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and preparing silken fibres for the weaver。 Thousands of people
were employed at Florence and Genoa about the same time in the
silk manufacture。 And at Venice it was held in such high esteem；
that the business of a silk factory was considered a noble
employment。＇1＇
It was long before the use of silk became general in England。
〃Silk；〃 said an old writer； 〃does not immediately come hither
from the Worm that spins and makes it； but passes many a Climate；
travels many a Desert； employs many a Hand； loads many a Camel；
and freights many a Ship before it arrives here； and when at last
it comes； it is in return for other manufactures； or in exchange
for our money。〃＇2＇ It is said that the first pair of silk
stockings was brought into England from Spain； and presented to
Henry VIII。 He had before worn hose of cloth。 In the third year
of Queen Elizabeth's reign； her tiring woman； Mrs。 Montagu；
presented her with a pair of black silk stockings as a New Year's
gift； whereupon her Majesty asked if she could have any more； in
which case she would wear no more cloth stockings。 When James
VI。 of Scotland received the ambassadors sent to congratulate him
upon his accession to the throne of Great Britain； he asked one
of his lords to lend him his pair of silken hose； that he 〃might
not appear a scrub before strangers。〃 From these circumstances
it will be observed how rare the wearing of silk was in England。
Shortly after becoming king； James I。 endeavoured to establish
the silk manufacture in England； as had already been successfully
done in France。 He gave every encouragement to the breeding of
silkworms。 He sent circular letters to all the counties of
England； strongly recommending the inhabitants to plant mulberry
trees。 The trees were planted in many places； but the leaves did
not ripen in sufficient time for the sustenance of the silkworms。
The same attempt was made at Inneshannon； near Bandon； in
Ireland； by the Hugnenot refugees； but proved abortive。 The
climate proved too cold or damp for the rearing of silkworms with
advantage。 All that remains is 〃The Mulberry Field；〃 which still
retains its name。 Nevertheless the Huguenots successfully
established the silk manufacture at London and Dublin； obtaining
the spun silk from abroad。
Down to the beginning of last century； the Italians were the
principal producers of organzine or thrown silk； and for a long
time they succeeded in keeping their art a secret。 Although the
silk manufacture； as we have seen； was introduced into this
country by the Huguenot artizans； the price of thrown silk was so
great that it interfered very considerably with its progress。
Organzine was principally made within the dominions of Savoy； by
means of a large and curious engine； the like of which did not
exist elsewhere。 The Italians； by the most severe laws； long
preserved the mystery of the invention。 The punishment
prescribed by one of their laws to be inflicted upon anyone who
discovered the secret； or attempted to carry it out of the
Sardinian dominions； was death； with the forfeiture of all the
goods the delinquent possessed； and the culprit was 〃to be
afterwards painted on the outside of the prison walls； hanging to
the gallows by one foot； with an inscription denoting the name
and crime of the person； there to be continued for a perpetual
mark of infamy。〃＇3＇
Nevertheless； a bold and ingenious man was found ready to brave
all this danger in the endeavour to discover the secret。 It may
be remembered with what courage and determination the founder of
the Foley family introduced the manufacture of nails into
England。 He went into the Danemora mine district； near Upsala in
Sweden； fiddling his way among the miners； and after making two
voyages； he at last wrested from them the secret of making nails；
and introduced the new industry into the Staffordshire
district。＇4＇ The courage of John Lombe； who introduced the
thrown…silk industry into England； was equally notable。 He was a
native of Norwich。 Playfair； in his 'Family Antiquity' （vii。
312）； says his name 〃may have been taken from the French Lolme；
or de Lolme；〃 as there were many persons of French and Flemish
origin settled at Norwich towards the close of the sixteenth
century； but there is no further information as to his special
origin。
John Lombe's father； Henry Lombe； was a worsted weaver； and was
twice married。 By his first wife he had two sons； Thomas and
Henry； and by his second； he had also two sons； Benjamin and
John。 At his death in 1695； he left his two brothers his
〃supervisors；〃 or trustees； and directed them to educate his
children in due time to some useful trade。 Thomas； the eldest
son； went to London。 He was apprenticed to a trade； and
succeeded in business； as we find him Sheriff of London and
Middlesex in 1727； when in his forty…second year。 He was also
knighted in the same year； most probably on the accession of
George II。 to the throne。
John； the youngest son of the family； and half…brother of Thomas；
was put an apprentice to a trade。 In 1702； we find him at Derby；
working as a mechanic with one Mr。 Crotchet。 This unfortunate
gentleman started a small silk…mill at Derby； with the object of
participating in the profits derived from the manufacture。
〃The wear of silks；〃 says Hutton； in his 'History of Derby；' 〃was
the taste of the ladies； and the British merchant was obliged to
apply to the Italian with ready money for the article at an
exorbitant price。〃 Crotchet did not succeed in his undertaking。
〃Three engines were found necessary for the process： he had but
one。 An untoward trade is a dreadful sink for money； and an
imprudent tradesman is still more dreadfuL。 We often see
instances where a fortune would last a man much longer if he
lived upon his capital； than if he sent it into trade。 Crotchet
soon became insolvent。〃
John Lombe； who had been a mechanic in Crotchet's silk mill； lost
his situation accordingly。 But he seems to have been possessed
by an intense desire to ascertain the Italian method of
silk…throwing。 He could not learn it in England。 There was no
other method but going to Italy； getting into a silk mill； and
learning the secret of the Italian art。 He was a good mechanic
and a clever draughtsman； besides being intelligent and fearless。
But he had not the necessary money wherewith to proceed to Italy。
His half…brother Thomas； however； was doing well in London； and
was willing to help him with the requisite means。 Accordingly；
John set out for Italy； not long after the failure of Crotchet。
John Lombe succeeded in getting employment in a silk mill in
Piedmont； where the art of silk…throwing was kept a secret。 He
was employed as a mechanic； and had thus an opportunity； in
course of time； of becoming familiar with the operation of the
engine。 Hutton says that he bribed the workmen； but this would
have been a da