Notes on the Woodcuts.

Notes on the Woodcuts.scrollwork decorationTTHE History of the Legend of the Holy Cross which is here reproduced, is somewhat fuller than the Golden Legend of Caxton, there being particulars about Moses, David, and Solomon not to be found therein; but they may be found in other versions of the Legend, some in the Latin of Jacobus de Voragine, others in two MSS. in the British Museum.[M]The engravings are taken from a very rare book, of which, as far as is known,there are but three copies in existence: one is in the Royal Library at Brussels, another at the Hague, in the collection of Mr. Schinkel, and the third is in the possession of Lord Spencer at Althorp. It is from this book that these fac-similes (made by M. J. Ph. Berjeau) were taken. The book itself has one woodcut on each page, with a verse in Dutch, at the bottom, explanatory of each engraving. It is called indifferentlyHistoria Sanctæ CrucisorBoec van den houte(Book of the wood or tree).It was printed at Kuilenburg on March 6th, 1483, by John Veldener,[N]who had just removed from Louvain. These sixty-four engravings were originally on thirty-two blocks,[O]and evidently belonged to some much older block book, nowlost. These, Veldener cut in half, as he had already treated aSpeculum, and brought them out as a fresh book.The Legend as told by these engravings is as follows:—WoodcutNo. 1.No. 2.No. 3.No. 4.No. 5.No. 6.Nos. 7,8.Adam, feeling himself about to die, sent Seth to Paradise to beg for some of the oil of mercy,1which, however, the Archangel Michael refused to give him, but, instead, presented him with three seeds of the tree of life.2On his return, he found Adam dead, and, being unable to administer these seeds to his father in any other manner, he put them under his tongue, and then buried him.3Presently these seeds germinated and shot through the ground, and are traditionally said to have been a cedar, a cypress, and a pine.4They grew until Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt, when he found them in the Valley of Hebron, and he recognized them as typifying the Trinity. He removed them, and they were his constant companions.5With them hesmote the rock, and the waters gushed out,6and the bitter waters of Marah became sweet.7,8No. 9.No. 10.No. 11.No. 12.No. 13.He then planted them in the land of Moab,9and there they remained, until an angelic vision appeared unto David, and commanded him to go, and take them up, and bring them to Jerusalem.10On his return the three rods worked miracles, healing the sick,11and the leprous, with a touch;12nay, more, on being applied to three black men, they instantly became white.13No. 14.No. 15.No. 16.No. 17.Arrived at Jerusalem, they wished to plant them, but for the night they left them in a cistern, by the Tower of David,14and lo! during the night, they struck root, and, entwining themselves, became but one stem,15which, when David saw, he had a wall built round it.16And the tree grew for thirty years, David ornamenting it with rings of sapphire and other precious stones, adding one for every year, and under this tree he composedthe Psalms, and praised God exceedingly.17No. 18.No. 19.No. 20.No. 21.No. 22.No. 23.But Solomon, who must needs have all that was rare and costly to adorn his temple, cast his eyes upon this precious tree, and ordered it to be cut down.18It was duly felled, and squared, and trimmed, and it measured thirty cubits in length.19But when the carpenters came to put it into a place of that length, it was a cubit too short, and when it was fitted into a place of twenty-nine cubits, lo! it measured thirty, and the carpenters marvelled much, and were greatly astonished, and so, being useless, it was laid aside.20Yet the people came to see this wonderful tree, and amongst them was a maid named Maximilla, who sat down upon it, and instantly her clothes were in a blaze.21Then she began to lift up her voice, and prophesy, crying, “My God, and my Lord Jesu Christ.”22Then the Jews took her, and scourged her to death.23No. 24.No. 25.No. 26.No. 27.No. 28.No. 29.No. 30.The Jews, not knowing what to do with this miraculous tree, laid it across a brook,24and, when the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon, she recognized the virtue of the wood; and, refusing to defile it with her feet, she dismounted, and adored it, and waded through the brook.25Then, when she met Solomon, she reproved him, and told him that on that tree would the Saviour of the world suffer death.26And Solomon commanded the holy wood to be taken up,27and caused it to be carried into the Temple, there to be placed over the door, so that all men might bless, and adore it, and he coated it over with gold and silver.28There it remained until Abias stripped it of its costly coverings,29and the Jews buried it deep in the earth.30No. 31.No. 32.There it remained for many years, until the Jews wished to make a pool, where the priests might wash the beasts, to purify them, previous to sacrificing them, and, unknowingly, they dug overthe burial-place of the Holy Cross.31This imparted such a virtue to the water of that pool, which was called Bethesda, that the sick were healed thereat, and an angel at times descended from heaven, and stirred the waters, and then whoever could get first into the waters was straightway healed of any infirmity he might have.32No. 33.No. 34.No. 35.No. 36.We now come to the Crucifixion, and there was a lack of wood to make Christ’s cross—when, suddenly, from the depths of Bethesda, leaped up the tree of the Cross, and floated gently to land. One ran to the High Priest,33and told him of the timely find of suitable wood, and he at once gave orders for it to be fashioned into a Cross.34Then comes the mournful procession to Calvary, with our Saviour fainting under the weight of the Cross, and Simon the Cyrenean is pressed into the service to help Jesus.35And then the Crucifixion.36No. 37.No. 38.No. 39.No. 40.No. 41.No. 42.No. 43.No. 44.And whilst the crosses were still standing,the disciples came to them and prayed, and many were healed of their infirmities, and many devils were cast out.37This so angered the Jews that they took the crosses down, and buried them,38and there they remained until their invention by St. Helena,A.D.326. On her arrival at Jerusalem,39she convened a meeting of the principal Jews, and they denied all knowledge of it, but, on threat of being burnt, they said that one of their number, named Judas, knew where the crosses were buried.40Judas, however, refused to tell, and, to compel him to impart his knowledge, St. Helena had him lowered into a dry well, “and there tormented hym by hongre and evyl reste.”41Seven days of this treatment made him submissive, and at the end of that time he capitulated. He was then drawn up,42and prayed to God to direct him to the right spot.43His prayer was heard, and after some digging, the crosses were discovered.44No. 45.No. 46.No. 47.No. 48.No. 49.No. 50.The news was brought to St. Helena, who visited the spot,45but although there were certainly three crosses, no one knew which was the one upon which Jesus suffered. A test, however, was applied, which proved to be satisfactory. The body of a maid was being borne on a bier for burial, but the funeral procession was stopped, and the body was touched by the different crosses. The two first produced no effect,46but when the third touched the dead maiden, she was at once restored to life.47Here, then, was proof positive; this was the very Cross; and St. Helena, mindful of her son Constantine, divided the sacred wood; part she enclosed in a case of precious metal, and kept at Jerusalem;48and part she sent to her son, at Byzantium, who received it with due reverence,49and deposited it in the church, with great ceremony.50No. 51.Here it remained, until it was taken away, with other spoil, by Chosroes, theKing of Persia, who, aware of the sanctity of the relic, had it placed on the right hand of his throne. He was so puffed up with pride, that he ordered himself to be adored. His people, hitherto, had worshipped the