326 Theory as to the Origin of the Crosses 



altare sacrosancta mysteria percepturum. Igitur clericorum ac militum 

 manibus in oratorium deportatus, post Missarum solemnia, venerandum 

 sibi Crucem, quam Nigram vocant, produci sibi petiit adorandum. 



Est autem crux ilia longitudinem habens palmse, de auro purissimo 

 mirabile opere fabricata, quae in modum thecae clauditur et aperitiir. 

 Cernitur et qusedam Dominicse crucis portio (sicut saepe niultorum 

 miraculorum argumento probatum est), Salvatoris nostri imaginem 

 habens, de ebore densissime sculptam, et aureis distinctionibus mira- 

 biliter decoratam. Hanc religiosa Regina Margareta, hujus Regis mater, 

 quae de semine regio Anglorum et Hungariorum extitit oriunda, allatam 

 in Scotiam quasi munus hereditarium transmisit ad filios. Hanc igitur 

 crucem, omni Scotorum genti non minus terribilem quam amabilem, 

 cum Rex devotissime adorasset, cum multis lacrimis peccatorum con- 

 fessione praemissa, exitum suum coelestium mysteriorum perceptione 

 munivit.^ 



Moreover, she asked that a cross, called the Black Cross, which she 

 always held in the greatest veneration, should be brought to her. There 

 was some delay in opening the chest in which it was kept, during which 

 the queen, sighing deeply, exclaimed, ' O unhappy that we are ! O 

 guilty that we are ! Shall we not be permitted once more to look upon 

 the Holy Cross ! ' When at last it was got out of the chest and brought 

 to her, she received it with reverence, and did her best to embrace it 

 and kiss it, and several times she signed herself with it. Although every 

 part of her body was now growing cold, still as long as the warmth of 

 hfe throbbed at her heart she continued steadfast in prayer. She re- 

 peated the whole of the Fiftieth Psalm, and placing the cross before 

 her eyes, she held it there with both her hands.^ 



With a deep sigh she exclaimed, ' I know it, my boy, I know it. By 

 this holy cross, by the bond of our blood, I adjure you to tell me the truth.'^ 



Upon holy days, in addition to the hours of the Holy Trinity, the Holy 

 Cross, and Holy Mary, recited within the space of a day and a night, 

 she used to repeat the Psalter twice or thrice.* 



^ Ailred of Rievaulx, De Oenerositate Regis David, in Pinkerton 2. 281 ; 

 cf. Robertson 1. 227. The later history of the Black Cross is told by Lansdale, 

 Scotland Historic and Romantic, p. 6, note : ' After the treaty (of Northampton) 

 concluded between King Robert Bruce and Edward III, it was returned to 

 Scotland [it had been taken away by Edward I]. It was carried before the 

 army of David II in the invasion of England in 1346, was captured by the 

 Enghsh at the battle of Neville's Cross, placed in the shrine of St. Cuthbert 

 in the cathedral of Durham, and disappeared at the time of the Reformation' ; 

 cf. Turgot, p. 77, note 1. 



2 Turgot, pp. 76-77. » Ihid., p. 79. * Ihid., p. 63. 



ai4) 



