226

HISTORY OF LACE.

refugees founded a manufactory of that point lace called “ dentellea la reine” 4 in the Orphan House at Amsterdam. 5

A few years later, another Huguenot, Zacharie Chatelain, 6 in-troduced into Holland the industry, at that time so important, ofmaking gold and silver lace.

The Dutch possessed one advantage over most other nations,especially over England, in her far-famed Haarlem 7 thread, onceconsidered the best adapted for lace in the world. “ No placebleaches flax,” says a writer of the day, 8 “like the meer ofHaarlem.” 9

Still the points of Holland made little noise in the world. TheDutch strenuously forbade the entry of all foreign lace, and whatthey did not consume themselves, they exported to Italy, wherethe market was often deficient. 10 Once alone in England we heartell of a considerable parcel of Dutch lace seized between Dept-ford and London from the Rotterdam hoy. England, however,according to Anderson, in 1764, received in return for her pro-ducts from Holland “ fine lace, but the balance was in England’sfavour.”

In 1770, the empress queen (Maria Theresa) published adeclaration prohibiting the importation of Dutch lace into anyof her imperial majesty’s hereditary dominions in Germany. 11

4 We have frequent mention of “den-telle h la reine,” previous to its intro-duction into Holland.

1619. “Plus une aulne ung tiers dedentelle ii la reyne .”—Tniorerie deMadame, Steur du Rot. Arch. Nat. K.K. 231.

1678. “ Les dames mettent ordinaire-mcnt deux comettes de Point k la Reyneou de soie ecrue, raremeut de Point deFrance, parce quo le point clair siedmieux au visage .”—Mereure Galant.

1683. “ Deux Aubes de toillc demioliolande garuis de point a la Reyne.”—■In®, fait apra le decedz de Mgr. Colbert.Bib. Nat. MSS. Suite de Mortemnrt, 34.

Among the articles to be taxed ontheir entry into Sweden, in 1691, arecravats and ruffles of “ Poynto a laReyne,” together with those of “point deN enise ” and “ poynte d’Espagne.”

5 C. Weisse, “History of tin; French

Pio'Cotant Refugees from the Edict of

Na ites.” Edinburgh, 1854.

* Grandson of Simon Chatelain. Seep. 80.

7 In the paper already referred to 7 see“ Normaudy ”), on the laee trade, in 1704,it is stated the Flemish laces called “ den-telles de haut prix ” are made of Lille,Slons, and Mechlin thread, sent to bleachat Haarlem, “ as they know not how tobleach them elsewhere.” The “den.telles de has prix” of Normandy andother parts of France being made entirelyof the cheaper thread of Haarlem itself,an act, then just passed, excluding theHaarlem thread, would, if carried out,annihilate this branch of industiy inFrance. “Commerce des Den telles doFil.” Bib. Nat. MSS. F. Fr. 14,294.

* And. Yarranton, 1677.

* “ Flax is improved by age. Thesaying was, ‘Wool may be kipt to dust,flax to silk.’ I have seen flax twentyyears old as fine us a hair.”— Ibid.

*• “Commerce de la Hollande,” 1768.

11 “ Edinburgh Amusement.”