INCIDENTS COPIED FROM THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY. (After Stothard.)

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The tapestry proceeds to depict Harold's unfortunate descent upon the Norman coast, his capture by Guy of Ponthieu, his release by William the Conqueror, the expedition into Brittany, and the ceremony of the fateful oath. "Hic Willelmus venit Bagias ubi Haroldus sacramentum fecit" ("Here William comes to Bayeux, where Harold takes an oath") is all the information we have on this most important event.

Worn down by anxiety, and by the anticipation of evils which he foresaw, but was unable to prevent, Edward the Confessor soon afterwards died, and was buried at Westminster, in the church which he had himself built in a new and costly style of architecture. The tapestry shows us the church of St. Peter, at Westminster, and the funeral procession of the king. It will be observed that the church, which was built in the Early Norman style, is provided at one end with a weathercock, which a workman is represented in the act of putting up. "By this," says the authority already quoted, "the designer of the tapestry means to show that the work was but just completed, when the interment of the Confessor took place. A hand appears over the western end of the church to denote the finger of Providence, and to indicate that it was the will of God that the remains of the deceased king should be deposited in that building." The arrangements of the funeral procession are simple—a boy appears at each side of the bier ringing bells, and various attendants and priests are following. The words written above are: "Hic portatur corpus Edwardi regis ad ecclesiam sancti Petri Apostoli" ("Here the body of King Edward is carried to the church of St. Peter the Apostle").

Then the artist represents to us the election of Harold; the appearance of the comet at Eastertide which filled men's mind with fear, and the anger of Duke William when he heard of the choice of the English. Then follows a series of most spirited representations of the Norman preparations; the working men felling trees, preparing planks, and dragging the ships to the shore. Presently the great armament is observed in full sail across the Channel, and a little farther on the horses disembark. Then comes a series of tableaux representing the movements of William and his comrades until Harold comes southwards. "Hic milites exierunt de Hestengâ et venerunt ad prelium contra Haroldum regem" ("Here the soldiers have departed from Hastings and march to battle against Harold the king").

INCIDENTS COPIED FROM THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY. (After Stothard.)

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The engraving on this page is taken from another portion of the tapestry, and represents the battle of Hastings. The thick of the combat is here delineated, according to the inscription, "Hic ceciderunt simul Angli et Franci in prelio" ("Here at the same time English and French fell in the battle"). Horses and men are tumbling about in the agonies of death. The mailed coats and pointed helmets of the Normans are easily distinguished from the English costume. Farther on we find a party of English posted on the hill, who are making a desperate stand against the enemy with their lances. At a time when the fortune of the day seemed turning against the Normans, Odo of Bayeux galloped among the soldiers, and restored their drooping courage. He is represented in the tapestry with a staff, probably a badge of authority, and the inscription above is: "Hic Odo episcopus, tenens baculum, confortat pueros" ("Here Bishop Odo, holding a staff, encourages the soldiers").

The last figure in the engraving is that of the Duke of Normandy, who is represented at the head of his troops waving his sword. The inscription runs: "Hic est Dux Wilhelm" ("This is Duke William").