Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race

of Constantine

, a protector of all men. So mightily did he prosper that his enemies assembled great armies against him, and a confederation to overthrow him was made by the terrible Huns, the famous Goths, the brave Franks, and the warlike H

of the

discipline and devotion might not win the day against the mad fury of the barbarous Huns. At last, wearied out, the emperor slept, and a vision came to him in his sleep. He seemed to see, standing by him, a beautiful shining

nus, the Rul

lory, the Master

homage. Be not

f aliens array

warriors threate

sky, to the thr

surely the symb

en

of th

a cross, splendid, glorious, adorned with gems and shining with heavenly

hou conquer the fo

hurl back the ho

en

tine is

again the cross and the angel had disappeared, and around him as he woke was the greyness of the rising dawn. The emperor summoned to his tent two soldiers from the troops, and bade them make a cross of wood to bear

ning of

other, both hosts arrayed themselves for battle, in se

trumpets to ste

eagle watched th

raven rejoiced in

orest-thief, soon s

warriors rushe

eld-breaking, lou

d-blows, and dire

eroes felt the k

host fall on the

deadly spears over

attle-glaives brea

en

oss is

, pressing on resistless as the surging waves. The Huns, bewildered by the strange rally, and dreading the mysterious sign of some mighty god, rolled back, at first slowly, and then more and more quickly, till sullen retreat became panic rout, and they broke and fled. Multitudes were cut dow

with the wondrous Cross borne before him. He passed on to the city, and the people of Rome gazed with

cil Su

isest men in Rome, and when all were met he raise

me, by spells or

cious God, giv

lory, with the Cr

people and gave

n and put the fier

eaven His sign

oss of light, gl

en

e of His way was only revealed to men in baptism. When strict search was made some Christians were found, who preached the way of life to Constantine, and rejoiced that they might tell before men, of the life and

ires to Find ou

o have, to keep for his own, one thing at least which Jesus had touched during His life, and his thoughts turned chiefly to that Cross which had been to himself b

ls of Jerusalem, He died o

est and so curst, we must seek His

his Moth

she had been taught the truth, had been converted and baptized, he told her of hi

ear son, thy words have greatly rejoiced my heart, for know that I, too, have seen a vi

e's

l thee the brig

idnight when me

eaven saw I a

-adorned, shini

one on it at t

shoulder-span fiv

nded it, guar

iness sad was th

d and gems fast bl

defiled with t

of the

which the Redeemer of mankind had released the souls of men from evil, on which He had spread out His arms to embrace mankind,

ame to him, left n

hty King from His

myself down to

im down in His da

or Him dirges for

m there as His fai

sses, stood mourn

g men felled us a

earth, sealed us f

of the

rtakes t

he reality of that Holy Cross. Her will and that of her son were one in this matter, so that before long the whole city resounded with

endel Sea stood

ing ships sought

er line of the ta

er-steeds o'er the

he bulwarks oft bro

y lead such a f

en

mes to

ere the Chosen People in a world of heathens, aliens from the True God. These she addressed at first with a blending of flattery and reproach-flattery for the Chosen People, reproach for their perversity of wickedness-and, finally, peremptorily demanded an answer to any question she might ask of them. The Jews withdrew and deliberated sadly whether they durst refuse the reques

of yore laws of

ers learnt from th

ot now why thou

h race done griev

en

questions

o know from us where the Cross is concealed on which the Lord of the Christians was crucified; but if we tell this secret I know well that the Jews will cease to bear rule on the earth, and our holy scriptures will be forgotten. For my grandfather Zacch?us, as he lay dying, bade me confess the truth if ever man sh

father secretl

my son, speak n

on of God rei

hen died, and th

en

so, decide ye what we shall reveal, o

nted to A

nce thou alone knowest this. Never have we heard of these

the heralds with silver trumpets,

calls you, O men

ear from you o

ed ye have of a

en

t to all her inquiries they professed entire ignorance, until, in her wrath, the queen threatened them with death by fire. Then they led forward Judas, saying: "He can reveal the myster

hreat

reeted Juda

e one, two things

for thee: choose

en

her, since he c

wanderer lost on

e and bread, eas

thinkest thou

en

n answer, protesting that too long a time had passed for the secret to be known. Elene retorted that the Trojan War was a still more ancient story, and yet was still well known; but Judas replied that men are bound to remember the valiant deeds of nation

place, nor aught

en

ling her servants, she bade them thrust Judas into a deep dry cistern, where he lay, starving, bound hand and foot, for sev

ou all by the gr

lift me up out

I know of that

r can hide it

d me through all

of yore; late

en

s her to

en to guide them in their search for the Holy Cross. As he prayed a sweet-smelling vapour, curling upwards like the incense-wreaths around the altar, rose to the skies from the summit of the hill. The sign was manifest to all, and Judas gave thanks to God for His great mercy; then, bidding the wonderi

Crosse

feet of Queen Elene, whose first rapture of joy was speedily turned to perplexity as she realised that she knew not which was that sacred Cro

d of this from a

with him two in

h by Him; He was

arkened o'er at

htly canst, whic

of Fate which bore

en

een's

Reveal our Sa

came a mighty crowd bearing a young man lifeless on his bier. At Judas's command they laid down the bier, and he, praying to God, solemnly raised in turn each of the crosses and held it above the dead man's head. Lifeless still he lay as Judas raised the first two, but when h

ils So

ground of Calvary. Leading her out of the town, Cyriacus again prayed on Mount Calvary that God would send forth a token and reveal the secret. As he prayed there came from heaven a leaping flame, brighter than the sun, which touched the surface of the ground here and th

Brought to

loss how to preserve these holy relics, when the devout Cyriacus, now ordained Bishop of Jerusalem, went to her and said: "O lady and queen, take these precious nails for thy son the emperor. Make with them rings for his horse's bridle. Victory shall ever go with them; they shall be called Holy to God, and he shall be called blessed whom that horse bears." The advice pleased the queen, and she had wrought a