427 
It came much later into France; the manufacture of silk, though much 
encouraged by Henry IV. not having been fully established there, till under 
Louis XIV. by Colbert.* In England, it is well known, that all the endea¬ 
vours of James I.f to raise Mulberry-trees, and make silk, utterly failed, and 
have never since been revived to any extent. 
* Evelyn, B. II. c. i. 
f Part of King James’s Letter to the Lord Lieutenant of each County in England . 
James Rex, 
« We have conceived as well by the discourse of our own reason, as by informa¬ 
tion gathered from others, that the making of silk might as well be effected here, as it is in the 
kingdom of France, where the same has of late years been put in practice; for neither is the climate 
of this isle so far distinct or different in condition from that country, especially from the hither parts 
thereof, but that it is to be hoped, that those things, which by industry prosper there, may by like 
industry used here, have like success; and many private persons, who for their pleasure have bied 
of those worms, have found no experience to the contrary, but that they may be nourished and 
maintained here, if provision were made for planting of mulberry-trees, whose leaves aie the food 
of the worms: and therefore we have thought good hereby to let you undeistand, that although in 
suffering this invention to take place we do shew ourselves somewhat an adveisary to our piofit, 
which is the matter of our customs, for silk brought from beyond seas will receive some diminution; 
nevertheless, when there is a question of so great and public utility, to come to our kingdom and 
subjects in general, and whereby (besides multitudes of people of both sexes and all ages) such as 
in regard of impotency, are unfit for other labour, may be set on work, comfoited and lelieved, we 
are content that our private benefit shall give way to the public. 
« And therefore being persuaded, that no well affected subject will refuse to put his helping 
hand to such a work, as can have no other private end in us, but the desire of the welfare of our 
people; we have thought good in this form only to require } 7 ou, as a person of the greatest autho¬ 
rity in that county, and from whom the generality may receive notice of our pleasure, with more 
convemency than otherwise, to take occasion, either at the quaitei sessions, 01 at some oihei public 
place of meeting, to persuade and require such as are of ability, to buy and distribute in your 
county, the number of ten thousand mulberry-plants, which shall be delivered to them at the rate 
of three farthings the plant, or at six shillings the hundred, containing five score plants. 
u And because the buying of the said plants, at this rate, may at the first seem chaigeable to 
our said subjects, (whom we would be loth to burthen) we have taken order, that in March or April 
next, there shall be delivered at the said place a good quantity of mulberry-seeds, there to be sold 
to such as will buy them; by means whereof, the said plants will be delivered at a smaller price 
than they can be afforded, being carried from hence: having resolved also in the mean time, tnat 
there shall be published in print, a plain instruction and direction, both for the increasing the said 
mulberry-trees, the breeding of the silk-worms, and ail other things needful to be understood for 
the perfecting of a work every way so commendable and profitable, as well to the plantei, as to those 
that shall use the trade. 
“ Having now made known unto you the motives, as they stand with public good, wherein every 
man is interested, because we know how much the example of our own deputy-lieutenant and 
justices will further this cause, if you and your other neighbours will be content to take some good 
quantities hereof, to distribute upon your own lands; we are content to acknowledge thus much 
more in this direction of ours: that all things of this nature, tending to plantations, inciease of sci¬ 
ence, and works of industry, are things so naturally pleasing to our own disposition, as we shall take 
it for an argument of extraordinary affection towards our person, besides the judgment we shall 
make of the°good dispositions in all those that shall express, in any kind, their ready minds to fur¬ 
ther the same, and shall esteem it that in furthering the same, they seek to fuither oui honoui and 
