Silk Production in England- 17th Century

1609 Letter From King James II to his lord lieutenants suggesting

they purchase mulberry trees in order to start a silk production industry

in England- Part 2

 		  
 

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 		 We have thought good in this form only to require you, as a person of greatest authority within that country, and from home the generality may receive notice of our pleaure, with more coveniency than otherwise, to take occasion either at the quarter sessions, or at some other public place of meeting, to pursuade and require such as are of ability, (without descending to trouble the poor, for whom we seek to provide) to buy and distribute in your county the number of ten thousand mulberry plants, which shall be deliver'd to you at our city of London, at the rate of three farthings a plant, or at six shillings the hundred containing five score plants; and because the buying of the said plants at this rate, may at the first seem chargeable to our said subjects, whom we would be loath to burthen, we have taken order that in March or April next there shall be delivered at the same place a good quantity of mulberry seeds, there to be sold to such as will buy them by means thereof the said plants will be deliver'd at a smaller rate than they can be afforded, being carried from hence; having resolved also in the meantime, that there shall be published in print a plain instruction and direction both for the increasing of the said mulberry trees, the breeding of Silk-worms, and all other things needful to be understood for the perfecting a work everyway so commendable and profitable, as well to the planter, as to those who shall use the trade.

Having now made known unto you the motives as they stand with the publick good, wherein every man is interested; because we know how much the example of our own deputy lieutenants and justices will further this cause if you and others of your 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 plantation, increase of science, 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 judgement we shall make of the good disposition, in all that shall express in any kind their ready mind to further the same, and shall esteem that in furthering the same, they seek to further our honour and contentment; who having seen in few years space past, that our brother the French King has since his coming to that crown both began and brought to perfection the making of Silk in his country, whereby he hath won to himself honour, and to his subjects a marvellous increase of wealth. We should account it no little happiness to use if the same work which we have begun among our people with no less zeal to their good, than any prince can have to the good of theirs, might in our time produce the fruits which there it hath done. Wherefore we nothing doubt if ours will be found as tractable and apt to further their own good, now the way is shewed then by us their sovereigns, as those of France have been to conform themselves to the directions of their king. 

End of King James’ letter.

King James’ efforts did not find success, but he put substantial effort into this project to establish silk production in England in the early 17th century.  England later did develop a silk industry, but it never came close to the size of the silk industry in France, where in the city of Lyon, the center of silk activity in France, employment in the silk industry in the 19th century reached 200,000 people, an astounding level.

Part 1 of Silk Production in England Article