DURING THE MIDDLE AGES. 161 



Some historians say, that the Silk Worm was intro- 

 duced into France in the reign of Charles VIII, at 

 so early a period as the fifteenth century, by some of 

 his noble followers in his Italian campaign; while 

 others assert that it was brought from Sicily. It 

 seems quite certain that the mulberry tree was first 

 introduced from the latter country, and that the 

 Silk Worm Moth was not propagated in Provence 

 till the reign of Henry I V, whose anxiety to establish 

 the insect more generally, prompted him to make 

 extensive nurseries of mulberry plants, and he gave 

 them gratis to every one desirous of possessing them. 

 It appeared to him, that as mulberry trees were 

 plentiful in his kingdom, he might render an essential 

 benefit to his people by the propagation of an 

 insect which was of such great commercial importance 

 to other states. It is a curious fact, that Sully, whom 

 the king generally consulted on any important mea- 

 sure, used all his eloquence to dissuade the king 

 against the measure, who, in opposition to an 

 opinion which he generally respected, imported the 

 insect, which throve amazingly, and the result was 

 soon crowned by a successful and beneficial esta- 

 blishment of numerous silk manufactories in different 

 provinces throughout the kingdom. 



The increase of demand for silks in England 

 attracted the attention of Queen Mary, and, to check 

 the pride of the citizens, which appeared to her as 

 too aspiring, she, in the year 1554, enacted, " That 

 whoever shall wear silk in or upon his or her hat, 



