The Bayeux Tapestry Elucidated

The Bayeux Tapestry Elucidated
by John Collingwood Bruce
Publication date  1856

https://archive.org/details/bayeuxtapestrye00brucgoog/page/n2/mode/2up

This book argues the case that the tapestry was made by Queen Matilda.

"One effect of the Conquest was to bring the people of England and Normandy into closer alliance than before. On the first  occasion on which William returned to Normandy, after the battle  of Hastings, he took with him, "in honourable attendance," a considerable number of the Saxon nobles, who were doubtless  accompanied by their wives and daughters. Assisted by English ladies, as well as by those of her own court, Matilda, the wife of  the Conqueror, probably at this time constructed the Tapestry which for many ages was preserved in the Cathedral of Bayeux.” p2

"Perhaps, however, we have acted rashly in having ventured even thus cursorily to touch upon the antiquity of the Tapestry. Miss Agnes Strickland, who, in her ‘Lives of the Queens of England’ shows how vigorously she can wield the pen, is rather indignant that any one who is not learned in cross-stitch, should  venture to discuss the subject. Before we argue, she wants to know if we can sew. She says, 'With due deference to the judgment of the lords of the creation on all subjects connected with policy and science, we venture to think that our learned friends, the archaeologists and antiquaries, would do well to direct their intellectual powers to more masculine objects of inquiry, and leave the question of the Bayeux Tapestry (with all other matters allied to needle-craft) to the decision of the ladies, to whose province it belongs. It is matter of doubt to us whether one, out of the many gentlemen who have disputed Matilda's claims to that work, if called upon to execute a copy of either of the figures on canvas, would know how to put in the first stitch.’ Few of the rougher sex would like to be put to the experimentum acus and therefore it may be as well at once to exercise the best part of valour, and beat a hasty retreat." p15