A VERY OLD EOSE-TREE. 233 



tree may be relied upon. I give in the following 

 narrative the words, as nearly as possible, of my 

 Hildersheim correspondent, the first part merely 

 legendary : — ' When Charlemagne had conquered 

 the territory of the original Saxons, several foreign 

 potentates hastened to show him marks of esteem 

 and respect; among others an ambassador from 

 the Caliph Haroun Alraschid, who, as a symbol 

 of his authority, carried a purple banner on which 

 were embroidered the arms of his sovereign — six 

 roses on a golden field. Charlemagne, struck with 

 the homage, planted a rose-tree on the place of 

 reception, to commemorate the event. Louis the 

 Pious, at a later period, came to the district of 

 Hildersheim on a hunting excursion, and after his 

 sport ordered a mass to be said in the open air, at 

 which all his retinue were present. The officiat- 

 ing priest, on returning to his habitation, and 

 just as the Court were commencing their repast, 

 missed the "holy image" (it is presumed the 

 cross), and after searching in vain for it, pro- 

 ceeded on his way back to the place where the 

 open-air mass had been performed. It was be- 

 coming dark, and in his hurry and fear he seems 

 to have nearly lost his way, when, lo I his eyes 

 lighted upon the cross resting upon the branches 

 of a wild-rose tree. He immediately attempted 

 to regain it, when, wonderful to relate, the cross 

 adhered to the tree, and eluded his grasp. After 

 several ineffectual clutches, he felt sure tliTit some 



