HISTORY OF THE TAPESTRY 11 THE LATIN INSCRIPTIONS WITH A TRANSLATION 14 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC COPY OF THE ORIGINAL 19 NOTES ON THE ILLUSTRATIONS 20 BIBLIOGRAPHY 28 INDEX 29 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. _Frontispiece_:--Harold Enthroned PLATE I. King Edward the Confessor and Harold. ” II. The Oath of Harold. ” III. King Edward in his Palace. ” IV. The Church of S. Peter at Westminster. ” V. The Coronation of Harold. Stigand. ” VI. The Comet. ” VII. Building Ships. ” VIII. A Feast. ” IX. Odo. William. Robert. ” X. Burning a House. ” XI. The Battle of Hastings. ” XII. The Death of Harold. FIG. 1. A Lion p. 1 “ 2. Ploughing p. 9 “ 3. Harrowing p. 14 “ 4. Fowling p. 18 [Illustration: FIG. 1. A LION (_see_ p. 27).] I.--THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY. The Bayeux Tapestry is probably the most famous and the most remarkable of mediæval embroideries. In it is given the complete story of a great exploit and one that must always be of particular interest to the English and French peoples--the story of the Norman Conquest. None of the main incidents leading up to the Conquest itself are omitted. The arrival of Harold in Normandy, his stay with William, his swearing of loyalty, his return to England, the death of Edward the Confessor, the subsequent election of Harold to the throne of England, with the expedition itself culminating in the Battle of Hastings, are all shown in the course of the story. It is as much a defence of William’s conduct as a history of his triumph. The Tapestry is generally considered to be contemporary, or almost contemporary, with the events it portrays, and it is evident that if such be the case it is an historical document of the very first importance. Certain archæologists have indeed maintained that it was not made till 50 or even 200 years after the Conquest, but their arguments have not generally been found convincing, and the claims of those who consider the Tapestry a contemporary document may be said to have held their ground. Historians like Freeman, Mr. J. H. Round, and Professor Oman have not hesitated to draw their conclusions from it, and it remains an inexhaustible storehouse of information regarding the social life of England and Normandy during the 11th century.