sun, but now he ordained that henceforth he was to be considered the principal Person in the Trinity (the Father), and that the relic of the Cross was to be looked upon as the Son, whilst a golden cock which he had made was to represent the Holy Ghost.51No. 52.No. 53.No. 54.Then Heraclius made war against Chosroes, and meeting with a Persian army under one of the sons of that monarch, it was agreed that, in order to prevent a useless effusion of blood, the two commanders should fight it out between them, and whoever was vanquished should submit.52The duel was fought on a bridge over the Danube, and Heraclius vanquished and killed the son of Chosroes.53The Persian army then made their submission,54and the penanceimposed upon them by the conqueror was that they should all be baptized, which was duly done.No. 55.No. 56.No. 57.No. 58.No. 59.No. 60.No. 61.No. 62.Heraclius then went to Chosroes, and told him what he had done, offering him his life if he too would embrace Christianity,55but the Persian monarch refused, and Heraclius smote off his head.56He then crowned a son of Chosroes, and caused him to be baptized,57himself standing sponsor, and buried the slain king with befitting honours.58Then, taking possession of the holy relic,59he set out with it for Jerusalem. But, as he was bearing it in great state, he came to that gate of the City through which Jesus went to His passion, worn, buffeted, scorned, and weary, carrying the heavy burden of His cross. And suddenly the gateway became solid masonry, so that he could not pass through, and an angel appeared in the heavens, and reproved him for his ostentatious display in a place which his Saviour had previously troddenin such deep humility.60Heraclius dismounted from his horse, and, stripping himself of all the trappings of royalty, barefoot, and in his shirt,61he meekly bore the Cross to its appointed place,62the masonry disappearing as soon as he had humbled himself.No. 63.No. 64.A piece of the Cross was afterwards sent to Rome, where it duly arrived after a very stormy voyage,63and it was there preserved for the adoration of the faithful.64JOHN ASHTON.decoration with crowned cross as centerFOOTNOTES:[A]“And for as moche as this sayd worke was grete & over chargeable to me taccomplisshe, I feryd me in the begynnynge of the translacion to have contynued it / bycause of the longe tyme of the translacion / & also in thenpryntyng of yesame and in maner halfe desperate to have accomplissd it / was in purpose to have lefte it / after that I had begonne to translate it / & to have layed it aparte ne had it be(en) at thynstance & requeste of the puyssant noble & vertuous erle my lord wyllyam erle of arondel / whych desyred me to procede & contynue the said werke / & promysed me to take a resonable quantyte of them when they were acheyeued & accomplisshed / and sente to me a worshypful gentylman a servaunt of his named John Stanney which solycyted me in my Lordes name that I shold in no wyse leve it but accomplisshe it promysyng that my sayd lord shold duringe my lyf geve & graunt to me a yerely fee / that is to wete a bucke in sommer / & a doo in Wynter / with whiche fee I holde me wel contente,” &c.Length of Adam’s life.[B]This apparently long life of Adam is admitted on all hands, even in the Revised Version of the Bible. The Talmud says that God promised him one thousand years of life, and it is recorded that he begat Seth when he was a hundred and thirty years old. On this the Talmud (Eruvin, fol. 18, col. 2) has the following comment: “Rav Yirmyah ben Elazer said: All those years, which Adam spent in alienation from God, he begat evil spirits, demons, and fairies; for it is said, ‘And Adam was an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image’; consequently, before that time, he begat after another image.”This term of one hundred and thirty years seems to have been a period in Adam’s existence, for we again find (Eruvin, fol. 18 b.): “Adam was a Chasid, or great saint, when he observed that the decree of death was occasioned by him; hefasteda hundred and thirty years, and all this time he abstained from intercourse with his wife.”Talmud legends respecting Adam’s length of life.There is a Talmudical tradition that God showed the future to Adam (Avoth d’Rab. Nathan, chap. 31): “The Holy One—blessed be He!—shewed unto Adam each generation, and its preachers, its guardians, its leaders, its prophets, its heroes, its sinners, and its saints, saying, ‘In such and such a generation such and such aKingshall reign, in such and such a generation such and such a wife man shall teach.’” This is amplified in Midrash Yalkut (fol. 12), where it is said that God showed Adam all future generations of men, with their leaders, learned and literary men, and there he observed that David was credited with only three hours of life, and he said, “Lord and Creator of the world, is this unalterable?” “Such was my first intention,” was the reply. “How many years have I to live?” asked Adam. “One thousand.” Then Adam said, “I will lend him some of my years.” And a document was drawn up whereby Adam transferred seventy years of his life to David.S. Baring-Gould, in his legends ofOld Testament Characters, vol i. p. 77, referring to a Mussulman legend, says: “Finally, when Adam reached his nine hundred and thirtieth year, the Angel of Death appeared under the form of a goat, and ran between his legs.“Adam recoiled with horror, and exclaimed, ‘God has given me one thousand years; wherefore comest thou now?’“‘What!’ exclaimed the Angel of Death, ‘hast thou not given seventy years of thy life to the prophet David?’“Adam stoutly denied that he had done so. Then the Angel of Death drew the document of transfer from out of his beard, and presented it to Adam, who could no longer refuse to go.”[C]The Festival of the Invention, or finding of the Cross, is kept in the Roman and English Churches on May 3.[D]Piscina, a fish-pond:Lat. In this instance it is supposed to be the Pool of Bethesda.[E]Nicodemus, chap. 14:—v.1.But when the first man our father Adam heard these things, that Jesus was baptized in Jordan, he called out to his son Seth, and said,v.2.Declare to your sons, the patriarchs and prophets, all those things which thou didst hear from Michael the Archangel, when I sent thee to the gates of Paradise to entreat God that he would anoint my head when I was sick.v.3Then Seth, coming near to the patriarchs and prophets, said: I, Seth, when I was praying to God at the gates of Paradise, beheld the angel of the Lord, Michael, appear unto me, saying, I am sent unto thee from the Lord; I am appointed to preside over human bodies.v.4.I tell thee, Seth, do not pray to God in tears, and entreat him for the oil of the tree of mercy, wherewith to anoint thy father Adam for his headach;v.5.Because thou canst not by any means obtain it till the last day and times, namely, till five thousand and five hundred years be past.v.6.Then will Christ, the most merciful Son of God, come on earth to raise again the human body of Adam, and at the same time to raise the bodies of the dead, and when he cometh he will be baptized in Jordan;v.7.Then with the oil of his mercy he will anoint all those that believe on him; and the oil of his mercy will continue to future generations, for those who shall be born of the water and the Holy Ghost unto eternal life.v.8.And when at that time the most merciful Son of God, Christ Jesus, shall come down on earth, he will introduce our father Adam into Paradise, to the tree of mercy.v.9.When all the patriarchs and prophets heard all these things from Seth, they rejoiced more.