The Bayeux Tapestry has since the 18th century received notice from English archæologists; in 1746, Stukeley, author of the Palæographica Britannica, mentions it as “the noblest monument in the world, relating to our old English history.” He was followed by a learned antiquarian, Dr. Ducarel, who stated that it was hung round the nave of the cathedral on St. John’s Day, and continued there for eight days more. Two distinguished historians, Lord Lyttelton and David Hume, also discussed the Tapestry, the former being the first to doubt its contemporary date, thereby anticipating some modern criticism.
In the early years of the 19th century criticism of the Tapestry became more serious, the years 1816-1820 being very important in this respect. The views of Messrs. Stothard, Amyot, Hudson Gurney and others can be read in volumes XVIII. and XIX. of Archæologia.
In 1816 Mr. Charles Stothard was sent by the Society of Antiquaries to Bayeux to make a drawing of the Tapestry, and he brought home two small fragments with him.[6] Within two years he had completed his copy of the Tapestry, which is to be seen reproduced in Vol. VI. of the Vetusta Monumenta. Freeman, in Appendix A., Vol. III. (2nd edition), devotes a long passage to the subject and states his belief in its being made in England, an opinion which has not been generally shared.
Fig. 3. Harrowing (see [p. 27]).
IV.—THE INSCRIPTIONS.
THE Latin inscriptions above the embroidery run as follows (an English translation has been added, but no attempt has been made to amend or correct):—
| 1. | EDWARD REX Edward the King. |
| 2. | UBI HAROLD, DUX ANGLORUM, ET SUI MILITES EQUITANT AD BOSHAM Where Harold, Duke of the English, and his soldiers ride to Bosham. |
| 3. | ECCLESIA The Church (at Bosham). |
| 4. | HIC HAROLD MARE NAVIGAVIT Here Harold crossed the sea. |
| 5, 6. | ET VELIS VENTO PLENIS VENIT IN TERRA WIDONIS COMITIS And with sails full of wind came into the land of Count Guy. |
| 6, 7. | HAROLD |
| 7. | HIC APPREHENDIT WIDO HARLOLDŪ Here Guy seizes Harold. |
| 8, 9. | ET DUXIT EUM AD BELREM ET IBI EUM TENUIT And led him to Beaurain and held him there. |
| 10. | UBI HAROLD (et) WIDO PARABOLANT Where Harold and Guy converse. |
| 11. | UBI NUNTII WILLELMI DUCIS VENERUNT AD WIDONĒ. TUROLD Where the messengers of Duke William came to Guy. Turold. |
| 12. | NUNTII WILLELMI The messengers of William. |
| 13. | HIC VENIT NUNTIUS AD WILGELMUM DUCEM Here the messenger came to Duke William. |
| 14, 15. | HIC WIDO ADDUXIT HAROLDUM AD WILGELMUM NORMANNORUM DUCEM Here Guy led Harold to William, Duke of the Normans. |
| 16, 17. | HIC DUX WILGELM CUM HAROLDO VENIT AD PALATIŪ SUŪ Here Duke William with Harold came to his Palace. |
| 18. | UBI UNUS CLERICUS ET ÆLFGYVA ... Where a certain clerk and Ælfgyva. |
| 19. | HIC WILLEM DUX ET EXERCITUS EJUS VENERUNT AD MONTĒ MICHAELIS Here Duke William and his army came to Mont St. Michel. |
| 20. | HIC TRANSIERUNT FLUMEN COSNONIS And here they crossed the river Couesnon. |
| 21. | ET HIC HAROLD DUX TRAHEBAT EOS DE ARENA And here Duke Harold dragged them out of the quicksand. |
| 22. | ET VENERUNT AD DOL ET CONAN FUGA VERTIT And they came to Dol, and Conon turned in flight. |
| 23, 24. | REDNES. HIC MILITES WILLELMI DUCIS PUGNANT CONTRA DINANTES ET
CUNAN CLAVES PORREXIT Rennes. Here the soldiers of Duke William fight against the men of Dinan, and Conon reached out the keys. |
| 25. | HIC WILLELM DEDIT HAROLDO ARMA Here William gave Harold arms. |
| 26. | HIE (hic) WILLELM VENIT BAGIAS Here William came to Bayeux. |
| 27. | UBI HAROLD SACRAMENTUM FECIT WILLELMO DUCI Where Harold made an oath to Duke William. |
