There is a tradition that the art of bobbin-made lace was imported into Devonshire by emigrants from the Netherlands, flying from the tyranny of the Duke of Alva. Mr. Seguin, in his learned book, contends that the troubles in Flanders had completely destroyed the lace industry before Philip II. of Spain sent the notorious Duke of Alva there. I believe, however, both that lace-making existed before that time in England, and that the emigration had a beneficial effect on all English industry, although not an initial one. I have given both the right and wrong side of the Honiton lace cap-border in Plate 118, to show the threads of the connecting réseau, passing behind the patterns, the thread making the brides picotées also passes in the same manner. Plate 119 shows a remarkably fine specimen of Honiton bobbin lace. The flowers are made separately in this specimen, and are afterwards joined by twisted brides claires made with a needle. The design is of birds, butterflies, and the rose, shamrock, and thistle. It was, perhaps, made to commemorate the Union. Plate 120 is of Honiton sprays applied to machine-made net. Space does not admit of any attempt to give a complete Bibliography. I find that a mere list of books that I have consulted at different times would be too long. I will therefore only mention that the works of the following authors would be very valuable to those intending to pursue this subject. A fairly complete list of Italian and German pattern-books will be found in Mrs. Bury Palliser's "History of Lace." And the works of Mr. Alan Cole, Dr. Franz Bock, Father Braun, S.J., Dr. Moritz Dreger and Dr. Ilg of Vienna, Dr. Daniel Rock, Mons. Seguin, and Mr. Verhaagen have all been especially useful; and while preparing this for the press I have seen with great delight the splendid book of illustrations of Italian needle lace compiled by Signora Elisa Ricci. In concluding these remarks, I must say that I owe the first idea of writing on this subject to my learned and accomplished husband, Mr. John Hungerford Pollen. Much information was given me in long bygone days by Dr. Daniel Rock, and by another old friend, Mrs. Bury Palliser, who gave me one of my first specimens in 1862. At the present time I owe many thanks for advice and supervision to Mr. Alan Cole, whose knowledge of lace is unsurpassed. PLATES [Illustration: PLATE I. THE ALB, PRESERVED AT ASSISI, SAID TO HAVE BEEN WORN BY ST. FRANCIS] [Illustration: PLATE II. THE ALB WHICH IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN WORN BY POPE BONIFACE, A.D. 1298] [Illustration: PLATE III. (1) DETAIL OF THE ALB OF POPE BONIFACE VIII. (2) DETAIL OF THE ASSISI ALB.] [Illustration: PLATE IV. THREE PIECES OF NEEDLEWORK FROM EGYPTO-ROMAN OR COPTIC TOMBS OF THE SECOND AND THIRD CENTURIES