persons; and a facetious emperor once invited eight, on purpose to raise a laugh against the person for whom there would be no place.

He

A knight in that country (Britain) heard the noise and cry made by the peasants and villains when they saw the great fleet arrive. He well knew that the Normans were come, and that their object was to seize the land. He posted himself behind a hill, so that they should not see him, and tarried there watching the arrival of the great fleet. saw the archers come forward from the ships, and the knights follow. He saw the carpenters with their axes, and the host of people and troops. He saw the men throw the materials for the fort out of the ships. He saw them build up and enclose the fort, and dig the fosse around it. He saw them land the shields and armour. And as he beheld all this his spirit was troubled; and he girt his sword and took his lance, saying he would go straightway to King Harold and tell the news. Forthwith he set out on his way, resting late and rising early; and thus he journeyed on by night and by day to seek Harold his lord." And we see him in the tapestry speeding to his beloved master.

Meanwhile Harold is not idle. But the fleet which, in expectation of his adversary's earlier arrival, he had stationed on the southern coast, had lately dispersed from want of provisions, and the King, occupied by the Norwegian invasion, had not been able to reinstate it; and "William came against him (says the Saxon chronicle) unawares ere his army was collected." Thus the enemy found

nor opposition nor hinderance in obtaining a footing in the island.

Taken at such disadvantage, Harold did all that a brave man could do to repel his formidable adversary. The tapestry depicts, as well as may be expected, the battle.

The priests had watched all night, and besought and called upon God, and prayed to him in their chapels, which were fitted up throughout the host. They offered and vowed fasts, penances, and orisons; they said psalms and misereres, litanies and kyriels ; they cried on God, and for his mercy, and said paternosters and masses; some the SPIRITUS DOMINI, others SALUS POPULI, and many SALVE SANCTE PARENS, being suited to the season, as belonging to that day, which was Saturday.

AND NOW, BEHOLD! THAT BATTLE WAS GATHERED

WHEREOF THE FAME IS YET MIGHTY.

"Then Taillefer, who sang right well, rode, mounted on a swift horse, before the duke.

Loud and far resounded the bray of the horns, and the shocks of the lances, the mighty strokes of clubs, and the quick clashing of swords. One while the Englishmen rushed on, another while they fell back; one while the men from over sea charged onwards, and again at other times retreated. When the English fall, the Normans shout. Each side taunts and defies the other, yet neither knoweth what the other saith; and the Normans say the English bark, because they understand not their speech.

Some wax strong, others weak; the brave exult,

but the cowards tremble, as men who are sore dismayed. The Normans press on the assault, and the English defend their post well; they pierce the hauberks and cleave the shields; receive and return mighty blows. Again some press forwards, others yield, and thus in various ways the struggle pro

ceeds."

The death of Harold's two brothers is depicted, and, finally, his own. It is said that his mother offered the weight of the body in gold to have the melancholy satisfaction of interring it, and that the Conqueror refused the boon. But other writers affirm, and apparently with truth, that William immediately transmitted the body, unransomed, to the bereaved parent, who had it interred in the monastery of Waltham.

With the death of Harold the tapestry now ends, though some writers think it probable that it once extended as far as the coronation of William. There can be little doubt of its having been intended to extend so far, though it is impossible now to ascertain whether the Queen was ever enabled quite to complete her Herculean task. Enough there is, however, to stamp it as one of the "most noble and interesting relics of antiquity;" and, as Dibdin calls it, "an exceedingly curious document of the conjugal attachment, and even enthusiastic veneration of Matilda, and a political record of more weight than may at first sight appear to belong to it." Taking it altogether, he adds, "none but itself could be its parallel."

Almost all historians describe the Normans as advancing to the onset "singing the song of Ro

land," that is, a detail of the achievements of the slaughtered hero of Roncesvalles, which is well known to have been, for ages after the event to which it refers, a note of magical inspiration to deeds of "derring do." On this occasion it is recorded that the spirit note was sung by the minstrel Taillefer, who was, however, little contented to lead his countrymen by voice alone. It is not possible that our readers can be otherwise than pleased with the following animated account of his deeds :*

THE ONSET OF Taillefer.

"Foremost in the bands of France,
Arm'd with hauberk and with lance,
And helmet glittering in the air,
As if a warrior-knight he were,
Rushed forth the minstrel Taillefer-
Borne on his courser swift and strong,
He gaily bounded o'er the plain,
And raised the heart-inspiring song
(Loud echoed by the warlike throng)

Of Roland and of Charlemagne,
Of Oliver, brave peer of old,

Untaught to fly, unknown to yield,
And many a knight and vassal bold,
Whose hallowed blood, in crimson flood,
Dyed Roncesvalles' field.

"Harold's host he soon descried,

Clustering on the hill's steep side:
Then turned him back brave Taillefer,
And thus to William urged his prayer :

'Great Sire, it fits me not to tell
'How long I've served you, or how well;
'Yet if reward my lays may claim,
'Grant now the boon I dare to name;

'Minstrel no more, be mine the blow
'That first shall strike yon perjured foe.'

By Thomas Amyot, Esq., F.S.A.-Archæol., vol. xix.

'Thy suit is gained,' the Duke replied,
Our gallant minstrel be our guide.'
'Enough,' he cried,' with joy I speed,
'Foremost to vanquish or to bleed.'

"And still of Roland's deeds he sung, While Norman shouts responsive rung, As high in air his lance he flung,

With well directed might;

Back came the lance into his hand,
Like urchin's ball, or juggler's wand,
And twice again, at his command,

Whirled its unerring flight.—
While doubting whether skill or charm
Had thus inspired the minstrel's arm,
The Saxons saw the wondrous dart
Fixed in their standard bearer's heart.

"Now thrice aloft his sword he threw,

'Midst sparkling sunbeams dancing, And downward thrice the weapon flew, Like meteor o'er the evening dew,

From summer sky swift glancing:
And while amazement gasped for breath,
Another Saxon groaned in death.

"More wonders yet!-on signal made,

With mane erect, and eye-balls flashing,

The well taught courser rears his head,
His teeth in ravenous fury gnashing;
He snorts-he foams-and upward springs-
Plunging he fastens on the foe,
And down his writhing victim flings,

Crushed by the wily minstrel's blow.

Thus seems it to the hostile band
Enchantment all, and fairy land.

"Fain would I leave the rest unsung:-
The Saxon ranks, to madness stung,
Headlong rushed with frenzied start,
Hurling javelin, mace, and dart;
No shelter from the iron shower
Sought Taillefer in that sad hour;