340

HISTORY OF LACE.

it, and some men when grown np follow no other employment;others, when ont of work, find it a good resonrce, and can earn asmuch as the generality of day labourer*. The lace made inHanslape is from sixpence to two guineas a yard in value. It iscalculated that from 8000/. to 9000/. net profit is annually broughtinto the parish by the lace manufacture.”

The bone lace of Stoney Stratford 13 and Aylesbury are bothquoted by Defoe, and the produce of the latter city is mentionedwith praise. He writes: “ Many of the poor here are employedin making lace for edgings, not much inferior to those fromFlanders; but it is some pleasure to us to observe that theEnglish are not the only nation in the world which admiresforeign manufactures above its own, since the French, who givefashions to most nations, buy and sell the finest laces at Parisunder the name of * dentelles d’Angleterre,’ or English laces.” 13

But Newport Pagnel, whether from its more central position,or being of greater commercial importance, is the town whichreceives most praise from all contemporary authors. “ This town,”says the “Magna Britannia,” in 1720, “is a sort of staple for bonelace, of which more is thought to be made here than any town inEngland; that commodity is brought to as great perfection almostas in Flanders.” “ Newport Pagnel,” writes Defoe, “carries on agreat trade in bone lace, and this same manufacture employs allthe neighbouring villages;” while Don Manuel Gonzales, in 1730,speaks of its lace as little inferior to that of Flanders, 14 whichasset tion he may probably have copied from previous writers.

At one of the earliest meetings of the Anti-Gallican Society,1752, Admiral Vernon in the chair, the first prize to the makerof the best piece of English bone lace was awarded to Mr. WilliamMarriott, of Newport Pagnel, Bucks. The principal lace dealersin London were invited to give their opinion, and they allowed itto be the best ever made in England. Emboldened by thissuccess, we read how, in 1761, Earl Temple, lord-lieutenant ofBucks, having been requested by Richard Lowndes, Esq., one of

12 Describing the “ lace ami edgings ”of the tradesman’s wife, she has “ fromStoney Stratford the first, and GreatMarlow the lust .”—The Camphte EnglishTradesman, Dan. Defoe, 1726.

13 Edition 1762.

n “ The Voyage*to Great Britain of

Don Manuel Gonzales, late Merchant ofthe City of Lisbon.” ‘‘Some say Defoewrote this hook l.imeelf: it is evidentlyfrom the pen of an Englishman.”—Loicndes Bibliographer's Manual, Bohn’sedition.