This fabulous chronicle seems to be the oldest written source of this story, but some such tradition had probably long been current. The ark was shown at Alcantara, in the convent of St. Benito, and a description of it, with reasons why its authenticity should be admitted, may be found in _Francisco de Pisa’s Description de Toledo_, l. iii. c. i. * * * * * _And in thy name, Accept the Crown of Thorns she proffers me._—VII. p. 72. Godfrey was actually crowned with thorns in Jerusalem,—a circumstance which has given rise to a curious question in heraldry,—thus curiously stated and commented by Robert Barret, in that part of his long poem which relates to this Prince:— [Sidenote: To free man from Hell.] A Prince religious, if ever any, Considering the age wherein he lived, Vice-hater great, endued with virtues many, True humilized, void of mundane pride; For though he now created were great king, Yet would he not as royal pomp requires, Encrowned be with crownet glistering Of gold and gems to mundains vain desires; But with a pricking, pricking crown of thorn, Bearing thereto a Christian reverence, Sith Heaven’s King, man’s-Redeemer, did not scorn To wear such crown within that city’s fence, When as, cross-loden, humblely he went, All cowring under burden of that wood, To pay the pain of man’s due punishment, And free from Pluto’s bands Prometheus brood. [Sidenote: The foolishness of Heralds.] By reas’n of Godfrey’s great humility Refusing golden-crownets dignity, Some blundering in world-witted heraldry, Not knowing how t’ distinguish vertues trye, Do question make this Christian king to set In catalogue of gold-diademed kings; Regarding glitter of the external jet, And not true garnish of th’ internal things; Th’ internal virtues, soul’s sweet ornaments, So pleasing to th’ Eternal’s sacred eyes, In angels chore consorting sweet concents Of heavenly harmony ’bove christal skies. But we, _è contra_, him not only deem A Christian king, but perfect Christian king, A christal fanal, lamping light divine To after-comer kings, world emp’rizing. For he, religious prince, did not despise The Heaven-sent gift to be anointed king, But disesteem’d the mundane pompous guise Tickling the hearts of princes monarching. [Sidenote: Annotacion.] Potentates regard this heaven-aspiring Prince, Not priding, as up proves his dignity; High throned kings aspect the starred fence Of this true map of true kings royalty; Not Nembrothizing in cloud-kissing towers, Not Semiramizing in prides palaces, Not Neronizing in all sanguine hours, Not Heliogabalizing in lusts lees; But Joshuadizing in his Christian camp, And Judithizing in his Salem’s seat, And Davidizing in his Sion’s stamp, And Solomonizing in all sacred heat. * * * * *