164 



THE HISTORY OF SILK DURING THE 

 MIDDLE AGES. 



The culture of the Silkworm Moth now became 

 an object of universal attraction, and there was 

 hardly a nation at all civilized which did not wish 

 to participate in the benefits which were derived 

 from so important an acquisition. 



Roger the First, King of Sicily, having waged war 

 against the Grecian empii-e, and successfully invaded 

 her ten-itories, carried off as plunder all the move- 

 able 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 artisans, who 

 were wantonly torn from the bosom of their families 

 and their country, the general dissemination and 



