[Illustration: SACRAMENTAL WAFER BOX OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY.]
The two upper lines of the engraving of the tapestry on page 105 are consecutive. They have been chosen for illustration as affording a favourable view of the character of the design. The story is taken up at the part where Harold, after swearing fealty to William of Normandy on the relics of the saints, returns to England, and presents himself to King Edward. The first words which occur over the figures at the top of the page are, "_Anglicam terram_." The complete sentence, the former part of which is omitted in the engraving, reads thus:--"_Hic Harold dux reversus est Anglicam terram_" ("Here the Lord Harold returned to England"). The horsemen of Harold's train are represented on their way to the court; "_Et venit ad Edwardum regem_" ("And came to Edward the king"). Farther on we see Edward seated on his throne, and Harold receiving audience and communicating the ill success of his adventure.
[Illustration: INCIDENTS COPIED FROM THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY. (_After Stothard._)]
The tapestry proceeds to depict Harold's unfortunate descent upon the Norman coast, his capture by Guy of Ponthieu, his release by William the Conqueror, the expedition into Brittany, and the ceremony of the fateful oath. "_Hic Willelmus venit Bagias ubi Haroldus sacramentum fecit_" ("Here William comes to Bayeux, where Harold takes an oath") is all the information we have on this most important event.
Worn down by anxiety, and by the anticipation of evils which he foresaw, but was unable to prevent, Edward the Confessor soon afterwards died, and was buried at Westminster, in the church which he had himself built in a new and costly style of architecture. The tapestry shows us the church of St. Peter, at Westminster, and the funeral procession of the king. It will be observed that the church, which was built in the Early Norman style, is provided at one end with a weathercock, which a workman is represented in the act of putting up. "By this," says the authority already quoted, "the designer of the tapestry means to show that the work was but just completed, when the interment of the Confessor took place. A hand appears over the western end of the church to denote the finger of Providence, and to indicate that it was the will of God that the remains of the deceased king should be deposited in that building." The arrangements of the funeral procession are simple--a boy appears at each side of the bier ringing bells, and various attendants and priests are following. The words written above are: "_Hic portatur corpus Edwardi regis ad ecclesiam sancti Petri Apostoli_" ("Here the body of King Edward is carried to the church of St. Peter the Apostle").