[F]Alban Butler, inThe Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints, denies that St. Helena was an Innholder (Stabularia) in Bithynia, when Constantius married her, and says: “We are assured by the unanimous tradition of our English historians that this holy empress was a native of our island. William of Malmesbury, the principal historian of the ancient state of our country after Bede, and before him, the Saxon author of the life of St. Helen, in 970, quoted by Usher, expressly say that Constantine was a Briton by birth.” Leland, in hisCommentarii de Scriptoribus Britannicis, says that St. Helena was the only daughter of King Coilus, the King Cöol who first built walls round Colchester, and the English Church has generally recognised her British origin. Her festival is kept on August 18.When her husband, Constantine Chlorus, entered into an arrangement with Diocletian, by which he had the countries this side the Alps, namely, Gaul and Britain, he was obliged, as part of the bargain, to divorce St. Helena, and marry Theodora, the daughter-in-law of Maximinianus. According to Eusebius, she was not converted to Christianity at the same time as her son Constantine, who, when he came to the throne, paid her the greatest deference, and gave her the title of Augusta, or empress. After the Council of Nice, in 325, he wrote to Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem, concerning the building of a splendid church upon Mount Calvary, and St. Helena, although she was then 79 years of age, undertook to see it carried out.It was then that the reputed Invention of the Cross, together with the nails, took place, and she soon afterwards died, but the exact year is uncertain, some authorities givingA.D.326, others 328.[G]Other accounts say the Crosses were found by Macarius, then Bishop of Jerusalem.[H]The book of the office of Mithras or Mithra, the Sun, worshipped by the Persians.[I]Heraclius, Emperor of the East, who fromA.D.622 to 627 fought Chosroes II., defeated him, and concluded peace.[J]St. Equitius was a hermit, and looked after the welfare of other hermits and monks. He took a special interest in a convent of young virgins; died aboutA.D.540.[K]I quote from the translation by Steven Withers, 1561.[L]From this book I have taken the head and tail piece here given.—J. A.[M]Arundel, No. 507, and Add. MSS. 6524.[N]His life and labours may be read in Mr. Hottrop’sMonuments Typographiques des Pays-bas—.[O]SeeThe Woodcutters of the Netherlands in the 15th Century, by W. M. Conway, and an article by him in theBibliographerof May, 1883, p. 32.1drawing with Dutch text in blackletterAdam sends Seth to Paradise for some of the Oil of Mercy.2drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Archangel Michael gives Seth three seeds of the Tree of Life.3drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSeth buries Adam and puts the three seeds of the Tree of Life under his tongue.4drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe three seeds spring up.5drawing with Dutch text in blackletterMoses always has the three rods with him.6drawing with Dutch text in blackletterWith them he makes water flow from the Rock.7drawing with Dutch text in blackletterAn Angel tells Moses how to sweeten the bitter waters.8drawing with Dutch text in blackletterMoses, by dipping the rods in the waters of Marah, sweetens them.9drawing with Dutch text in blackletterMoses plants the rods in the land of Moab.10drawing with Dutch text in blackletterAn Angel appears to David and tells him to bring the rods to Jerusalem.11drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe rods heal the sick.12drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe rods heal a leper.13drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe rods turn three black men white.14drawing with Dutch text in blackletterDavid leaves the rods for the night.15drawing with Dutch text in blackletterIn the morning he finds the rods have taken root and have become one tree.16drawing with Dutch text in blackletterDavid builds a wall round the miraculous tree.17drawing with Dutch text in blackletterDavid composes the Psalms and praises God, under the shadow of the tree.18drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSolomon orders the tree to be cut down and used in the Temple.19drawing with Dutch text in blackletterArtificers fashion the tree.20drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe holy wood will fit nowhere.21drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Maximilla sitting on the wood, her clothes catch alight.22drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Maximilla prophesies concerning the wood.23drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Maximilla scourged to death.24drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe wood used as a foot-bridge over a brook.25drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Queen of Sheba prefers wading through the brook, to walking over the holy wood.26drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Queen of Sheba tells Solomon of the holy nature of the wood.27drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe holy wood is taken up.28drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe holy wood is carried into the Temple.29drawing with Dutch text in blackletterAbias despoils the holy wood of its precious covering.30drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Jews bury the holy wood.31drawing with Dutch text in blackletterDigging the Pool of Bethesda.32drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe sick being healed at the Pool of Bethesda.33drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe High Priest told of the discovery of the holy wood.34drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe holy wood is made into the Cross.35drawing with Dutch text in blackletterChrist bearing the Cross.36drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Crucifixion.37drawing with Dutch text in blackletterDisciples adore the Cross, the sick are healed, and devils cast out.38drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Jews bury the Crosses.39drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Helena comes to Jerusalem.40drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Helena calls together the Chief Jews.41drawing with Dutch text in blackletterJudas is put into a dry well.42drawing with Dutch text in blackletterJudas is liberated from confinement.43drawing with Dutch text in blackletterJudas prays for Divine direction.44drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Crosses are discovered.45drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Helena views the Crosses.46drawing with Dutch text in blackletterTrial of the true Cross.47drawing with Dutch text in blackletterA dead maiden raised to life by being touched by the true Cross.48drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Helena deposits a portion of the Cross in Jerusalem.49drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Helena gives a portion of the Cross to Constantine.50drawing with Dutch text in blackletterConstantine deposits his portion of the Cross in Byzantium.51drawing with Dutch text in blackletterChosroes commands his people to adore him.52drawing with Dutch text in blackletterMeeting of Heraclius and Chosroes’ son.53drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius fights the son of Chosroes and kills him.54drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Persian army submit to Heraclius.55drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius visits Chosroes.56drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius kills Chosroes.57drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius crowns and baptizes the son of Chosroes.58drawing with Dutch text in blackletterBurial of Chosroes.59drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius takes possession of the relic of the Cross.60drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius, attempting to enter Jerusalem, is miraculously prevented, and is reproved by an angel.61drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius divests himself of state.62drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius places the relic of the Cross in its appointed place.63drawing with Dutch text in blackletterA portion of the Cross is sent to Rome, the vessel bearing it meeting with a storm.64drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe relic of the Cross exposed for adoration.

