Note 419 — Part 8.

“The art of weaving tapestry was brought to England by William Sheldon, Esq., about the end of the reign of Henry VIII.”—See Dugdale’s “Warwickshire” (“Stemmata:” Sheldon), 2nd edition, folio, vol. i. p. 584; also Lloyd’s “State Worthies,” p. 953, quoted by Manning and Bray, “Hist. of Surrey,” vol. iii. p. 82. But we have an earlier notice of a spirited attempt to make fine tapestries at Kilkenny. Piers, Earl of Ormonde, married the daughter of Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare, “a person of great wisdom and courage.” They brought from Flanders and the neighbouring provinces artificers and manufacturers, whom they employed at Kilkenny in working tapestries, diaper, Turkey carpets, cushions, &c. Piers died 1539. Carte’s Introduction to the “Life of James, Duke of Ormonde,” vol. i. p. 93 (Oxford, 1851).