A VERY OLD ROSE-TREE. 229 



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

 Hildersheim on a hunting excursion, and after his 

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

 which all his retinue were present. The officiating 

 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, proceeded on his way 

 back to the place where the open air mass had 

 been performed. It was becoming dark, and in 

 his hurry and fear he seems to have nearly lost 

 his way, when, lo ! his eyes lighted upon the cross 

 resting upon the branches of a wild rose-tree. He 

 immediately attempted to regain it, when, won- 

 derful to relate, the cross adhered to the tree, 

 and eluded his grasp. After several ineffectual 

 clutches, he felt sure that some high power had 

 interfered; he therefore ran to the Court and 

 apprised the pious Louis of the wonderful sight. 

 The whole Court rushed forth, and on approaching 

 the rose-tree fell on their knees in thankfulness 

 for the sight of such a miracle. Louis then 

 ordered the present cathedral of Hildersheim to 

 be built over the rose-tree.' 



Such are the legends of this famous tree, often 

 referred to by German authors. Dr. Grashof, of 

 Hildersheim, gives the following description of 

 its present state : ( The roots are buried in a sort 

 of coffin-shaped vault, under the middle altar of 

 the crypt, which crypt is proved by known docu- 



