668 Account of the ductent T. apefiry embroidered by Queen Matilda. 
bles a Phrygian cap, is mounted on 
‘the branch ofa tree, which feparates 
this fubjeét from the one which fol- 
lows. He is looking with eagernefs 
and admiration at the two knights. 
No. XII.—Hie venit Nuntius ad Wilgel- 
mum Ducem. 
In this pannel a meffenger arrives at 
William's Court. It has been imagin- 
ed that this meflenger, who fpeaks here 
to William, was one of the meflengers 
We firft fent to Guy ; and perhaps, was 
the dwarf Turold. Thofe who have 
thought fo have overlooked the cir- 
cumftance that the meffenger has muf- 
tachios, and confequently is an Eng- 
lifhman, one of Harold’s {uite, who, at 
the time of his mafter’s being made 
prifoner, might have efcaped, and ts 
now come to the Caftle of Rouen to in- 
form the Duke of Harold’s imprifon- 
ment. We fhall fee, hereafter, fimilar 
anachronifms in the feries of this hif- 
tory. The Caftle of Rouen terminates 
the fcene. 
No. XU1.—Hic. Wido. adduxit. Haroldum. 
ad Wilgelmum. Normannorum. Ducem. 
—Guy couduéts Harold to William 
Duke of Normandy. 
The Count of Ponthieu, intimidated 
by William’s menaces, conducts his 
prifoner to Eu; where the Duke is 
come-in perfon to receive him. 
No. XIV.—Hic Dux Wilgelu: cunt Haroldo 
went ad palatio fuun. 
Duke Wilham conduéts Aarold to 
his palace. This part of the hiftory is 
divided into two fcenes: In the firft 
the Duke tn perton efcorts the Englifh 
Ambaffador to his caftle at Rouen. In 
‘the fecond the Duke gives an audience 
of ceremony, in the grand-hall of his 
palace, to the Ambaflador, who is 
ftanding before him. The Duke is 
feated on a magnificent throne. 
No. XV.—Vir VausClericus et Acifgiva. 
Here are feen a Secretary and Aelf- 
gide. 
-The Duke of Normandy promifes his - 
daughter in marriage to the Duke Ha- 
rold. A Secretary prefents the prin- 
cefs to him, to indicate that this pro- 
mife was not merely a verbal one. 
No. XVI.—Hic Wilem Dux et exercitus 
eius venerunt ad Montem Michaelis.— 
Duke William arrives with his army 
at Mount St. Michael. 
During thefe events, Conan, Duke 
of Britanny, had declared war again 
the Duke of Normandy, who invites. 
his new gueft and his fuite to join his 
army. They are. armed in coats of 
mail. Their efquires follow; and the 
whole march. towards mount St.,Mi- 
chael, the caftle of which is feen on the 
top of an eminence. 
No. XVII. —= Et hic tranferunt flume 
Cofaonis. Hic Harold dux trahebat eof 
ab arena.—T hey pafs the river Coef- 
non, where Duke Harold extricates 
them from the fand. 
It is well known that the paflage of 
this river, which the tides frequently 
fill with a moving fand, is very danger- 
ous. Inthis part of the picture are_ 
feen men and horfes plunged in the 
fand, and unable to extricate them- 
felves. Harold, a man of unufual fta. 
ture and firengtb, in this extremity, is - 
of great fervice to his allies, It feems 
that the author of the hiftory wasanxi- 
ous not to omit the fmalleft circum-- 
ftance which might difplay the ftrict 
union between Harold and the Duke 
of Normandy, in order the more ftrong- 
ly to expofe the fubfequent difloyalty 
and ingratitude of the Englifhman. 
No. XVIII.—5t venerunt ad Dol, et Co-. 
. nan ergo vertit.—T hey arrive at Dol, 
and Conan takes flight. 
The Lord of Dol was at war with 
Conan, who then fat down before his 
city. A man defcends from the walls 
by acord, in order to inform William 
of the extremity to which the place is: 
reduced. At theapproach of the Nor— 
mans Conan takes flight, and fhelters 
himfelfat Rennes, (Rednes,) the usual 
refidence of Conan, and the capital of 
Brittany. 
No. KIX.— Hic Milites Willelmi ducis 
puguant contra Dinantes.—The troops 
of William attack -Dinantes. 
They affault the town, fituated onan 
eminence. The Normans fet fire to the 
palifadoes. 
No. XX.—Et Conan Claves porrexit.— 
And Conan brought the Keys of the 
City. 
It appeared that this Count was come 
to the relief of Dinant, but was obliged, 
by the valour of the Normans to ca- 
pitulate with Wiiliam, and to do him. 
homage for Britanny. Here the tapeftry 
contains the fupplement of his hiitory.- 
Conan is feen prefenting William with: 
the keys of the city at the end of his: 
lance. 
No. 
SS 