scrollwork decoration

THE History of the Legend of the Holy Cross which is here reproduced, is somewhat fuller than the Golden Legend of Caxton, there being particulars about Moses, David, and Solomon not to be found therein; but they may be found in other versions of the Legend, some in the Latin of Jacobus de Voragine, others in two MSS. in the British Museum.[M]

The engravings are taken from a very rare book, of which, as far as is known,there are but three copies in existence: one is in the Royal Library at Brussels, another at the Hague, in the collection of Mr. Schinkel, and the third is in the possession of Lord Spencer at Althorp. It is from this book that these fac-similes (made by M. J. Ph. Berjeau) were taken. The book itself has one woodcut on each page, with a verse in Dutch, at the bottom, explanatory of each engraving. It is called indifferentlyHistoria Sanctæ CrucisorBoec van den houte(Book of the wood or tree).

It was printed at Kuilenburg on March 6th, 1483, by John Veldener,[N]who had just removed from Louvain. These sixty-four engravings were originally on thirty-two blocks,[O]and evidently belonged to some much older block book, nowlost. These, Veldener cut in half, as he had already treated aSpeculum, and brought them out as a fresh book.

The Legend as told by these engravings is as follows:—

WoodcutNo. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

No. 4.

No. 5.

No. 6.

Nos. 7,8.

Adam, feeling himself about to die, sent Seth to Paradise to beg for some of the oil of mercy,1which, however, the Archangel Michael refused to give him, but, instead, presented him with three seeds of the tree of life.2On his return, he found Adam dead, and, being unable to administer these seeds to his father in any other manner, he put them under his tongue, and then buried him.3Presently these seeds germinated and shot through the ground, and are traditionally said to have been a cedar, a cypress, and a pine.4They grew until Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt, when he found them in the Valley of Hebron, and he recognized them as typifying the Trinity. He removed them, and they were his constant companions.5With them hesmote the rock, and the waters gushed out,6and the bitter waters of Marah became sweet.7,8

No. 9.

No. 10.

No. 11.

No. 12.

No. 13.

He then planted them in the land of Moab,9and there they remained, until an angelic vision appeared unto David, and commanded him to go, and take them up, and bring them to Jerusalem.10On his return the three rods worked miracles, healing the sick,11and the leprous, with a touch;12nay, more, on being applied to three black men, they instantly became white.13

No. 14.

No. 15.

No. 16.

No. 17.

Arrived at Jerusalem, they wished to plant them, but for the night they left them in a cistern, by the Tower of David,14and lo! during the night, they struck root, and, entwining themselves, became but one stem,15which, when David saw, he had a wall built round it.16And the tree grew for thirty years, David ornamenting it with rings of sapphire and other precious stones, adding one for every year, and under this tree he composedthe Psalms, and praised God exceedingly.17

No. 18.

No. 19.

No. 20.

No. 21.

No. 22.

No. 23.

But Solomon, who must needs have all that was rare and costly to adorn his temple, cast his eyes upon this precious tree, and ordered it to be cut down.18It was duly felled, and squared, and trimmed, and it measured thirty cubits in length.19But when the carpenters came to put it into a place of that length, it was a cubit too short, and when it was fitted into a place of twenty-nine cubits, lo! it measured thirty, and the carpenters marvelled much, and were greatly astonished, and so, being useless, it was laid aside.20Yet the people came to see this wonderful tree, and amongst them was a maid named Maximilla, who sat down upon it, and instantly her clothes were in a blaze.21Then she began to lift up her voice, and prophesy, crying, “My God, and my Lord Jesu Christ.”22Then the Jews took her, and scourged her to death.23

No. 24.

No. 25.

No. 26.

No. 27.

No. 28.

No. 29.

No. 30.

The Jews, not knowing what to do with this miraculous tree, laid it across a brook,24and, when the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon, she recognized the virtue of the wood; and, refusing to defile it with her feet, she dismounted, and adored it, and waded through the brook.25Then, when she met Solomon, she reproved him, and told him that on that tree would the Saviour of the world suffer death.26And Solomon commanded the holy wood to be taken up,27and caused it to be carried into the Temple, there to be placed over the door, so that all men might bless, and adore it, and he coated it over with gold and silver.28There it remained until Abias stripped it of its costly coverings,29and the Jews buried it deep in the earth.30

No. 31.

No. 32.

There it remained for many years, until the Jews wished to make a pool, where the priests might wash the beasts, to purify them, previous to sacrificing them, and, unknowingly, they dug overthe burial-place of the Holy Cross.31This imparted such a virtue to the water of that pool, which was called Bethesda, that the sick were healed thereat, and an angel at times descended from heaven, and stirred the waters, and then whoever could get first into the waters was straightway healed of any infirmity he might have.32

No. 33.

No. 34.

No. 35.

No. 36.

We now come to the Crucifixion, and there was a lack of wood to make Christ’s cross—when, suddenly, from the depths of Bethesda, leaped up the tree of the Cross, and floated gently to land. One ran to the High Priest,33and told him of the timely find of suitable wood, and he at once gave orders for it to be fashioned into a Cross.34Then comes the mournful procession to Calvary, with our Saviour fainting under the weight of the Cross, and Simon the Cyrenean is pressed into the service to help Jesus.35And then the Crucifixion.36

No. 37.

No. 38.

No. 39.

No. 40.

No. 41.

No. 42.

No. 43.

No. 44.

And whilst the crosses were still standing,the disciples came to them and prayed, and many were healed of their infirmities, and many devils were cast out.37This so angered the Jews that they took the crosses down, and buried them,38and there they remained until their invention by St. Helena,A.D.326. On her arrival at Jerusalem,39she convened a meeting of the principal Jews, and they denied all knowledge of it, but, on threat of being burnt, they said that one of their number, named Judas, knew where the crosses were buried.40Judas, however, refused to tell, and, to compel him to impart his knowledge, St. Helena had him lowered into a dry well, “and there tormented hym by hongre and evyl reste.”41Seven days of this treatment made him submissive, and at the end of that time he capitulated. He was then drawn up,42and prayed to God to direct him to the right spot.43His prayer was heard, and after some digging, the crosses were discovered.44

No. 45.

No. 46.

No. 47.

No. 48.

No. 49.

No. 50.

The news was brought to St. Helena, who visited the spot,45but although there were certainly three crosses, no one knew which was the one upon which Jesus suffered. A test, however, was applied, which proved to be satisfactory. The body of a maid was being borne on a bier for burial, but the funeral procession was stopped, and the body was touched by the different crosses. The two first produced no effect,46but when the third touched the dead maiden, she was at once restored to life.47Here, then, was proof positive; this was the very Cross; and St. Helena, mindful of her son Constantine, divided the sacred wood; part she enclosed in a case of precious metal, and kept at Jerusalem;48and part she sent to her son, at Byzantium, who received it with due reverence,49and deposited it in the church, with great ceremony.50

No. 51.

Here it remained, until it was taken away, with other spoil, by Chosroes, theKing of Persia, who, aware of the sanctity of the relic, had it placed on the right hand of his throne. He was so puffed up with pride, that he ordered himself to be adored. His people, hitherto, had worshipped the sun, but now he ordained that henceforth he was to be considered the principal Person in the Trinity (the Father), and that the relic of the Cross was to be looked upon as the Son, whilst a golden cock which he had made was to represent the Holy Ghost.51

No. 52.

No. 53.

No. 54.

