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HISTORY OF LACE.

The lace manufacture of the Netherlands, as Baron Reiffenbergwrites, has a glorious past. After exciting the jealousy of otherEuropean nations, in the sixteenth century, when every industrialart fled from the horrors of religious persecution, the lace fabricalone upheld itself, and by its prosperity saved Flanders fromutter ruin. Every country of Northern Europe, France, 6Germany, and England, has learned the art of lace-making fromFlanders. After the establishment of the Points de France byColbert, Flanders was alarmed at the number of lace-makers whoemigrated, and passed an Act, dated Brussels, '26th December1698, threatening with punishment any who should suborn herworkpeople.

Lace-making forms an abundant source of national wealth toBelgium, and enables the people of its superannuated cities tosupport themselves, as it were, on female industry. 7 One-fortiethof the whole population (150,000 women) are said to be thusengaged. But a small number assemble in the ateliers; themajority work at home. The trade now flourishes as in the mostpalmy days of the Netherlands.

Lace-making forms a part of female education in Belgium.Charles Y. commanded it to be taught in the schools and convents.Examples of the products of his period may be seen in the capworn by him under his crown (Fig. 46), and in the contemporaryportrait of his sister, Mary, Queen of Hungary. This cap, longpreserved in the treasury of the bishop princes of Basle, has nowpassed into the Musee de Cluny. It is fine linen; the imperialarms are embroidered in relief, alternate with designs in lacis ofexquisite workmanship. 8

with many an aperture, which feeds thepride of the whole globe; which encircleswith its fine border cloaks ami tuckers,ami shows grandly round the throatsmulhands of kings; and, what is more surpris-ing, this web is of the lightness of a fea-ther, which in its price is too heavy for ourpurses, do, ye men, inflamed with thedesire of the Golden Fleece, endure somany dangers by land, so many at sea,whilst the woman, remaining in her Bra-buntine home, prepares Phrygian fleecesbv peaceful assiduity .”—Jacobi EyckiiAntwerpieims Urbimn Belgicarum Cen-tnria. Antw. 1G51. 1 vol. 4to. Bib.Royale, Brussels.

‘ Alenyon excepted.

7 It destroys, however, ihe eyesight.

“ I was told by a gentleman well ac-quainted with Flandeis,” says McPher-son, “that they are generally almostblind before thirty years of age.”_ His-

tory of Commerce, 1785.

8 Together with the cap is preserved aparchment with this inscription: “ Gorroque perteneccio a CarlosQuinto,emperad.Guarda lo, liijo mio, es memoriu de Juliande Garnica.” (“ Cap which belonged tothe Emperor Charles V. Keep it, myson, in remembrance of John do Giir-nica.”) J. de Garnica was treasurer toPhilip II.