[Sidenote: _Woodcut No. 33._] [Sidenote: _No. 34._] [Sidenote: _No. 35._] [Sidenote: _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,[33] and told him of the timely find of ſuitable wood, and he at once gave orders for it to be faſhioned into a Croſs.[34] Then 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.[35] And then the Crucifixion.[36] [Sidenote: _Woodcut No. 37._] [Sidenote: _No. 38._] [Sidenote: _No. 39._] [Sidenote: _No. 40._] [Sidenote: _No. 41._] [Sidenote: _No. 42._] [Sidenote: _No. 43._] [Sidenote: _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.[37] This ſo angered the Jews that they took the croſſes down, and buried them,[38] and there they remained until their invention by St. Helena, A.D. 326. On her arrival at Jeruſalem,[39] ſhe 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.[40] Judas, 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.”[41] Seven days of this treatment made him ſubmiſſive, and at the end of that time he capitulated. He was then drawn up,[42] and prayed to God to direct him to the right ſpot.[43] His prayer was heard, and after ſome digging, the croſſes were diſcovered.[44] [Sidenote: _Woodcut No. 45._] [Sidenote: _No. 46._] [Sidenote: _No. 47._] [Sidenote: _No. 48._] [Sidenote: _No. 49._] [Sidenote: _No. 50._] The news was brought to St. Helena, who viſited the ſpot,[45] but 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,[46] but when the third touched the dead maiden, ſhe was at once reſtored to life.[47] Here, 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;[48] and part ſhe ſent to her ſon, at Byzantium, who received it with due reverence,[49] and depoſited it in the church, with great ceremony.[50] [Sidenote: _Woodcut No. 51._]