76 THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 



of Naples proper, mantled gules doubled argent. On a wreath or and azure, 

 a mulberry tree with divers silk worms feeding on the leaves all proper. 

 For their supporters, on the dexter side a Persian with a mass of raw 

 Legie silk on his arm and on the sinister side a Turk with three masses 

 of Ardasse silk under his arm, both in their proper habits. The words ; 

 " God in his least creatures." For their seal, a silk mill encircled with 

 a ring, in the same these words, " The seal of the corporation of silk 

 throwers, London," as in the margin is more plainly depicted. [The 

 sketch is missing.] These arms, crest, supporters and seal are granted, 

 ratified and confirmed to the said master &c. Dated . . . July, 1629. 



The allusion to the silk worm in the motto of the company 

 reminds me that many unsuccessful attempts have been 

 made to rear this creature in England, notably by James I. 

 and Charles I. in the royal mulberry gardens at St. James's. 



Reverting now to Westbury mill, the opposition which 

 had developed in Sherborne in 1775 seems to have been an 

 unlucky enterprise, as Cruttwell retired in February, 1777, 

 leaving Smout to manage the Abbey silk mill. Willmott 

 mentions with pardonable satisfaction that his former work- 

 people were then returning to him, as employment was 

 too precarious elsewhere. 



During Whitsuntide, 1778, a new water wheel of much 

 larger size was erected, and this improvement was followed 

 in 1781 by the addition of a horse mill and a house for the 

 horse walk ; by this appliance Willmott was enabled to 

 drive half of the machinery when the water power was in- 

 sufficient. 



It should be observed that the trade, notwithstanding its 

 fluctuating and exotic character, was singularly free from 

 losses by bad debts. During a period of a quarter of a cen- 

 tury I can trace only one defaulter, a fact which speaks well 

 for the stability of the weavers and silkmen who were the 

 mainstay of the Sherborne business. 



At that time, as now, Britain was at war, and a few side- 

 lights are thrown upon the situation in Dorset. In August, 

 1779, Vere was apprehensive about a reported landing by 

 invaders from the French and Spanish fleets then off Ply- 

 mouth, and he hoped that the enemy would not reach 



