border round the
curved edge. The orphrey is divided into tabernacles containing an
archbishop, two bishops, and three kings and queens. Between the
tabernacles are four angels, each accompanied by one of the
evangelistic symbols. The body of the cope is cut into a most
elaborate system of tabernacles, with a centre compartment of a
different form for the group of the Crucifixion. The subjects are
chiefly from the life of our Lord and the Blessed Virgin. The small
quasi-hood is embroidered with two wyverns or griffin-like creatures.
The pelican and the phoenix are introduced over the top central
group of the enthronement of our Lady."

Mr. Clifford gives the history of the Cope of Pius II. (Bartolomeo
Piccolomini, "AEneas Silvius") fifteenth century. It is a masterpiece
of Italian embroidery of the early Renaissance. The material was gold
brocade, covered with wonderful designs carried out in needlework,
representing saints and angels, trees and birds, and arabesques. The
whole was adorned with pearls and precious stones valued at L80,000.
At his death the pope bequeathed this vestment to the cathedral of his
native town. The cope was stolen in March, 1884, from the treasury at
Pienza; and shortly afterwards discovered in the shop of a dealer in
antiquities at Florence, but completely stripped of its precious
stones and of some of its more valuable embroidery. After magisterial
investigation, the cope was restored to Pienza.

The cope at Bologna is thus described: "Subjects from the New
Testament contained in two rows of tabernacle compartments, twelve in
lower, seven in upper row. Spandrils occupied by angels playing on
various musical instruments. After each row, a border containing
medallions with heads (of angels, prophets, &c.), twenty-three in
lower, nine in upper row. No orphrey; no border or outside curve;
quasi-hood very small."

APPENDIX VI., TO PAGE 326.

_From Rock's "Textiles," p. 275._

"The Syon Monastery Cope; ground green, with crimson interlacing
barbed quatrefoils, enclosing figure of our Lord, the Blessed Virgin
Mary, the Apostles, with winged cherubim standing on wheels in the
intervening spaces, and the orphreys, morse, and hem wrought with
armorial bearings; the whole done in gold, silver, and various
coloured silks. English needlework, thirteenth century; 9 feet 7
inches by 4 feet 8 inches.

"This handsome cope, so very remarkable on account of its
comparatively perfect preservation, i