[5] Benoît de St. Maur, the 12th century writer, is supposed to have been a native of St. Maur. From his prefix, Maître, he may have been a student at a University. But it is not known if he took orders. He was attached to the Court of Henry II. He was a loyal “Englishman,” and always referred to the French as “they.” He wrote the “Chronique des Ducs de Normandie,” and also “Le Roman de Troie.” The date of the “Chronique” is probably 1172-1176. The “Roman d’Enéis” and the “Roman de Thèbe” have also been attributed to him, but this is not generally accepted, while some even deny that the same hand composed the “Roman de Troie “ and the “Chronique.”
[6] One of these fragments of the Tapestry was sold to Mr. Bowyer Nicholls and was purchased from him by the South Kensington Museum in 1864. It was soon decided to return this fragment to Bayeux, which was done in 1872. Mrs. Stothard has usually been accused of abstracting these two pieces. She was, however, able to show that she was not married to Mr. Stothard till 1818, the third and last year in which he visited Bayeux, and that at this date these fragments were already in his possession. Prior to his marriage he had possessed these two pieces, and said that they were so ragged as to be incapable of restoration. But how he had acquired them was not divulged.
[7] There is no inscription for these two scenes.
[8] This portion of the plate also appears as the Frontispiece.