I found this in, of all things, a book on Elizabethan handwriting and paleography (WHICH IS AWESOME AND I WANT TO LEARN SECRETARY HAND NOW AND I NEED A COPY OF THIS BOOK. But more on that later). It’s an inventory of the worldly goods of a provincial Elizabethan gentleman, presumably of modest means. I don’t know if the book provides the complete inventory–if it does, they’re very modest means, as his hall furniture consists of two square tables, two forms (?), one long settle, two chairs, six cushions, two andirons, a fire fork, a pair of tongs, and “hangings about the same,” which is less than you’d find in a minor noblewoman’s bedchamber. Anyway, I found the clothing inventory (which is complete) particularly interesting:

In Apparrell

Item fower gownes fower dublets one
damask Cassok two paier of hose fower
Shurtes two caps two hatts

In Apparel

Item, four gowns, four doublets, one
damask cassock, two pairs of hose, four
shirts, two caps, and two hats.

Master Edolf was, I’m guessing, a somewhat older and more conservative gentleman, judging by the gowns. The cassock is the only material of a specified fabric, and possibly the richest garment he owned (a damask is a figured woven fabric, probably silk in this case).

The hose must be trunkhose, since by that time period doublets were short enough to require trunkhose or Venetian hose to be worn with them–I couldn’t guess as to whether “two pairs of hose” means trunkhose/netherhose sets, but that seems probable (I’m not that familiar with Elizabethan wardrobe conventions).

I’m not sure about the distinction between caps and hats–I would guess the hats are more structured, e.g. tall hats, and caps are softer, but I could be completely wrong.

Anyway, what I find interesting is that contrary to what people seem to assume now about Elizabethans (and medieval people, for that matter) having more undergarments and fewer outer garments, Master Edolf had essentially four sets of clothing. A “set” as being a shirt, doublet, and gown (I guess he only changed his hose every other day), although the gown is optional. No more garments than undergarments (the cassock is outerwear, like a coat).

I think a thorough analysis of Elizabethan wardrobe accounts could be very, very interesting. I haven’t seen one, but it doesn’t mean none exist….

Original account pictured on p. 57 of
Dawson, G.E., and Kennedy-Skipton, L. Elizabethan Handwriting 1500-1650: A Manual, W.W. Norton & Co. (New York): 1966, 130 pp.