Draft of a paper concerning the history of dress, undated (Series 87.02) - No. 0027

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No 7.                     Doublet

Doublets were worn by the Lower Classes in very Early times,  when the higher orders wore Cassocks under their gowns, Wat Tyler in his Rebellion Paid for Certain Doublet seizd by him 1300      for the use of his People   6/8 each
The chamberlain is orderd to Lace up his sovereigns Doublet hole by hole, Buttons were not then in use, the Doublet was made with arms Sleeves but these had in Early times slashes near the shoulder through which the arm might be Pokd when wanted for strong exertions & used without the Confinement of the Sleeve, which in this Case hung down
the body of the doublet resembled a Ladys Stays, the skirts were set out with strong Buckram, & peircd with eylet holes by which the under garment was supported, being tied to it by Laces & taggs called Points, These requird to be untied with Trouble if the Lower garment was to be Let down, The operator was calld untrussing the Points, in the Poorer classes the skirts of the doublet sewed to it formd the Lower garment
in Fact the doublet of the Rich may resembled very exactly his body armor & as he was in the habit of being Riveted tight into armor he felt in no inconvenience in being Lacd tight into his Doublet
The Ribband which held up the Lower Garment & pasterd it to the skirts of the doublet were often very gawdy, they form a striking part of the dress in the Time of Elizabeth
1527    The Gentlemen who accompanied the Cardinal wolsey on his Embassy to France were Entertaind with hunting the wild Boar, at this exercise the Iking & the Rest were in their Doublets & hose
1600     at Sir Charles Darwins executors he put off his Gown & his Doublet  Howe
1648     the Earl of holland in the same case Pulld off his Gown & Doublet being on him a waistcoat of White Satin   Howe  Whitlocke p 387
1553     in Hans Holbens Picture of the delivery of the Charter of Bridewell to the Lord Mayor Sir Geo Barnes the King wears under his Robe of Ermin a richly embroiderd Doublet Lacd on, The skirts are stiffend & do not overlap, his overstocks as they were afterwards Calld are seen in the Picture the rather indistinctly
Chaucer in his Parsons Tale Speaks of the Pouncing of chisels to make holes & the Dogging of Sheres  The Luxury of