a very early period the art of making linen-cloth was
understood. Fragments of cloth, both of linen and wool, have been
discovered in a British barrow in Yorkshire, and early bone needles
found at different parts of the country are plentiful in our museums.
There is no doubt that we owe much of our civilisation to the visit of
the Phoenicians, those strange people, who appear to have carried all
the arts and crafts of ancient Babylon and Assyria to the wonder isles
of the Greek Archipelago, to Egypt, to Southern Spain, and to Cornwall
and Devonshire. These people, dwelling on the maritime border of
Palestine, were the great traders of their age, and while coming to this
country (then in a state of wildest barbarism) for tin left in exchange
a knowledge of the arts and appliances of civilisation hitherto not
understood. The Roman Invasion (45 B.C.) brought not only knowledge of
craftsmanship but also Christianity. St. Augustine, to whom the
conversion of the Britains is credited, carried with him a banner
embroidered with the image of Christ. After the Romans had left the
country, and it had become invaded by the Celts and the Danes, and had
again been taken possession of by the Saxons, a period of not only rest
but advancement arrived, and we see early in the seventh century the
country prosperous and settled. Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne, wrote a
poem in which he speaks of the tapestry-weaving and the embroidery which
the women of England occupied their lives.

[Illustration: A LENGTH OF THE FAMOUS BAYEUX TAPESTRY.]

The earliest specimen of embroidery known to have been executed in
England is that of the stole and maniple of St. Cuthbert, which is now
treasured at Durham Cathedral. These were worked by Aelfled, the Queen
of Edward the Elder, Alfred the Great's son. She worked them for Bishop
Fridhestan in 905 A.D. Her son Athelstan, after her death, visited the
shrine of St. Cuthbert, at Chester-le-street, and in an inventory of the
rich gifts which he left there, there is recorded "one stole with a
maniple," amongst other articles. These very embroideries were removed
from the actual body of St. Cuthbert in 1827. They are described by an
eyewitness as being "of woven gold, with spaces left vacant for
needlework embroideries." Exquisitely embroidered figures are in niches
or clouds. The whole effect is described as being that of a fine
illuminated MS. of the ninth century, and indescribably beautiful.
Another great