William Cookesbury facts for kids
William Cookesbury was a skilled London craftsman who made and supplied hats, caps, and feathers. He was known as a "capper" (someone who makes caps) and a "haberdasher" (someone who sells small items for sewing, but in his case, also hats and accessories).
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Working for Royalty
William Cookesbury had an important job: he supplied items to the royal family!
Serving Queen Elizabeth I
Cookesbury started making caps and hats for Elizabeth I in 1584. He was officially listed as her "capper" in 1587. He created beautiful caps and hats for the Queen using fancy materials like velvet and taffeta. When Queen Elizabeth I passed away, Cookesbury even provided large ostrich feather plumes for the horses at her funeral.
Supplying King James I
After Queen Elizabeth I died, James VI and I became the new king in 1603. Cookesbury continued his work for the new monarch. King James ordered many special hats from him.
- Fancy Hats: Some hats were made of black beaver fur, lined with rich taffeta, and decorated with black bands and plumes of black feathers.
- Unique Designs: One hat was made of black beaver and beautifully embroidered, with a plume of white feathers. Another was an ash-colored beaver hat, lined with green taffeta, with a band embroidered with gold and silver, and a gold feather plume.
- Special Feathers: Cookesbury even made a hat with a plume of white feathers and a "bird of paradise" feather, which was very rare and special. This hat also had a velvet band for the King's jewels.
- Family Orders: He also made hats for King James's son, Prince Henry. It's thought that Cookesbury made matching hats for King James, Prince Henry, and Anne of Denmark, the Queen.
Matching Outfits at Court
Wearing matching clothes was a popular trend at the royal court during this time. Queen Anne of Denmark and her ladies-in-waiting, like Margaret Winstar and Marie Stewart, along with a page named William Belo, sometimes wore matching outfits and hats.
More Than Just Hats
Cookesbury didn't just supply hats for people. He also provided feathers for other uses.
Feather Plumes for Beds
He supplied large plumes of feathers that were used to decorate the corners of canopy beds. These feathers often came from egret birds and were dyed in many different colors to match the room's decor.
Feathers for Royal Horses
Cookesbury also provided feather plumes for the royal horses, making them look even more grand during parades and special events.
Official Royal Supplier
Around 1607, King James made William Cookesbury and his son-in-law, Denis Peiper, the official suppliers of hats and feathers for his beds and stables. This meant Cookesbury was known as a "royal haberdasher" and received a regular payment for his important services to the King.
Images for kids
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King James I, a key customer of William Cookesbury.