Then Heraclius made war against Chosroes, and meeting with a Persian army under one of the sons of that monarch, it was agreed that, in order to prevent a useless effusion of blood, the two commanders should fight it out between them, and whoever was vanquished should submit.52The duel was fought on a bridge over the Danube, and Heraclius vanquished and killed the son of Chosroes.53The Persian army then made their submission,54and the penanceimposed upon them by the conqueror was that they should all be baptized, which was duly done.

No. 55.

No. 56.

No. 57.

No. 58.

No. 59.

No. 60.

No. 61.

No. 62.

Heraclius then went to Chosroes, and told him what he had done, offering him his life if he too would embrace Christianity,55but the Persian monarch refused, and Heraclius smote off his head.56He then crowned a son of Chosroes, and caused him to be baptized,57himself standing sponsor, and buried the slain king with befitting honours.58Then, taking possession of the holy relic,59he set out with it for Jerusalem. But, as he was bearing it in great state, he came to that gate of the City through which Jesus went to His passion, worn, buffeted, scorned, and weary, carrying the heavy burden of His cross. And suddenly the gateway became solid masonry, so that he could not pass through, and an angel appeared in the heavens, and reproved him for his ostentatious display in a place which his Saviour had previously troddenin such deep humility.60Heraclius dismounted from his horse, and, stripping himself of all the trappings of royalty, barefoot, and in his shirt,61he meekly bore the Cross to its appointed place,62the masonry disappearing as soon as he had humbled himself.

No. 63.

No. 64.

A piece of the Cross was afterwards sent to Rome, where it duly arrived after a very stormy voyage,63and it was there preserved for the adoration of the faithful.64

JOHN ASHTON.

decoration with crowned cross as center

FOOTNOTES:[A]“And for as moche as this sayd worke was grete & over chargeable to me taccomplisshe, I feryd me in the begynnynge of the translacion to have contynued it / bycause of the longe tyme of the translacion / & also in thenpryntyng of yesame and in maner halfe desperate to have accomplissd it / was in purpose to have lefte it / after that I had begonne to translate it / & to have layed it aparte ne had it be(en) at thynstance & requeste of the puyssant noble & vertuous erle my lord wyllyam erle of arondel / whych desyred me to procede & contynue the said werke / & promysed me to take a resonable quantyte of them when they were acheyeued & accomplisshed / and sente to me a worshypful gentylman a servaunt of his named John Stanney which solycyted me in my Lordes name that I shold in no wyse leve it but accomplisshe it promysyng that my sayd lord shold duringe my lyf geve & graunt to me a yerely fee / that is to wete a bucke in sommer / & a doo in Wynter / with whiche fee I holde me wel contente,” &c.Length of Adam’s life.[B]This apparently long life of Adam is admitted on all hands, even in the Revised Version of the Bible. The Talmud says that God promised him one thousand years of life, and it is recorded that he begat Seth when he was a hundred and thirty years old. On this the Talmud (Eruvin, fol. 18, col. 2) has the following comment: “Rav Yirmyah ben Elazer said: All those years, which Adam spent in alienation from God, he begat evil spirits, demons, and fairies; for it is said, ‘And Adam was an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image’; consequently, before that time, he begat after another image.”This term of one hundred and thirty years seems to have been a period in Adam’s existence, for we again find (Eruvin, fol. 18 b.): “Adam was a Chasid, or great saint, when he observed that the decree of death was occasioned by him; hefasteda hundred and thirty years, and all this time he abstained from intercourse with his wife.”Talmud legends respecting Adam’s length of life.There is a Talmudical tradition that God showed the future to Adam (Avoth d’Rab. Nathan, chap. 31): “The Holy One—blessed be He!—shewed unto Adam each generation, and its preachers, its guardians, its leaders, its prophets, its heroes, its sinners, and its saints, saying, ‘In such and such a generation such and such aKingshall reign, in such and such a generation such and such a wife man shall teach.’” This is amplified in Midrash Yalkut (fol. 12), where it is said that God showed Adam all future generations of men, with their leaders, learned and literary men, and there he observed that David was credited with only three hours of life, and he said, “Lord and Creator of the world, is this unalterable?” “Such was my first intention,” was the reply. “How many years have I to live?” asked Adam. “One thousand.” Then Adam said, “I will lend him some of my years.” And a document was drawn up whereby Adam transferred seventy years of his life to David.S. Baring-Gould, in his legends ofOld Testament Characters, vol i. p. 77, referring to a Mussulman legend, says: “Finally, when Adam reached his nine hundred and thirtieth year, the Angel of Death appeared under the form of a goat, and ran between his legs.“Adam recoiled with horror, and exclaimed, ‘God has given me one thousand years; wherefore comest thou now?’“‘What!’ exclaimed the Angel of Death, ‘hast thou not given seventy years of thy life to the prophet David?’“Adam stoutly denied that he had done so. Then the Angel of Death drew the document of transfer from out of his beard, and presented it to Adam, who could no longer refuse to go.”[C]The Festival of the Invention, or finding of the Cross, is kept in the Roman and English Churches on May 3.[D]Piscina, a fish-pond:Lat. In this instance it is supposed to be the Pool of Bethesda.[E]Nicodemus, chap. 14:—v.1.But when the first man our father Adam heard these things, that Jesus was baptized in Jordan, he called out to his son Seth, and said,v.2.Declare to your sons, the patriarchs and prophets, all those things which thou didst hear from Michael the Archangel, when I sent thee to the gates of Paradise to entreat God that he would anoint my head when I was sick.v.3Then Seth, coming near to the patriarchs and prophets, said: I, Seth, when I was praying to God at the gates of Paradise, beheld the angel of the Lord, Michael, appear unto me, saying, I am sent unto thee from the Lord; I am appointed to preside over human bodies.v.4.I tell thee, Seth, do not pray to God in tears, and entreat him for the oil of the tree of mercy, wherewith to anoint thy father Adam for his headach;v.5.Because thou canst not by any means obtain it till the last day and times, namely, till five thousand and five hundred years be past.v.6.Then will Christ, the most merciful Son of God, come on earth to raise again the human body of Adam, and at the same time to raise the bodies of the dead, and when he cometh he will be baptized in Jordan;v.7.Then with the oil of his mercy he will anoint all those that believe on him; and the oil of his mercy will continue to future generations, for those who shall be born of the water and the Holy Ghost unto eternal life.v.8.And when at that time the most merciful Son of God, Christ Jesus, shall come down on earth, he will introduce our father Adam into Paradise, to the tree of mercy.v.9.When all the patriarchs and prophets heard all these things from Seth, they rejoiced more.[F]Alban Butler, inThe Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints, denies that St. Helena was an Innholder (Stabularia) in Bithynia, when Constantius married her, and says: “We are assured by the unanimous tradition of our English historians that this holy empress was a native of our island. William of Malmesbury, the principal historian of the ancient state of our country after Bede, and before him, the Saxon author of the life of St. Helen, in 970, quoted by Usher, expressly say that Constantine was a Briton by birth.” Leland, in hisCommentarii de Scriptoribus Britannicis, says that St. Helena was the only daughter of King Coilus, the King Cöol who first built walls round Colchester, and the English Church has generally recognised her British origin. Her festival is kept on August 18.When her husband, Constantine Chlorus, entered into an arrangement with Diocletian, by which he had the countries this side the Alps, namely, Gaul and Britain, he was obliged, as part of the bargain, to divorce St. Helena, and marry Theodora, the daughter-in-law of Maximinianus. According to Eusebius, she was not converted to Christianity at the same time as her son Constantine, who, when he came to the throne, paid her the greatest deference, and gave her the title of Augusta, or empress. After the Council of Nice, in 325, he wrote to Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem, concerning the building of a splendid church upon Mount Calvary, and St. Helena, although she was then 79 years of age, undertook to see it carried out.It was then that the reputed Invention of the Cross, together with the nails, took place, and she soon afterwards died, but the exact year is uncertain, some authorities givingA.D.326, others 328.[G]Other accounts say the Crosses were found by Macarius, then Bishop of Jerusalem.[H]The book of the office of Mithras or Mithra, the Sun, worshipped by the Persians.[I]Heraclius, Emperor of the East, who fromA.D.622 to 627 fought Chosroes II., defeated him, and concluded peace.[J]St. Equitius was a hermit, and looked after the welfare of other hermits and monks. He took a special interest in a convent of young virgins; died aboutA.D.540.[K]I quote from the translation by Steven Withers, 1561.[L]From this book I have taken the head and tail piece here given.—J. A.[M]Arundel, No. 507, and Add. MSS. 6524.[N]His life and labours may be read in Mr. Hottrop’sMonuments Typographiques des Pays-bas—.[O]SeeThe Woodcutters of the Netherlands in the 15th Century, by W. M. Conway, and an article by him in theBibliographerof May, 1883, p. 32.

