564 pfaaC Isorc, Tscge^/, an3. l^Ljrlc/. 



{Rhamnus Paliurus and Rhanmus Spina Christi), and the Paliurus acu- 



leatus, or Christ Thorn. In the thirteenth century, there existed 



among Christians a strong passion for rehcs, and when the Emperor 

 Baldwin II. came to beg aid from Louis IX. (St. Louis of France), 

 he secured his goodwill at once by offering him the holy Crown 

 of Thorns, which for several centuries had been preserved at Con- 

 stantinople, and had been pledged to the Venetians for a large sum 

 of money. Louis redeemed this precious and venerable relic, aided 

 Baldwin with men and money, and then triumphantly brought the 

 crown of Thorns to Paris, carrying it himself from Sens, barefoot 

 and bareheaded. Having also been so fortunate as to obtain a 

 small piece of the true Cross, he built in honour of these treasures 

 the exquisite chapel since called La Sainte Chapdh. In picftures of 

 St. Louis, he is usually depicfted with his special attribute, the 



Crown of Thorns, which he reverently holds in one hand. In 



Brittany, there is a superstition current which will explain the 

 cause why the robin has always been a favourite and protege of 

 man. It is said that while our Saviour was bearing His Cross, one 

 of these little birds took from His Crown one of the Thorns steeped 

 in His blood, which dyed the robin's breast ; and ever since the 



redbreasts have been the friends of man. St. Catherine of 



Siena is frequently represented with the Crown of Thorns, in refer- 

 ence to the legend that, having been persecuted and vilified by 

 certain nuns, she laid her wrongs, weeping, at the feet of Christ. 

 He appeared to her, bearing in one hand a crown of gold and jewels, 

 in theother His Crown of Thorns, and bade her choose between them. 

 She took from His hand the Crown of Thorns, and pressed it hastily 

 on her own head, but with such force that the Thorns penetrated 



to her brain, and she cried out with the agony. In a painting of 



Murillo, Santa Rosa de Lima is depicfted crowned with Thorns, in 

 allusion to the legend that when compelled by her mother to wear 

 a crown of Roses, she so adjusted it on her brow that it became a 



veritable crown of Thorns. In representations of St. Francis of 



Assisi, the Crown of Thorns is sometimes introduced, the saint 

 having been considered by his followers as a type of the Redeemer. 



In many parts of England charms or incantations are employed 



to prevent a Thorn from festering in the flesh. The following are 

 some of the magic verses recited : — 



" Happy man that Christ was born, 



He was crowned with a Thorn. 



He was pierced through the skin, 



For to let the poison in. 



But his five wounds, so they say, 



Closed before He passed away. 



In with heahng, out with Thorn, 



Happy man that Christ was born." 

 " Unto the Virgin Mary our Saviour was born, 

 And on His head He wore a crown of Thorn : 

 If you believe this true and mind it well, 

 This hurt will never fester nor swell." 