| 28. | HIC HAROLD DUX REVERSUS EST AD ANGLICAM TERRAM Here Duke Harold returned to England. |
| 29. | ET VENIT AD EDWARDU REGEM And came to King Edward. |
| 30, 31. | HIC PORTATUR CORPUS EADWARDI REGIS AD ECCLESIAM SC̄I PETRI
APLĪ (Sancti Petri Apostoli) Here the body of King Edward is borne to the Church of St. Peter the Apostle. |
| 32. | HIC EADWARDUS REX IN LECTO ALLOQUIT̄ FIDELES Here King Edward in bed addresses his vassals. ET HIC DEFUNCTUS EST And here he is dead. HIC DEDERUNT HAROLDO CORONĀ REGIS Here they gave to Harold the King’s crown. |
| 33. | HIC RESIDET HAROLD REX ANGLORUM Here sits Harold King of the English. STIGANT ARCHIEP̄S (Archiepiscopus) Archbishop Stigand. |
| 34. | ISTI MIRANT STELLĀ: HAROLD These men are amazed at a star: Harold. |
| 35. | HIC NAVIS ANGLICA VENIT IN TERRAM WILLELMI DUCIS Here an English ship came into the land of Duke William. |
| 36, 37, | HIC WILLELM DUX JUSSIT NAVES EDIFICARE |
| 38. | Here Duke William gave orders to build ships. |
| 39. | HIC TRAHUNTT̄ NAVES AD MARE Here they draw down the ships to the sea. |
| 40. | ISTI PORTANT ARMAS AD NAVES These men carry arms to the ships. ET HIC TRAHUNT CARRUM CUM VINO ET ARMIS And here they drag a cart with wine and arms. |
| 41, 42, | HIC WILLELM DUX IN MAGNO NAVIGIO MARE TRANSIVIT |
| 43. | Here Duke William crossed the sea in a great ship. |
| 44, 45. | ET VENIT AD PEVENESÆ And came to Pevensey. |
| 46. | HIC EXEUNT CABALLI DE NAVIBUS Here the horses go out of the ships. |
| 47. | ET HIC MILITES FESTINAVERUNT HESTINGA UT CIBUM RAPERENTUR And here the soldiers hurried to Hastings to find food. |
| 48. | HIC EST WADARD Here is Wadard. |
| 49. | HIC COQUITUR CARO Here meat is cooked. ET HIC MINISTRAVERUNT MINISTRI And here the servants served. |
| 50. | HIC FECERUNT PRANDIUM Here they made a feast. ET HIC EPISCOPUS CIBŪ ET POTŪ BENEDICIT And here the Bishop blesses the food and drink. |
| 51. | ODO EPS̄ : WILLELM: ROTBERT Bishop Odo: William: Robert. |
| 52. | ISTE JUSSIT UT FODERETUR CASTELLUM AT HESTENGA The latter commanded that a rampart should be thrown up at Hastings. CEASTRA The Camp. |
| 53. | HIC NUNTIATUM EST WILLELMO DE HAROLD Here news of Harold is brought to William. HIC DOMUS INCENDITUR Here a house is burned. |
| 54. | HIC MILITES EXIERUNT DE HESTENGA Here the soldiers left Hastings. |
| 55, 56. | ET VENERUNT AD PRELIUM CONTRA HAROLDUM REGE And came into battle against King Harold. |
| 57, 58. | HIC WILLELM DUX INTERROGAT VITAL SI VIDISSET HAROLDI EXERCITŪ Here Duke William asks Vital if he had seen Harold’s Army. |
| 59. | ISTE NUNTIAT HAROLDUM REGĒ DE EXERCITU WILLELMI DUCIS This man informs Harold the King concerning the Army of Duke William. |
| 60, 61, | HIC WILLELM DUX ALLOQUITUR SUIS MILITIBUS UT |
| 62, 63, | PREPARARENT SE VIRILITER ET SAPIENTER AD |
| 64. | PRELIUM CONTRA ANGLORUM EXERCITŪ Here William exhorts his soldiers to prepare themselves manfully and wisely for battle against the English Army. |
| 65, 66. | The Battle. [7] |
| 67, 68, | HIC CECIDERUNT LEWINE ET GYRD̄, FRATRES HAROLDI |
| 69. | REGIS Here fell Leofwyne and Gyrth, brothers of Harold the King. |
| 70, 71. | HIC CECIDERUNT SIMUL ANGLI ET FRANCI IN PRELIO Here fell together English and French in battle. |
| 72. | HIC ODO EP̄S BACULŪ TENENS, CONFORTAT PUEROS Here Bishop Odo, holding a staff, rallies the young troops. |
| 73. | HIC EST WILELM̄ DUX Here is Duke William. |
| 73. | E ... TIUS Eustace. |
| 73, 74, | HIC FRANCI PUGNANT ET CECIDERUNT QUI ERANT |
| 75. | CUM HAROLDO Here the French fight and those who were with Harold fell. |
| 76, 77. | HIC HAROLD REX INTERFECTUS EST Here King Harold was slain. |
| 78, 79. | ET FUGA VERTERUNT ANGLI And the English turned in flight. |