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[[underlined]]COPY[[/underlined]] 

THREE EPISODES FROM THE 
HISTORY OF HERCULES 

WOVEN IN AUDENARDE 1498, AFTER 
THE DESIGN OF PIERRE FIERRET 

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The history of Hercules illustrated on this tapestry is that recounted in the Recuyell of the Histroyes of Troye compiled from various sources by Raoul Le Fèvre chaplain of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, for his royal patron and translated into English by Caxton at the request of Marguerite of York, wife of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. Caxton finished his translation in 1471 and shortly thereafter printed it, it thus becoming the first printed book in English. 

    The first episode depicted above, occurred when Hercules undertook a trip to Africa. On landing, he sought the giant Busire, a detested tyrant, that he might destroy him. Caxton tells of the meeting as follows: 

[[block indent]] "Whan hercules was comen nyghe unto the gate he toke his clobbe that philotes (one of his companions) bare he lefte philotes there and entrid hymself in to the cyte he had not ban longe there her ferre goon but busire which advertysed of his comyng by hys espyes cam agaynst hym with many of his complices and without spekyng of ony word ran upon hym  hercules was all well assured he knewe the tyrant by his mayntien and by the synges that was told him   he lyfte up his clobbe when he sawe him come and as the tyrant wold have smyten him with his glayve with oute work spekyng he smote the tyrant with his clobbe upon the ryght syde so demesurably that not only he bare hym unto the earthe  but also he brake all his rybbes of his body." [[/block indent]]

The tapestry shows Hercules seizing Busire and about to deal him a tremendous blow with his club.  Both contestants wear red cloaks over their armour and a shirt of hairy animal skin is evident under Hercules' cloak. Two spectators, evidently Philotes and a page, stand watching at the left. The episode continues in a smaller scene beside and behind this one. Again letting Caxton tell the tale:

[[block indent]] "And after longe bataylle he fonde hym self allone  The peoples and the comone of the egypciens....prayed him that he wold sacrifyce their sayd King  Hercules graunted their petycien and accorded hyt unto the people.  And anon toke this cursed tyrant busire that lyved yet and bare him upon his sholdre unto the temple whiche the egypciens shewid to hym the fals tyrant cryed after helpe terribly. but his crye avayled him not  The egypciens cryed unto hercules sacrefice sacrefice hym whan hercules cam unto the temple he sacrefysed hym after he had shewid him hys cursid and evyll lyf". [[/block indent]]