668 Account of the ancient Tapeftry embroidered by Queen Matilda, 
bears alance in his hand. He has no 
other attendant but his efquire. ‘The 
dreaded meteor is placed above them. , 
No. XXXIV.—Hic. Navis. Anglica. ve- 
nit. in. Terram. Willelmi. Ducis-—An 
Enelith fhip arrives in the territory 
of Duke William. 
An Englith veffel departs exprefsly 
to inform the Duke of Normandy of 
the events that have followed the 
death of King Edward. 
No. XXXV.—Hic. Wiilela Dux pom 
Naves Edificare. — Duke William 
commands the building of veilels. 
The Duke of Normandy refolves to 
punifh the treachery ot Harold. The 
enterprize appears difficult. He fre- 
quently affembles his council; and, 
notwithftanding the remonftrances of 
fome of the members, who do not be- 
lieve that the Duke of Normandy can 
poffefs himfelf of fuficient force for 
the conqueft of England, he perfiits in 
demanding aid ot his French and Fle- 
mith allies. He aflembles an army of 
fifty thoufand men, and’ prepares to in- 
_ wade England. The Duke, feated in 
the Council, having already decreed 
the enterprize, {peaks to the principal 
of his fhipwrights, who is on the point 
of departing to "execute Wiiliam’s or- 
ders, and conftruét a fleet’ fufficientiy 
numerous to convey this large force to 
England, 
_ The groupes which follow are with- 
out infcription. The trees of an an- 
cient foreft are feen falling beneath the 
axe. In one place are feen men hew- 
ing the wood and piepating the planks; 
in another, fhipwrights building vef-. 
fels ; which are at le ngth ready | to de- 
pait. Nothing remains but.to launch 
them into the fea; which is the fubjeét 
of the next pannel, explau ned by an 
infcription. i 
No. XXXVI. — Hic trahbvut Naves ad 
mare.—The vefiels are launched. 
No. XXXVII. — Ijfi portant arma ad 
Naves, et hic trahbwuut carrum cum vi- 
no et armis—People are employed in 
conveying arms on board, and fome 
conduct a waggon laden with wine 
and arms. 
For an expedition of fach magnitude, 
a prodigious quantity of arms, ammu- 
nition, and provifion, was neceffary ; 
-and this forms the fubjett of this pan- 
nel. A number of men are feen car- 
rying on board the vellels a great 
quantity. of coats of mail, cafques, 
pikes, fwords, and catks of wine. Hil- 
/ 
torians, who ftate William’s fleet ta 
amount to three thoufand veflels of 
various kinds, allot feven hundred for 
tranf{ports. , 
No. XXXVIII. — Hic Willela Dux i 
magno navigio mare tranfwit et venit 
ad “Pevene/ae. —DukeWijlliam, witha 
great fleet, pafles the fea, and arrives 
at Peveniey. 
The Duke of Normandy was detain- 
ed in the harbour of St. Valery more 
than a month, waiting for a favour- 
abie wind. At length he fet fail on 
the 22d of September; 1066, and land~- 
ed, without obftacle, at Pevenfey in 
Suffex. The painter here reprefents a 
great fleet, crowded with men and 
horfes. William 1s.feen.on the deck 
of the largeft vefiel, who carries at sie 
taaltcbead .a, dandard and a crofs 3 
flag is alfo placed on the poop. Thele 
vejiels have each one matt, with a fine 
gle fail. y sage 
No. XXXIX.—Hic exevnie Cavalli de 
Navibus. — The horfes are difem- 
barked. 
The troops are already landed, and 
the unladen fhips are ranged along the 
fhore. The painter reprefents here 
only the landing of the horfes. It is 
to be obferved that he has omitted, in 
the hiftory of this debarkation, Wil- 
liam’s accidental fall, which he himfelf 
conitrued into a good omen. 
No. XL.—E&t Hic. Milites. feftinaverwut. 
HejftingamVtCiovm. raperentur.— The 
Troops preis forward to feize upon 
Haftings, to fecure provifions. 
Horfemen, armed, are feen marching 
towards Haiiings. Foragers have al- 
ready brought from the nei ighbouring 
farms a number of cattle and fheep. _ 
No, XLI Hic ef. Wadard.—This is, 
Wa idard. 
This horfemman, armed, faperintend- 
ing the butchers and cooks who fol- 
low, and whofe mere firname 3 is writ. 
ten without any defcription, is, proba- 
ly, the grand purveyor. This omif- 
fion of his title, and the name ftanding 
as that of a perfon fufficiently known, 
isan internal proof, confirming the tra 
dition, that the tapeftry is contempos 
rary with the Conqueit. 
No. XLII. —Hic coguitur Caro. et ‘Bie 
minifiravervat Miniftri. — Here pro- 
vious are drefiing ; and the menial 
fervants are performing their fepa- 
rate functions. 
The cooks are preparing the provi- 
fions in various manners, A large 
caldron 
