Λ . r,. 1221.] ουκ LOIÎD'S CKOSS. occurrence at Bromholm, to the glory and honour of the lifegiving cross, on which the Saviour of the world suffered Cor the rédemption of the human race ; and since Britain, a place in the middle of the ocean was thought worthy by the divine bounty to be blessed with such a treasure, it is proper, nay most proper, to impress on the mind of our descendants by what scries of events that cross was brought from distant regions into Britain. Baldwin count of Flanders, was from a count made emperor of Constantinople, at which place he reigned with vigour for many years ; it happened at one time; that he. was dreadfully harassed by the intidcl kings, against whom he marched without deliberation, and on this occasion neglected to take with him the cross of our Lord and other relics, which always used to be carried before him by the patriarch and bishops whenever be was about to engage in battle against the enemies of the cross, and this carelessness he found out on that day by dreadful experience: for when he rashly rushed on the enemy with his small army, paying no regard to the; multitude of his enemies, who exceeded his own army tenfold, in a very short time he and all his men were surrounded by the enemies of Christ, and were all slain or made prisoners, and the few who escaped out of the whole number knew nothing of what had happened to the emperor, or whither he had gone. There was at that time a certain chaplain of English extraction, who with his clerks performed divine service in the emperor's chapel, and he was one of those who had the charge of the emperor's relics, rings, and other effects, lie therefore, when he heard of the death (for all told him he was killed) of his lord the emperor, left the city of Constantinople privately with the aforesaid relics, rings, and many other things, and came to England; on his arrival there he went to St. Alban's, and sold to a certain monk there, a cross set with silver and gold, besides two lingers of St. Margaret, and some gold rings and jewels, all which things are. now held in great veneration at the monastery of St. Alban's; the. said chaplain then drew from his mantle a wooden cross and showed it to some of the monks, and declared on his oath that it was undoubtedly a piece of the cross, on which the Saviour of the world was suspended for the redemption of the human race ; but as his assertions were disbelieved at that place, he departed, taking