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CHAPTER V.

GREECE.

We have already spoken of Greece as the cradle of embroidery;and in those islands which escaped the domination of the Turksthe art still lingered on. Cyprus, to whom in after times proudVenice gave a queen, was renowned for its gold, its stuffs, and itsneedlework. As early as 13 )3, in an inventory of the Dukes ofPnrgundy, we find noted “ nn petit pourpoint de satin noir et estla gorgerette de maille d’argent de Chippre ”—a collar of silvernetwork. 1

In our own country, thirty years later, we have a statute touch-ing the deceitful works of the embroiderers of gold or of silverof Cipre, which shall be forfeited to the king. 2 Hut the secret ofthese cunning works became, after a time, known throughoutEurope. Of cutworks or laces from Cyprus 3 and the islands of theGrecian seas, there is no mention; but we hear much of a certainpoint known to the commerce of the seventeenth century as thatof Kagusa, which again, after an ephemeral existence, disappearsfrom the scene. Of Ragusa, says Anderson, “ her citizens, thougha Popish state, are manufacturers to a man.”

Certain it is that this little republic, closely allied with theItalian branches of the house of Austria, served them with itsnavy, and in return received from them protection. The commerceof Kagusa consisted in bearing the products of the Greek islandsand Turkey to Venice, Ancona, and the kingdom of Naples ; 4 henceit might be inferred that those fine productions of the Greek con-vents which, of late years, have been so much brought before thepublic notice were first introduced into Italy by the merchants ofDalmatia, and received on that account the denomination of “ points

1 Lwlx>vdc, “ <jllossa\TP,” Palis, 1853. gives 14 Oiprioto.”

2 Statute 2 Hen. VI. c. x. = 1423. ' “ Description de Ragusc.” Bib. Nat.

3 Taglienti, 1530, among his punti, MSS. F. Fr. 10,772.

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