a Cornet rais’dvery high and all the Lappets behind.”— Farquhar , Sir Harry Wildair.

Queen Anne, though less extravagant than her sister, wasscarcely more patriotic. The point purchased for her coronation, 50though it cost but 64?. 13s. 9c?., was of Flanders growth. The billis made out to the royal laceman of King William’s day, now Sit-Henry Furnesse, knight and merchant.

The queen, too, in her gratitude, conferred a pension of 100?.upon one Mrs. Abrahat, the royal clear-starcher; “ because,” writesthe Duchess of Marlborough, “ she had washed the queen’s headsfor twenty pounds a year when she was a princess.”

,s “Weekly Journal,” March 1717. Master of the G. W., touching the Fu-

*’ “ ^'* ie Modom Warrior,” 175G. neral of William III. and Coronation of

” “Acc. of Ralph, Earl of Montague, Queen Anne.” P. R. O.