Page:The child's pictorial history of England; (IA childspictorialh00corn).pdf/152

 31. People of fashion, in those days, dined at eleven o'clock; the merchants and tradespeople, at twelve; and laborers, at one; and all public amusements were between dinner and supper, which was taken about six.

32. These amusements did not show very good taste, for gentlemen and ladies of rank used to go and see cock fighting, and bull and bear baiting, which are cruel disgusting exhibitions, and I only mention them to show you the difference between the manners at that time and this.

33. I will now give you an idea what kind of dress people used to wear in the time of queen Elizabeth. The gowns were open before, with a stiff bodice, just like a pair of stays, laced in front, and a large ruff round the neck.

34. In the street, most ladies used to wear a little black velvet mask, and shoes with such high heels they could scarcely walk in them. Gentlemen wore short jackets, reaching a little below the waist, with a belt and sword, a cloak, and a high-crowned hat.

35. One great improvement was made in dress in this reign, by the invention of stockings, which, for a long time, were all knitted; but they were found much more convenient than the cloth hose, that every body used to wear, till then.

36. Queen Elizabeth died, after a long, pros