Brydone, Tour through Sicily. 1773.
From the tax-books preserved in the Archives of S. George, it appears that a tax upon gold thread of four danari upon every lira in value of the worked material was levied, which between 1411 and 1420 amounted to L. 73,387. From which period this industry rapidly declined, and the workers emigrated.—Merli.
Signore Tessada, the great lace fabricant of Genoa, carries back the manufacture of Italian lace as early as the year 1400, and forwarded to the author specimens which he declares to be of that date.
"Laqueo serico Jeano de coloribus, ad 5s. per doz." G. W. A. Eliz.—16 & 17 and 19 & 20. P. R. O.
Dated 1639.