156 



i so 

 war 



THE HISTORY OF SILK DURING THE MIDDLE 

 AGES. 



THE culture of the Silk Worm Moth now became 

 an object of universal attraction, and there was hardly 

 a nation at all civilized which did not wish to parti- 

 cipate in the benefits which were derived from 

 important an acquisition. 



Roger the First, King of Sicily, having waged 

 against the Grecian empire, and successfully invaded 

 her territories, carried off as plunder all the moveable 

 wealth of Corinth, Thebes, and Athens ; and having 

 seized the persons of many of the most expert 

 weavers of silk, brought them captive to Palermo, 

 where he established a manufactory, and compelled 

 these unfortunate men to make known to him the 

 secrets of the art. 



Here we have another instance of good resulting 

 from evil ; for from these unoffending artizans, who 

 were wantonly torn from the bosom of their families 

 and their country, the general dissemination and 

 knowledge of this important trade found its way 



