TENTH CENTURY.
About the year 970 Kenneth, king of Scotland, paid a visit in London to Edgar, king of England. The latter sovereign, to evince at once his friendship and munificence, bestowed upon his illustrious guest silks, rings, and gems, together with one hundred ounces of pure gold[1].
Perhaps we may refer to the same date the composition of the "Lady of the Fountain," a Welsh tale, recently translated by Lady Charlotte Guest[2]. At the opening of this poem King Arthur is represented sitting in his chamber at Caer-leon upon Usk. It is said,
In the centre of the chamber, King Arthur sat upon a seat of green rushes,
over which was spread a covering of flame-colored satin, and a cushion covered
with the same material was under his elbow.
The mention of silk and satin is frequent in this tale.
GERBERT, CL., A. D. 970.
This author, who became Pope Silvester, mentions garments of silk (sericas vestes) in a passage which has been already quoted (see Part II. chap. V.).
TWELFTH CENTURY.
THEODORUS PRODROMUS,
a romance writer in the twelfth century, mentions the figured shawls ([Greek: pepla]) manufactured by the Seres.
The breeding of silk-worms in Europe appears to have been confined to Greece from the time of the Emperor Justinian until the middle of the twelfth century. The manufacture
- [Footnote: wool." Ibid. p. 50. He refers to p. 97. of the same volume, as mentioning "pallia
holoserica."—History of the Anglo-Saxons, vol. iii. book vii. chap. 4. p. 48, 49]
