Jonas B. Aiken 
Treatise on the Art of Knitting, With a History of the Knitting Loom 
Comprising an Interesting Account of Its Origin, and of Its Recent Wonderful Improvements

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. The Old Romans and other nations of antiquity had no particular covering for the legs. Leggins or hose, as they were then usually termed, first came into use during the Middle Ages. The Art Of Knitting was first invented about three hun dred years ago. One account says that it originated in Scotland, and was introduced speedily into France, and thence soon disseminated over all Europe. Another ac count is, that it was introduced into England from Spain about the year 1559. Its introduction into england, however, must have been somewhat later than 1559; because Hume, the great English historian, informs us that Queen Elizabeth, in 1561, the third Of her reign, was presented by her Silk woman with a pair Of black silk knit stockings, the first pair Of knit stockings ever worn in England, and was so delighted with them as to never wear those made Of cloth afterward.