Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
If you would like to write a summary for this topic, email phil [at] gyford [dot] com
More properly called “lustring”; a fine glossy silk.
I love the the reason to give work to the poor, have a monopoly and cheap labour, and keep the hard stuff for England.
http://www.bopcris.ac.uk/bop1688/ref536.html
Lutestring
A plain, stout, lustrous silk, used for ladies’ dresses and for ribbon.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Lustring
for the latinists?
\Lus”tring\, n. [F. lustrine, It. lustrino, fr.
lustrare to polish, L. lustrare. See 3d {Luster},
http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/lustring
Foreign lustrings and clandestine trade. Petition of Royal Lustring Company
petition to have a monopoly this trade later 1680’s
“…Examines the petition together with witness evidence, and makes a 21 resolutions including the following: that the manufacture of lustrings and alamodes set up by the Lustring Company has been very advantageous and beneficial to the Kingdom in terms of providing employment for the poor, and preventing the exportation of coin for purchasing such commodities…”
http://www.bopcris.ac.uk/bop1688/ref536.html
One London shower would ruin this item. Lutestring was fine silk stiffened with gum, as pointed out by Liza Picard Pg 110 in her very informative and well research book “Restoration London.” Here yer find what was under the skirt too, and how much Sam has to pay for the priviledge? [ oh! wot a thought]