[A]“And for as moche as this sayd worke was grete & over chargeable to me taccomplisshe, I feryd me in the begynnynge of the translacion to have contynued it / bycause of the longe tyme of the translacion / & also in thenpryntyng of yesame and in maner halfe desperate to have accomplissd it / was in purpose to have lefte it / after that I had begonne to translate it / & to have layed it aparte ne had it be(en) at thynstance & requeste of the puyssant noble & vertuous erle my lord wyllyam erle of arondel / whych desyred me to procede & contynue the said werke / & promysed me to take a resonable quantyte of them when they were acheyeued & accomplisshed / and sente to me a worshypful gentylman a servaunt of his named John Stanney which solycyted me in my Lordes name that I shold in no wyse leve it but accomplisshe it promysyng that my sayd lord shold duringe my lyf geve & graunt to me a yerely fee / that is to wete a bucke in sommer / & a doo in Wynter / with whiche fee I holde me wel contente,” &c.

Length of Adam’s life.[B]This apparently long life of Adam is admitted on all hands, even in the Revised Version of the Bible. The Talmud says that God promised him one thousand years of life, and it is recorded that he begat Seth when he was a hundred and thirty years old. On this the Talmud (Eruvin, fol. 18, col. 2) has the following comment: “Rav Yirmyah ben Elazer said: All those years, which Adam spent in alienation from God, he begat evil spirits, demons, and fairies; for it is said, ‘And Adam was an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image’; consequently, before that time, he begat after another image.”This term of one hundred and thirty years seems to have been a period in Adam’s existence, for we again find (Eruvin, fol. 18 b.): “Adam was a Chasid, or great saint, when he observed that the decree of death was occasioned by him; hefasteda hundred and thirty years, and all this time he abstained from intercourse with his wife.”Talmud legends respecting Adam’s length of life.There is a Talmudical tradition that God showed the future to Adam (Avoth d’Rab. Nathan, chap. 31): “The Holy One—blessed be He!—shewed unto Adam each generation, and its preachers, its guardians, its leaders, its prophets, its heroes, its sinners, and its saints, saying, ‘In such and such a generation such and such aKingshall reign, in such and such a generation such and such a wife man shall teach.’” This is amplified in Midrash Yalkut (fol. 12), where it is said that God showed Adam all future generations of men, with their leaders, learned and literary men, and there he observed that David was credited with only three hours of life, and he said, “Lord and Creator of the world, is this unalterable?” “Such was my first intention,” was the reply. “How many years have I to live?” asked Adam. “One thousand.” Then Adam said, “I will lend him some of my years.” And a document was drawn up whereby Adam transferred seventy years of his life to David.S. Baring-Gould, in his legends ofOld Testament Characters, vol i. p. 77, referring to a Mussulman legend, says: “Finally, when Adam reached his nine hundred and thirtieth year, the Angel of Death appeared under the form of a goat, and ran between his legs.“Adam recoiled with horror, and exclaimed, ‘God has given me one thousand years; wherefore comest thou now?’“‘What!’ exclaimed the Angel of Death, ‘hast thou not given seventy years of thy life to the prophet David?’“Adam stoutly denied that he had done so. Then the Angel of Death drew the document of transfer from out of his beard, and presented it to Adam, who could no longer refuse to go.”

Length of Adam’s life.

[B]This apparently long life of Adam is admitted on all hands, even in the Revised Version of the Bible. The Talmud says that God promised him one thousand years of life, and it is recorded that he begat Seth when he was a hundred and thirty years old. On this the Talmud (Eruvin, fol. 18, col. 2) has the following comment: “Rav Yirmyah ben Elazer said: All those years, which Adam spent in alienation from God, he begat evil spirits, demons, and fairies; for it is said, ‘And Adam was an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image’; consequently, before that time, he begat after another image.”

This term of one hundred and thirty years seems to have been a period in Adam’s existence, for we again find (Eruvin, fol. 18 b.): “Adam was a Chasid, or great saint, when he observed that the decree of death was occasioned by him; hefasteda hundred and thirty years, and all this time he abstained from intercourse with his wife.”

Talmud legends respecting Adam’s length of life.

There is a Talmudical tradition that God showed the future to Adam (Avoth d’Rab. Nathan, chap. 31): “The Holy One—blessed be He!—shewed unto Adam each generation, and its preachers, its guardians, its leaders, its prophets, its heroes, its sinners, and its saints, saying, ‘In such and such a generation such and such aKingshall reign, in such and such a generation such and such a wife man shall teach.’” This is amplified in Midrash Yalkut (fol. 12), where it is said that God showed Adam all future generations of men, with their leaders, learned and literary men, and there he observed that David was credited with only three hours of life, and he said, “Lord and Creator of the world, is this unalterable?” “Such was my first intention,” was the reply. “How many years have I to live?” asked Adam. “One thousand.” Then Adam said, “I will lend him some of my years.” And a document was drawn up whereby Adam transferred seventy years of his life to David.

S. Baring-Gould, in his legends ofOld Testament Characters, vol i. p. 77, referring to a Mussulman legend, says: “Finally, when Adam reached his nine hundred and thirtieth year, the Angel of Death appeared under the form of a goat, and ran between his legs.

