254

HISTORY OF LACK.

followed upon statute, renewed for a number of years, bearingalways the same expression, and nothing more definite . 13

The Venetian galleys, at an early period, bore to England“apes, sweet wines,” and other articles of luxury. They broughtalso the goldwork of “ I.uk,” Florence, “ -Jeaue,” and Venice. Inour early parliamentary records are many statutes on the subject.The Italians were in the habit of giving short lengths, gold threadof bad quality, and were guilty of sundry other peccadilloes, whichgreatly excited the wrath of the nation. The balance was not inEngland’s favour:—

“ Tlui bare the gold out of this landAnd sowkethe the thrifte out of our htmdeAa the wa*i>e sowkethe the honey of the be.”

It was these cheating Venetians who first brought over theirgold lace into England, but it is not till the reign of Henry VII.that, according to Anderson, “ Gold and thread lace came fromFlorence, Venice, and Genoa, and became an article of commerce.An act was then passed to prevent the buyers of such commoditiesfrom selling for a pound weight a packet which does not containtwelve ounces, and the inside of the said gold, silver, and threadlace was to be of equal greatness of thread and goodness of colouras the outside thereof.” 14

A warrant to the keeper of the great wardrobe, in theeighteenth year of King Henry’s reign , 15 contains an order for “ amauntel lace of blewe silk and Venys gold, to be delivered for theuse of our right dere and well-beloved Cosvn the King of Ilonmyne”—Maximilian, who was made knight of the Garter . 16

If lace was really worn in the days of Henry VII., it wasprobably a braid or passement of gold or silk, as one of the last

13 1 Rich. III. renews 8 Edw. IV. forten years, and that of Richuid is con-tinued hy 19 Henry VII. for twentyyears more.

M 4 lien. VII. = 1488-9.

13 1’. R. 0. The same warrant con-tains an order to deliver “ for the use ofand wearing of our right dere daughterthe Lady Mary,’' together with a blackvelvet gown, scarlet petticoat, &e., *• anouuce of lace for her kyrtel,” and athousand “ pyuncs.”

18 In the list of the late King Henry’s

plate, made 1543, we have some curiousentries in which the term lace appears:—

“ Item, oone picture of a woman madeof erthe with a carnneion Roobe knittwith a knott in the lefte shoulder andbare hi did with her heere rowlid upwith a white lace sett in a boxe ofwodde.

“ Item, oone picture of a woman madeof erthe with a cnmccon garment afterthe Ingllshe tyer and bareheddid withher heare rowled up with a white lacesett in al)OX ol wodde.” I’, li. ().