The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous ... - Cd3wd.com

AFTER ITS FIRST INTRODUCTION INTO EUROPE. 11
TENTH CENTURY.
About the year 970 Kenneth, king of Scotland, paid a visit
in London to Edgar, king of England. The latter sovereign,
to evince at once his friendship and munificence, bestowed upon
his illustrious guest silks, rings, and gems, together with one
hundred ounces of pure gold*.
Perhaps we may refer to the same date the composition of
the "Lady of the Fountain," a Welsh tale, recently translated
by Lady Charlotte Guestt. At the opening of this poem King
Arthur is represented sitting in his chamber at Caer-leon upon
Usk. It is said,
In the centre of the chamber, King Arthur sat npon a seat of green rushes,
over which was spread a covering of flame-colored satin, and a cushion covered
with the same material was under his elbow.
The mention of silk and satin is frequent in this tale.
GERBERT, CL., A. D. 970.
This author, who became Pope Silvester, mentions garments
of silk (sericas vestes) in a passage which has been already
quoted (see Part IL chap. V.).
TWELFTH CENTURY.
THEODORUS PRODROMUS,
a romance w^riter in the twelfth century, mentions the figured
shawls (TfirAn) manufactured by the Seres.
Tlie breeding of silk-worms in Europe appears to have been
confined to Greece from the time of the Emperor Justinian
until the middle of the twelfth century. The manufacture
wool." Ibid. p. 50. He refers to p. 97. of the same volume, as mentioning "pal-
lia holoserica."—History of the Anglo-Saxons, vol. iii. book vii. chap. 4. p. 48, 49
* Lingard's Hist, of England, vol. i. 241. London, 1819, 4to.
t The Mabinogion, from the Llyfr Coch o Hergest and other ancient Welsh
manuscripts ; with an Engli.sh translation and notes. By Lady Charlotte GuesL
Part I. The Lady of the Fountain. Llandovery, 1838.