Account of the ancient Tape/try embroidered by Queen Matilda 669 
Galdron is on the fire. Some are pre- 
paring fowls of the farm-yard3; and 
others, meats of a rarer kind. 
No. XLIII.—Hie fecerunt Prandium, et 
hic Epifcopus Cibum et Potum. bene- 
dicit.— The repat is fet out, anda 
Bifhop gives it his blefiing. 
Here are feen two large tables; the 
one is round} and is, defigned for the 
officers belonging to the Court; the 
other, more remarkable, is in the form 
of a half-circle. At this are feated 
Duke William and the Barons of his 
fuite. “A Bithop bleffes the table, and 
a page on his knees prefents the cup. 
No. 
Bifhop Odo, William, Robert. 
The Duke of Normandy holds a 
council at Haftings on the operations 
ofthe campaign. He is feated between 
his two brothers, with his {word in his 
hand. At his right hand is Odo, Bi- 
fhop ef Bayeux, and Robert; Count of 
Mortain, is oh his left. Probably it is 
decided in’ this council to encamp 
themfelves; and. fortify Hattings; to 
await there the approach of the enemy, 
who, proud..of his victory over the 
Norwegians, marches in full confidence 
to give battle. 
No. XLV.—Ilfe jufiit ut foderetur Caftel- 
lum, ad Haftengam.—He, Robert, or- 
ders that a ditch be dug around the 
fortified camp at Hatftings. 
As this infcription immediately fol- 
Jows the name of Robert, it appéars 
that this Count of Mortain had the 
charge of {uperintending the operations 
ordered in council. It is, therefore, 
this officer who, with a {mall ftandard 
in his hand, encourages the labourers 
to work. They are digging in the 
trench, and already the camp is pali- 
fadoed. The infcription Ceafra, for 
€aftra, fhews the camp. 
No. XLVI.—Hic Nuntiatum eff Willelmo 
de Harold. — William receives news 
‘ref{pecting Harold. 
A foldier approaches William, whom 
he appears to inform, with a myfteriaus 
air, of the enemy’s approach. - 
No. XLVII.—Hic Domus incenditur.— 
The troops fet fire to a houfe. 
It appears that, in confequence of 
the news of the enemy’s approach, 
William’s troops fet fire to g houfe, 
which embarrafled the movement of 
the army. A woman, leading her fon 
by the hand, i3 coming out of the 
houle, to which two men are fetting 
. 
XLIV.—Odo, Eps. Willelit, Rotbert. . 
fire. Hiftory is filenton this faé&. It 
is known, however, that after the battle 
of Hattings, when Dover was taken 
and burnt by the foldiery, the Duke of 
Normandy ordered a compenfation to 
be made the inhabitants. Perhaps the 
woman and child reprefents a fimilar 
act of humanity performed by William 
on this occafion. 
No. XLVIII.—Hic milites exterunt de’ 
Haftenga, venerunt ad prelium contra 
Haroldum Regem. — William’s army 
marches out of the camp of Haftings | 
to meet that of King Harold. 
The Duke of Normandy did ‘not 
wait for Harold in his camp, but march. 
ed out to meet him. The Duke is 
feen completely armed, and ready to - 
mount his charger. The horfe are 
marching towards the enemy. 
No XLIX.—Hic Willelin Dux interrogat 
Vital, ft vidiffet Exercitum Haroldi.— 
Duke William inquires of Vital if he 
had feen Harold’s army. 
.“The Dake, at the head of his horfe, 
a baton in his hand, is queftioning a. 
horfeman, who approaches him on the 
full gallop. » The horfeman appears to 
be the chief of a troop of cavalry, fent 
toreconnoitre.’ The infcription gives 
us his name; he points to the fide on 
which the enemy is approaching. 
No. L.—Iffe nontiat’Haroldum Rege. de 
Exercitu Willelai Ducis—A_ perfon 
informs King Harold that the Duke’s 
army approaches, : 7 
The King of England ‘had alfo fent 
to reconnoitre ; he had even-fent {pies 
into the camp of William, who, difco- 
vering them, ordered every part of his 
preparations to be fhown to them, and 
then fent them back to theirmafter.. A. 
foot-foldier who precedes Harold points 
to the enemy. 
No. Ll.—Hie Willelm Dux alloquitar fuis 
militibus, ut preparent fe viriliter et faa 
pienter ad pretium conira Anglerum exer-~ 
citum—Duke William harangues his 
troops. He'exhorts them to com- 
bine prudence with valour in engag- 
ing the Englifh army. 
The two armies are drawn up in the 
prefence of each other; the Duke of 
Normandy harangues the French,. en- 
\ 
-couraging them to the onfet ; the hifs 
torians of the time. give his fpeech. In 
the pitture William appears to be near 
the conclufion of his {peech;. his 
troops begin to, charge the enemy 3 
there is only a fingie horfeman near 
a Ue ; William, 
