The Bayeux Tapestry
King Edward
Harold, the English Duke, rides towards Bosham
with his men at arms
The wind in their sails…
Duke William returns to his palace
accompanied by Harold
A Saxon messenger goes to find Duke William
…here duke Harold pulls them
out of the quicksand
Duke William and his army come to Mount St Michael
Duke William’s soldiers then
attack Dinan (Bretons)
Where Harold swears an oath to Duke William
Here Harold returns to England
And he came to find King Edward
And here King Edward’s body is taken
to the church of St Peter the Apostle
Here king Edward converses
with his faithful companions
and here he dies (in this sequence)
Here, Harold, King of the English,
Sits on his throne
They look at a star
(Halley’s comet was visible in England at the end of April 1066)
Here Duke William orders ships to be built
They take arms aboard the ships
and drag a cart laden with wine
and more arms on board
Here the ships are launched
Here Duke William crosses the sea
on a large ship
And here the soldiers hurry on to Hastings…
Here they cook the meat
and servants perform their duty…
…and the bishop blesses the food and the drink
He orders a camp to be built at Hastings
Here William is brought news about Harold
Here a house is set on fire
Here soldiers leave Hastings
and go into combat against King Harold
Here both English and French succumb
during their fighting
This is Duke William
Here King Harold dies
And the English take a flight