nEKBVSHIkE TAPKSIRV. 



^35 



around. In the background are scenes from the early history 

 of David— his playing before Saul on the harp; the battle 

 with the Ammonites and the death of Uriah ; David's penitence 

 after his great offence— his crown placed on the ground in his 

 humiliation; in the background is a battle raging, whilst near 

 the priest is seen the ark with the cherubim.* 



The border t of this tapestry is very quaint. It consists of a 

 series of figures variously engaged, alternating with vases of 

 fruits and flowers, with a small running balustrade beneath, and 

 a continuous, though mutilated, arcade above. The figures are 

 chiefly of ladies attired in the costume prevalent about 1570. 

 Some are playing with mastiffs with the fore feet on their left 

 knee, and with mouth in close proximity to the face; others 

 have flowers or fruits in their right hands ; whilst in one instance 

 we have a duet between a lady and a gentleman, the former 

 performing on something like a hurdy-gurdy, and the latter 

 (their faces are ?'is d vis and close together) accompanies her 

 animatedly on a species of guitar. The work is not later than 

 the date assigned. 'J'he ground is a rich golden yellow. 



leoointon IbalL 



Bigsby, in his "History of Repton," thus describes the tapestry 

 here :— 



"In the drawing-room are five beautiful pieces of tapestry 

 made at Gobelins by order of Sir H. Every, who died in ,709. 

 before it was completed. The pieces consist of emblematic 

 devices of the Elements, and an allegorical (me of Venus and 

 Cupid, with the arms of Every on a shield in each compart- 

 ment."l 



C^tc^'omii^Hr" "'^ ^" '""'''"'' '° ''^ obliging courtesyof Mi. 

 fA specimen was kindly sent to the Editor for his inspection In this 



p.ece eleven warp strings go to the inch, and from seventeen lo twenty cou ses 

 t tJ°c =„^"' "'^ " ^"bject to the varying fineness of the wool 

 : This Sir Henry Every married Anne, daughter and heiress ol .Sir Fr.nncis 



