VENICE.

45

the amount of -100,000 crowns, all the convents and the greaterpart of the poor families subsisting upon this work. 27

In 1020, foreign “dentelles et passemens an fusean” weredeclared contraband in France, and Colbert determined to gainpossession of the secret of the new point, and establish amanufacture in the kingdom. His success will be related further on.

Venetian point is not mentioned by name until the ordinanceof 1054. See “Greece.”

Colbert’s prohibitory edict and the introduction of themanufacture into France no doubt diminished the export of thisartistic product, and inflicted a serious injury on the Venetian lacetrade, which, says Darn, “ occupait toute la population de lacapitale,” but Venetian point was not the less sought after.

A few w'eeks after the birth of Mary of Modena’s first child, in1075, there was sent to her from her native city a present ofVenetian point and cloth of gold to the value of 3000Z. Herconsort, James II., paid 30?. 10s. for a cravat of the same point, tobe worn on the day of his coronation.

There is a curious document in the library of St. Mark, amemorandum of instructions to an embassy extraordinary to theEnglish court in 1G05-6. 29 After various directions respectingtheir costume, the ambassadors are instructed to wear for theirpublic entry collars of the finest Venetian point, adding thatthe laces of Venice are highly esteemed, and there is nothingmore acceptable for presents than these laces. It is to be hoped,therefore, that in pursuance of liis instructions the Venetianambassador appeared at the lace-loving court of the DutchWilliam in a costume worthy the dignity and state of theRepublic of St, Mark.

Our porte-bouquets and lace-trimmed nosegays are nothingnew. On the occasion of the annual visit of the doge to theConvent delle Vergini, the lady abbess with the novicesreceived him in the parlour and presented him with a nosegayof flowers placed in a handle of gold and trimmed round withthe finest lace that Venice could produce. 31

27 Letter of De Banzy, Bishop of Bo- d’iciquelquesnllesdesmeilleuresouvrieres

ziers, and French ambassador at Venice, qui puissent instruire celles deFrnnce.”to Colbert, Nov. 1664. 20 “ Contarini Miscellany,” communi-

28 Again he writes, Dec. 1664: ‘‘ Je vois cated by Mr. Ban don Brown,que vous serez bien nise d’e'tablir dans le 30 “ Con profilo esenza.’

royanme des manufactures de point de 31 “ Origine delle Feste veneziane, daVenise,cequisepourraitfaiieen envoyant Giustina K. Michiel.” Milano, 1S29.