siderable nobility of England, who, while they served to grace his court by their presence and magnificent retinues, were in reality hostages for the fidelity of the nation. Among these, were Edgar Atheling, Stigand the primate, the Earls Edwin and Morcar, Waltheof the son of the brave Earl Siward, with others eminent for the greatness of their fortunes and families, or for their ecclesiastical and civil dig-nities. He was visited at the Abbey of Fescamp, where he resided during some time, by Eodulph, uncle to the King of of France, and by many powerful princes and nobles, who having contributed to his enterprise, were desirous of partici-pating in the joy and advantages cf its success. His English courtiers, willing to ingratiate themselves with their new sov-ereign, outvied each other in equipages and entertainments ; and made a display of riches which struck the foreigners with astonishment. "William of Poictiers, a Norman histo-rian, who was present, speaks with admiration of the beauty of their persons, the size and workmanship of their silver plate, the costliness of their embroideries, an art in which the English then excelled, and he expresses himself in such terms as tend much to exalt our idea of the opulence and cultivation of the people. But though everything bore the face of joy and festivity, and William himself treated his new courtiers with great appearance of kindness, it was impossible altogether to prevent the insolence of the Nor-mans; and the English nobles derived little satisfaction from those entertainments, where they considered them-selves as led in triumph by their ostentatious conqueror.— Hume, vol. 1, p. 184. NOTE H.—PAGE 22. . The celebrated Bayeaux tapestry, distinguished by the name of the Buke of Normandy's toilette, is a piece of canvass about nineteen inches in breadth, but upwards of sixty-seven yards in length, on which is embroidered the history of the conquest of England by William of Nor-mandy, commencing with the visit of Harold to the Norman court, and ending with his death at the battle of Hastings, NOTES. 463