“Adam recoiled with horror, and exclaimed, ‘God has given me one thousand years; wherefore comest thou now?’

“‘What!’ exclaimed the Angel of Death, ‘hast thou not given seventy years of thy life to the prophet David?’

“Adam stoutly denied that he had done so. Then the Angel of Death drew the document of transfer from out of his beard, and presented it to Adam, who could no longer refuse to go.”

[C]The Festival of the Invention, or finding of the Cross, is kept in the Roman and English Churches on May 3.

[D]Piscina, a fish-pond:Lat. In this instance it is supposed to be the Pool of Bethesda.

[E]Nicodemus, chap. 14:—v.1.But when the first man our father Adam heard these things, that Jesus was baptized in Jordan, he called out to his son Seth, and said,v.2.Declare to your sons, the patriarchs and prophets, all those things which thou didst hear from Michael the Archangel, when I sent thee to the gates of Paradise to entreat God that he would anoint my head when I was sick.v.3Then Seth, coming near to the patriarchs and prophets, said: I, Seth, when I was praying to God at the gates of Paradise, beheld the angel of the Lord, Michael, appear unto me, saying, I am sent unto thee from the Lord; I am appointed to preside over human bodies.v.4.I tell thee, Seth, do not pray to God in tears, and entreat him for the oil of the tree of mercy, wherewith to anoint thy father Adam for his headach;v.5.Because thou canst not by any means obtain it till the last day and times, namely, till five thousand and five hundred years be past.v.6.Then will Christ, the most merciful Son of God, come on earth to raise again the human body of Adam, and at the same time to raise the bodies of the dead, and when he cometh he will be baptized in Jordan;v.7.Then with the oil of his mercy he will anoint all those that believe on him; and the oil of his mercy will continue to future generations, for those who shall be born of the water and the Holy Ghost unto eternal life.v.8.And when at that time the most merciful Son of God, Christ Jesus, shall come down on earth, he will introduce our father Adam into Paradise, to the tree of mercy.v.9.When all the patriarchs and prophets heard all these things from Seth, they rejoiced more.

[E]Nicodemus, chap. 14:—

v.1.

But when the first man our father Adam heard these things, that Jesus was baptized in Jordan, he called out to his son Seth, and said,

v.2.

Declare to your sons, the patriarchs and prophets, all those things which thou didst hear from Michael the Archangel, when I sent thee to the gates of Paradise to entreat God that he would anoint my head when I was sick.

v.3

Then Seth, coming near to the patriarchs and prophets, said: I, Seth, when I was praying to God at the gates of Paradise, beheld the angel of the Lord, Michael, appear unto me, saying, I am sent unto thee from the Lord; I am appointed to preside over human bodies.

v.4.

I tell thee, Seth, do not pray to God in tears, and entreat him for the oil of the tree of mercy, wherewith to anoint thy father Adam for his headach;

v.5.

Because thou canst not by any means obtain it till the last day and times, namely, till five thousand and five hundred years be past.

v.6.

Then will Christ, the most merciful Son of God, come on earth to raise again the human body of Adam, and at the same time to raise the bodies of the dead, and when he cometh he will be baptized in Jordan;

v.7.

Then with the oil of his mercy he will anoint all those that believe on him; and the oil of his mercy will continue to future generations, for those who shall be born of the water and the Holy Ghost unto eternal life.

v.8.

And when at that time the most merciful Son of God, Christ Jesus, shall come down on earth, he will introduce our father Adam into Paradise, to the tree of mercy.

v.9.

When all the patriarchs and prophets heard all these things from Seth, they rejoiced more.

[F]Alban Butler, inThe Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints, denies that St. Helena was an Innholder (Stabularia) in Bithynia, when Constantius married her, and says: “We are assured by the unanimous tradition of our English historians that this holy empress was a native of our island. William of Malmesbury, the principal historian of the ancient state of our country after Bede, and before him, the Saxon author of the life of St. Helen, in 970, quoted by Usher, expressly say that Constantine was a Briton by birth.” Leland, in hisCommentarii de Scriptoribus Britannicis, says that St. Helena was the only daughter of King Coilus, the King Cöol who first built walls round Colchester, and the English Church has generally recognised her British origin. Her festival is kept on August 18.When her husband, Constantine Chlorus, entered into an arrangement with Diocletian, by which he had the countries this side the Alps, namely, Gaul and Britain, he was obliged, as part of the bargain, to divorce St. Helena, and marry Theodora, the daughter-in-law of Maximinianus. According to Eusebius, she was not converted to Christianity at the same time as her son Constantine, who, when he came to the throne, paid her the greatest deference, and gave her the title of Augusta, or empress. After the Council of Nice, in 325, he wrote to Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem, concerning the building of a splendid church upon Mount Calvary, and St. Helena, although she was then 79 years of age, undertook to see it carried out.It was then that the reputed Invention of the Cross, together with the nails, took place, and she soon afterwards died, but the exact year is uncertain, some authorities givingA.D.326, others 328.

When her husband, Constantine Chlorus, entered into an arrangement with Diocletian, by which he had the countries this side the Alps, namely, Gaul and Britain, he was obliged, as part of the bargain, to divorce St. Helena, and marry Theodora, the daughter-in-law of Maximinianus. According to Eusebius, she was not converted to Christianity at the same time as her son Constantine, who, when he came to the throne, paid her the greatest deference, and gave her the title of Augusta, or empress. After the Council of Nice, in 325, he wrote to Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem, concerning the building of a splendid church upon Mount Calvary, and St. Helena, although she was then 79 years of age, undertook to see it carried out.

It was then that the reputed Invention of the Cross, together with the nails, took place, and she soon afterwards died, but the exact year is uncertain, some authorities givingA.D.326, others 328.

[G]Other accounts say the Crosses were found by Macarius, then Bishop of Jerusalem.

[H]The book of the office of Mithras or Mithra, the Sun, worshipped by the Persians.

[I]Heraclius, Emperor of the East, who fromA.D.622 to 627 fought Chosroes II., defeated him, and concluded peace.

[J]St. Equitius was a hermit, and looked after the welfare of other hermits and monks. He took a special interest in a convent of young virgins; died aboutA.D.540.

[K]I quote from the translation by Steven Withers, 1561.

[L]From this book I have taken the head and tail piece here given.—J. A.

[M]Arundel, No. 507, and Add. MSS. 6524.

[N]His life and labours may be read in Mr. Hottrop’sMonuments Typographiques des Pays-bas—.

[O]SeeThe Woodcutters of the Netherlands in the 15th Century, by W. M. Conway, and an article by him in theBibliographerof May, 1883, p. 32.

1drawing with Dutch text in blackletterAdam sends Seth to Paradise for some of the Oil of Mercy.

Adam sends Seth to Paradise for some of the Oil of Mercy.

2drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Archangel Michael gives Seth three seeds of the Tree of Life.

