turally assumes the greatest importance; and I have tried to
trace the efforts of our ancestors in this direction, by noting every
certain sign of English production, in what must have been an
imitation of Flemish or Oriental weaving. The few facts here collected
may be of service to the future writer of the history of English
tapestries.

Comnenus, Prince of Arras, fled before the Romans from Nomenticum to
England; and he and his Atrebates settled themselves between
Silchester and Sarum, and the Belgae and Parisi did the same. The
Romans found them here when they invaded England. Wherever the Belgic
tribes spread themselves, the art of weaving was established. Comnenus
probably brought over, and left to his descendants, the inheritance of
this craft.

Dr. Rock thinks that pictured tapestry was woven at an early period in
the Middle Ages by the monks in England. The earliest proof of this
that we possess, is the notice by Matthew Paris (thirteenth century)
describing the three reredos for St. Alban's Abbey; the first, a large
one, depicting the finding of the body of the Protomartyr; the others,
"The Prodigal Son" and "The Man who fell among Thieves." All these
were executed by the orders of Abbot Geoffrey.[413]

While in London in 1316, Simon, Abbot of Ramsay, bought for the use of
his monks, looms, shuttles, and a slay. "Pro weblomes emptes xx^d. Et
pro staves ad eadem vj^d. Item pro iiij Shittles, pro eadem opere
vj^d. Item j sloy pro textoribus viii^d."[414]

In Edward II.'s time there were hangings woven in England which appear
to have been absolutely tapestries. They were much valued abroad, and
were called "Salles d'Angleterre." Charles V. of France (1364)
possessed among his articles of costly furniture, "Une salle
d'Angleterre vermeille brodee d'azur, et est la bordure a vignettes,
et le dedans de Lyons, d'Aigles, et de Lyopars."[415]

Our trade with Arras must have improved our tapestries. We are told of
Edward III. selling his wools to that town, and being therefore called
by Philip de Valois, his "Marchant de Laine." Horace Walpole refers to
an act, "De Mystera Tapiciarorum," of the time of Edward III., 1327,
"regarding certain malpractices of the craft," which proves its
existence in England at that period.[416]

Mr. French, in his catalogue of the Exhibition in London, 1851, quotes
the tapestries of St. Mary's Hall at Coventry, to prove that there was
a manufactory in England, _temp._ Henry VI. Ther