Silkwoman

[1][2] London silkwomen held some trading rights independently from their husbands and were exempted from some of the usual customs and laws of coverture.

[3] The trade and craft of the silkwoman was encouraged by a statute of Henry VI of England as a countermeasure to imports of silk thread, and a suitable occupation for "young gentlewomen and other apprentices".

[9] Emmot Norton and Matilde Dentorte were London silkwomen supplying the wardrobe of Joan of Navarre, queen consort of Henry IV of England with silk thread, cord, gilt silk ribbons or bands, and latten rings and fixings, in 1420, when she was a prisoner at Leeds Castle.

She may have supplied five counterpoints for covering beds, with imagery, scripture, and verdure, and four "costerings" or wallhangings chequered in red and blue with roses, suns, and crowns.

[12] She made tufts of silk to decorate the coronation gloves of Richard III, and buttons for his and Anne Neville's robes.

[27] Mistress Vaughan supplied crimson silk fringes for a close stool and tawny satin and ribbon to line a coffer made for the Lady Mary by William Green in August 1537.

[38] Montague supplied "bone lace wrought with silver and spangles" in June 1572 and Mrs Swegoo, perhaps a "tirewoman", worked on head dresses for actors in The Masque of Discord and Peace.

She washed and mended one the queen's favourite riding outfits, a safeguard and jupe embroidered with stars of Venice silver and gold wheat ears.

[47] According to the chronicle of Edmund Howes, in 1561 Montague gave Elizabeth her first pair of silk stockings as a New Year's Day gift.

[48][49] In 1562, Montague provided a pewter metal doll for Aura Soltana, a Russian girl at Elizabeth's court.

Tamworth reimbursed other suppliers and makers including the embroiderers David Smyth and William Middleton, Henry Herne the hosier, Garret Jonson the shoemaker, Raphael Hammond the capper, and paid for gold lace supplied to the tailor Walter Fyshe.