Notes on the Woodcuts.
Reading edition
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 indifferently Historia Sanctæ Crucis or Boec 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, now lost. These, Veldener cut in half, as he had already treated a Speculum, and brought them out as a fresh book.
The Legend as told by these engravings is as follows:—
Woodcut No. 1.
No. 2.
No. 3.
No. 4.
No. 5.
No. 6.
Nos. 7, 8.
No. 9.
No. 10.
No. 11.
No. 12.
No. 13.
No. 14.
No. 15.
No. 16.
No. 17.
No. 18.
No. 19.
No. 20.
No. 21.
No. 22.
No. 23.
No. 24.
No. 25.
No. 26.
No. 27.
No. 28.
No. 29.
No. 30.
No. 31.
No. 32.
No. 33.
No. 34.
No. 35.
No. 36.
No. 37.
No. 38.
No. 39.
No. 40.
No. 41.
No. 42.
No. 43.
No. 44.
No. 45.
No. 46.
No. 47.
No. 48.
No. 49.
No. 50.
No. 51.
No. 52.
No. 53.
No. 54.
No. 55.
No. 56.
No. 57.
No. 58.
No. 59.
No. 60.
No. 61.
No. 62.
No. 63.
No. 64.
JOHN ASHTON.
FOOTNOTES:
Adam sends Seth to Paradise for some of the Oil of Mercy.
The Archangel Michael gives Seth three seeds of the Tree of Life.
Seth buries Adam and puts the three seeds of the Tree of Life under his tongue.
The three seeds spring up.
Moses always has the three rods with him.
With them he makes water flow from the Rock.
An Angel tells Moses how to sweeten the bitter waters.
Moses, by dipping the rods in the waters of Marah, sweetens them.
Moses plants the rods in the land of Moab.
An Angel appears to David and tells him to bring the rods to Jerusalem.
The rods heal the sick.
The rods heal a leper.
The rods turn three black men white.
David leaves the rods for the night.
In the morning he finds the rods have taken root and have become one tree.
David builds a wall round the miraculous tree.
David composes the Psalms and praises God, under the shadow of the tree.
Solomon orders the tree to be cut down and used in the Temple.
Artificers fashion the tree.
The holy wood will fit nowhere.
St. Maximilla sitting on the wood, her clothes catch alight.
St. Maximilla prophesies concerning the wood.
St. Maximilla scourged to death.
The wood used as a foot-bridge over a brook.
The Queen of Sheba prefers wading through the brook, to walking over the holy wood.
The Queen of Sheba tells Solomon of the holy nature of the wood.
The holy wood is taken up.
The holy wood is carried into the Temple.
Abias despoils the holy wood of its precious covering.
The Jews bury the holy wood.
Digging the Pool of Bethesda.
The sick being healed at the Pool of Bethesda.
The High Priest told of the discovery of the holy wood.
The holy wood is made into the Cross.
Christ bearing the Cross.
The Crucifixion.
Disciples adore the Cross, the sick are healed, and devils cast out.
The Jews bury the Crosses.
St. Helena comes to Jerusalem.
St. Helena calls together the Chief Jews.
Judas is put into a dry well.
Judas is liberated from confinement.
Judas prays for Divine direction.
The Crosses are discovered.
St. Helena views the Crosses.
Trial of the true Cross.
A dead maiden raised to life by being touched by the true Cross.
St. Helena deposits a portion of the Cross in Jerusalem.
St. Helena gives a portion of the Cross to Constantine.
Constantine deposits his portion of the Cross in Byzantium.
Chosroes commands his people to adore him.
Meeting of Heraclius and Chosroes’ son.
Heraclius fights the son of Chosroes and kills him.
The Persian army submit to Heraclius.
Heraclius visits Chosroes.
Heraclius kills Chosroes.
Heraclius crowns and baptizes the son of Chosroes.
Burial of Chosroes.
Heraclius takes possession of the relic of the Cross.
Heraclius, attempting to enter Jerusalem, is miraculously prevented, and is reproved by an angel.
Heraclius divests himself of state.
Heraclius places the relic of the Cross in its appointed place.
A portion of the Cross is sent to Rome, the vessel bearing it meeting with a storm.
The relic of the Cross exposed for adoration.