Plates =G= and =H= repreſent the ſtory told in the Golden Legend, of Heraclius bearing the Croſs into Jeruſalem, how the gate miraculouſly cloſed, and an angel appeared in the heavens and reproved Heraclius for riding in ſtate on the very ſpot where Jeſus had gone in all meekneſs, and lowlineſs, to His paſſion. The legend is eraſed in parts, the unmutilated portion reading, “AS THE NOBUL KYNGE ERACLYUS COM RYDYNG TOWARDE Y^E CYTTE OF IERUSALEM BERYNG Y^E CROSSE SO GRETE PRYDE ... WHERE Y^E....” Naturally, the poſſesſion of a piece of the true Croſs would be eſteemed as a moſt precious property. No matter how ſmall, it would be reverentially encloſed in cryſtal and gold, and was more than a preſent fit for an emperor or king, and we cannot marvel that ſmall pieces were diſtributed all over Chriſtendom. Poſſibly ſome of the relics ſhown as pieces of the very Croſs might not have been what they were ſuppoſed to be, but it is hard to believe what John Calvin[K] wrote about it:— “And fyrſt of all let us begynne to ſpeake of his croſſe, whereupon he was hanged. I know that it is holden for a certaintie that it was founde of Heline the mother of Conſtantine the Romaine Emperour. I knowe alſo what certaine Doctours have written touching the approbation hereof, for to certifie that the croſſe which ſhe found was without doute the ſelfe ſame on the whiche Ieſus Chriſt was hanged. Touchynge all this I reporte me to the thynge it ſelfe, ſo much is there that it was but a foliſh curioſitie of her, or at the leaſt a foliſhe and unconſidered devotion. But yet put the caſe it had ben a worke worthy of prayſe to her, for to have taken paynes to fynde the trewe croſſe, and that our lord had then declared by myracle that it was his croſſe which ſhe found; Yet let us onely conſider that which is of our time. Every one doeth holde that this croſſe which Helene founde is yet at Ieruſalem, and none doeth doute thereof. Although the Eccleſiaſticall hiſtory againſt ſayeth the ſame notablye. For it is ther recited that Helene toke one part thereof to ſend to the Emperour her ſonne, who put the ſame at Conſtantinople upon a fyne pyller of Marble in the myddeſt of the market. Of the other part, it is ſayde that ſhe did locke the ſame in a copher of ſilver, and gave it to the Biſhop of Ieruſalem to kepe. So then eyther we ſhall augment the hiſtorie of a lie or els that which is holden at this daye of the true Croſſe, is but a vayne and triflyng opinion. [Sidenote: 51 _Blocks—billets_]