The Archangel Michael gives Seth three seeds of the Tree of Life.

3drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSeth buries Adam and puts the three seeds of the Tree of Life under his tongue.

Seth buries Adam and puts the three seeds of the Tree of Life under his tongue.

4drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe three seeds spring up.

The three seeds spring up.

5drawing with Dutch text in blackletterMoses always has the three rods with him.

Moses always has the three rods with him.

6drawing with Dutch text in blackletterWith them he makes water flow from the Rock.

With them he makes water flow from the Rock.

7drawing with Dutch text in blackletterAn Angel tells Moses how to sweeten the bitter waters.

An Angel tells Moses how to sweeten the bitter waters.

8drawing with Dutch text in blackletterMoses, by dipping the rods in the waters of Marah, sweetens them.

Moses, by dipping the rods in the waters of Marah, sweetens them.

9drawing with Dutch text in blackletterMoses plants the rods in the land of Moab.

Moses plants the rods in the land of Moab.

10drawing with Dutch text in blackletterAn Angel appears to David and tells him to bring the rods to Jerusalem.

An Angel appears to David and tells him to bring the rods to Jerusalem.

11drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe rods heal the sick.

The rods heal the sick.

12drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe rods heal a leper.

The rods heal a leper.

13drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe rods turn three black men white.

The rods turn three black men white.

14drawing with Dutch text in blackletterDavid leaves the rods for the night.

David leaves the rods for the night.

15drawing with Dutch text in blackletterIn the morning he finds the rods have taken root and have become one tree.

In the morning he finds the rods have taken root and have become one tree.

16drawing with Dutch text in blackletterDavid builds a wall round the miraculous tree.

David builds a wall round the miraculous tree.

17drawing with Dutch text in blackletterDavid composes the Psalms and praises God, under the shadow of the tree.

David composes the Psalms and praises God, under the shadow of the tree.

18drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSolomon orders the tree to be cut down and used in the Temple.

Solomon orders the tree to be cut down and used in the Temple.

19drawing with Dutch text in blackletterArtificers fashion the tree.

Artificers fashion the tree.

20drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe holy wood will fit nowhere.

The holy wood will fit nowhere.

21drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Maximilla sitting on the wood, her clothes catch alight.

St. Maximilla sitting on the wood, her clothes catch alight.

22drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Maximilla prophesies concerning the wood.

St. Maximilla prophesies concerning the wood.

23drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Maximilla scourged to death.

St. Maximilla scourged to death.

24drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe wood used as a foot-bridge over a brook.

The wood used as a foot-bridge over a brook.

25drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Queen of Sheba prefers wading through the brook, to walking over the holy wood.

The Queen of Sheba prefers wading through the brook, to walking over the holy wood.

26drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Queen of Sheba tells Solomon of the holy nature of the wood.

The Queen of Sheba tells Solomon of the holy nature of the wood.

27drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe holy wood is taken up.

The holy wood is taken up.

28drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe holy wood is carried into the Temple.

The holy wood is carried into the Temple.

29drawing with Dutch text in blackletterAbias despoils the holy wood of its precious covering.

Abias despoils the holy wood of its precious covering.

30drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Jews bury the holy wood.

The Jews bury the holy wood.

31drawing with Dutch text in blackletterDigging the Pool of Bethesda.

Digging the Pool of Bethesda.

32drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe sick being healed at the Pool of Bethesda.

The sick being healed at the Pool of Bethesda.

33drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe High Priest told of the discovery of the holy wood.

The High Priest told of the discovery of the holy wood.

34drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe holy wood is made into the Cross.

The holy wood is made into the Cross.

35drawing with Dutch text in blackletterChrist bearing the Cross.

Christ bearing the Cross.

36drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Crucifixion.

The Crucifixion.

37drawing with Dutch text in blackletterDisciples adore the Cross, the sick are healed, and devils cast out.

Disciples adore the Cross, the sick are healed, and devils cast out.

38drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Jews bury the Crosses.

The Jews bury the Crosses.

39drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Helena comes to Jerusalem.

St. Helena comes to Jerusalem.

40drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Helena calls together the Chief Jews.

St. Helena calls together the Chief Jews.

41drawing with Dutch text in blackletterJudas is put into a dry well.

Judas is put into a dry well.

42drawing with Dutch text in blackletterJudas is liberated from confinement.

Judas is liberated from confinement.

43drawing with Dutch text in blackletterJudas prays for Divine direction.

Judas prays for Divine direction.

44drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Crosses are discovered.

The Crosses are discovered.

45drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Helena views the Crosses.

St. Helena views the Crosses.

46drawing with Dutch text in blackletterTrial of the true Cross.

Trial of the true Cross.

47drawing with Dutch text in blackletterA dead maiden raised to life by being touched by the true Cross.

A dead maiden raised to life by being touched by the true Cross.

48drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Helena deposits a portion of the Cross in Jerusalem.

St. Helena deposits a portion of the Cross in Jerusalem.

49drawing with Dutch text in blackletterSt. Helena gives a portion of the Cross to Constantine.

St. Helena gives a portion of the Cross to Constantine.

50drawing with Dutch text in blackletterConstantine deposits his portion of the Cross in Byzantium.

Constantine deposits his portion of the Cross in Byzantium.

51drawing with Dutch text in blackletterChosroes commands his people to adore him.

Chosroes commands his people to adore him.

52drawing with Dutch text in blackletterMeeting of Heraclius and Chosroes’ son.

Meeting of Heraclius and Chosroes’ son.

53drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius fights the son of Chosroes and kills him.

Heraclius fights the son of Chosroes and kills him.

54drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe Persian army submit to Heraclius.

The Persian army submit to Heraclius.

55drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius visits Chosroes.

Heraclius visits Chosroes.

56drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius kills Chosroes.

Heraclius kills Chosroes.

57drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius crowns and baptizes the son of Chosroes.

Heraclius crowns and baptizes the son of Chosroes.

58drawing with Dutch text in blackletterBurial of Chosroes.

Burial of Chosroes.

59drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius takes possession of the relic of the Cross.

Heraclius takes possession of the relic of the Cross.

60drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius, attempting to enter Jerusalem, is miraculously prevented, and is reproved by an angel.

Heraclius, attempting to enter Jerusalem, is miraculously prevented, and is reproved by an angel.

61drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius divests himself of state.

Heraclius divests himself of state.

62drawing with Dutch text in blackletterHeraclius places the relic of the Cross in its appointed place.

Heraclius places the relic of the Cross in its appointed place.

63drawing with Dutch text in blackletterA portion of the Cross is sent to Rome, the vessel bearing it meeting with a storm.

A portion of the Cross is sent to Rome, the vessel bearing it meeting with a storm.

64drawing with Dutch text in blackletterThe relic of the Cross exposed for adoration.

The relic of the Cross exposed for adoration.

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