The laces best known in the commercial world in the earlier periods were those of Venice, Milan, and Genoa.
VENICE.
Mrs. Termagant: "I'll spoil your point de Venise for you."—Shadwell,
Squire of Alsatia.
"Elle n'avoit point de mouchoir,
Mais un riche et tres beau peignoir
Des plus chers de point de Venise
En negligeance elle avoit mise."
Les Combats, etc., 1663.
The Venetian galleys, at an early period, bore to England "apes, sweet wines," and other articles of luxury. They brought also the gold-work of "Luk," Florence, "Jeane," and Venice.[[155]] In our early parliamentary records are many statutes on the subject. The Italians were in the habit of giving short lengths, gold thread of bad quality, and were guilty of sundry other peccadilloes, which greatly excited the wrath of the nation. The balance was not in England's favour.