Whatever schools existed were connected with the monasteries and
nunneries. Oxford had begun to be regarded as a seat of leaning
(1120). The instruction was given by priests, though some noted
Jewish scholars may have had pupils there. Very few books were
written during this period. Generally speaking, the nobility
considered fighting the great business of life and cared nothing for
education. They thought that reading and writing were beneath their
dignity, and left such accomplishments to monks, priests, and
lawyers. For this reason seals or stamps having some device or
signature engraved on them came to be used on all papers of
importance.

155. Historical Works; the Bayeux Tapestry.

The chief books written in England under the Norman kings were
histories. Of these the most noteworthy were the continuation of the
"Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" in English (S99) and the chronicles of William
of Malmesbury and Henry of Huntingdon in Latin.[1] William's book and
the "Saxon Chronicle" still continue to be of great importance to
students of this period. Mention has already been made of the Bayeux
Tapestry (S75), a history of the Norman Conquest worked in colored
worsteds, on a long strip of narrow canvas.

[1] Geoffrey of Monmouth's "History of the Britons" belongs to this
period. It abounds in romances about King Arthur. Tennyson based his
"Idylls of the King" on it.

It consists of a series of seventy-two scenes, or pictures, done about
the time of William's accession. It was probably intended to decorate
the cathedral of Bayeux, in Normandy, France, where it was originally