The motto on the border of the upper cover reads, "CELUM PATRIA Scopus VITAE X P V S. CHRISTUS VIA, CHRISTO VIVE." That round the lower cover, "BEATUS QUI DIVITIAS SCRIPTURAE LEGENS VERBA VERTIT IN OPERA." Within the border, on the upper cover, is a ribbon arranged in a long oval bearing the words" ELEV A COR SURSUM IBI UBI E. C. (i.e. est Christus)." The E and the C are in larger type, and between them is a heart in raised work, through which passes a stem, the lower end of which has two small leaves and the top a flower. On the lower cover a similar ribbon bears the words "VICIT OMNIA PERTIN AX VIRTUS E. c." These two last letters, Dibdin says, means "Elizabetha Captiva," in support of his theory that it was worked by her at Woodstock. In the centre of the oval on this lower cover is an eight-pedaled flower with stem and two leaves. The record of this book is remarkably clear. But, besides this, there is little ,doubt, judging it by other work of Queen Elizabeth, that it was executed and probably designed by herself. All the books credited to her with any show of probability are worked in braid or thick cord, and the designs on each are of a simple character.

The most decorative of all the embroidered books worked for Queen Elizabeth is now, unfortunately, in the worst condition of any of them. It is a copy of Bishop Christopherson's Historia Ecclesiastica, Louvanii, 1569, divided into three volumes, each measuring about 6 inches by Jl. It is covered in green velvet, and each side is ornamented in the same way. In the centre a long oval shield, applique, in silks of the proper color. The bearings, worked in gold thread, are enclosed in an oval of pink satin studded with a row of small pearls. Surrounding this is a decorative Elizabethan border worked in gold thread and pearls. The rest of the board is closely covered with a rich design of arabesques and roses in gold cord and guimp, the roses being" Tudor," with red silk centers and pearl outer petals, and "York," worked entirely with small seed pearls. The narrow outer border, formed by an interlacing ribbon outlined in gold cord, has an inner row of seed pearls along its entire length; and many of the spaces all over the side of the book have small single seed pearls in them. The back is divided into five panels, bearing alternately white and Tudor roses of the same kind of work as those on the sides of the book, only on a larger scale. There have also been many supplementary pearls on the back of the book. A large majority of the pearls are unfortunately now missing, as is also a great part of the gold cord, so that the above description is in fact a restoration. But every pearl and every piece of cord that is wanting has left a distinct impression on the velvet.

One of the most celebrated of all embroidered books done in England was executed for Queen Elizabeth. It is a large book measuring 10 inches by 7, and is an account by Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, De antiqvitate BritannictC EcclesitC, etc. It was privately printed by John Day at Lambeth Palace in 1572 for the Archbishop, being the first book of the kind issued in England. It is supposed to have been a presentation copy to the queen. It is covered in deep green velvet. On both covers the outer border is worked in gold, in a pattern resembling a wooden park paling, and it is probable that each side is meant to represent a park, thereby indicating the author's name of Parker. Within this paling on the upper cover is a design of a large rose-tree with Tudor roses, and Yorkist and Lancastrian roses, all growing upon it. Besides these flowers there are heartsease, daisies, carnations, and others whose species is difficult to determine. In the four corners of the" park" are four deer, their eyes being indicated with little black beads, some gambolling, some feeding, and on the groundwork are many grass-tufts of gold thread. The central design on the under cover is not by any means so fine. It has several plants scattered about it. There are two snakes brilliantly worked in gold and silver cord and colored silks, and five deer like those on the other side.