QUEEN ANNE.

311

In 1706, Anne again repeals the acts which prohibit Flanderslace, with the clear understanding that nothing be construed intoallowing the importation of lace made in “the dominions of theFrench King ; ” 51 an edict in itself suflicient to bring the laces ofFrance into the highest fashion. 62

“ France,” writes an essayist, “ is the wardrobe of the world; ”nay, “ the English have so great an esteem for the workmanship ofthe French refugees, that hardly a thing vends without a Gallicname.” 63

To these refugees from Alenqon and elsewhere, expelled by thecruel edict of Louis XIV., we owe the visible improvement of ourlace in the eighteenth century.

Up to the present time we have had mention only of “ Flanderslace” in general. In the reign of Queen Anne the points of“ Macklin ” and Brussels are first noted down in the royal ward-robe accounts. In 1710, her majesty pays for 26 yards of fineedged Brussels lace 151/. 54 “Mais, 1’appetit vient en mangeant.”The bill of Margareta Jolly, for the year 171A for the furnishingof Mechlin and Brussels lace alone, amounts to the somewhatextravagant sum of 1418/. 14s. Taking the average price of the“ Lace chanter on Ludgate Hill,” articles of daily use were costlyenough. “One Brussels head is valued at 40/.; a groundedBrussels head, 30/.; one looped Brussels, 30/.” These objects,high as the price may seem, lasted a woman’s life. People in thelast century did not care for variety, they contented themselveswith a few good articles; hence among the objects given in 1719,as necessary to a lady of fashion, we merely find:—

£ s. d.

A French point or Flanders head and ruffles 80 0 0

A ditto handkerchief . . . . 10 0 0

A black French laced hood . . .550

When the Princess Mary, daughter of George II., married, she

31 Statutes at large, Anne 5 & 6.

“ This edict greatly injured the lacetrade of France. In the “ Atlas Maritimeet Commercial ” of 1727, it states: “ Imight mention several other articles ofFrench manufacture which, for want of amarket in England, where their chief eon-sumption was, are so much decayed andin a manner quite sunk. I mean as to

exportation, the English having now setup the same among themselves, such asbone lace.”

53 “ History of Trade,” London, 1702.si ap r0 virgis lautse Fimbr’ Bruxell'laciniai et 12 virgis diet’ laeinuo proKeginm persona, £151.”— G. XV. A.1710-11.