took me back to my Lord Almoner; and he took us quite through the whole
house and chapel, and the new monastery, showing me most excellent pieces
in wax-worke: a crucifix given by a Pope to Mary Queen of Scotts, where a
piece of the Cross is;

[Pieces of "the Cross" were formerly held in such veneration, and
were so common, that it has been often said enough existed to build
a ship. Most readers will remember the distinction which Sir W.
Scott represents Louis XI. (with great appreciation of that
monarch's character), as drawing between an oath taken on a false
piece and one taken on a piece of the true cross. Sir Thomas More,
a very devout believer in relics, says ("Works," p. 119), that
Luther wished, in a sermon of his, that he had in his hand all the
pieces of the Holy Cross; and said that if he so had, he would throw
them there as never sun should shine on them:--and for what
worshipful reason would the wretch do such villainy to the cross of
Christ? Because, as he saith, that there is so much gold now
bestowed about the garnishing of the pieces of the Cross, that there
is none left for poore folke. Is not this a high reason? As though
all the gold that is now bestowed about the pieces of the Holy Cross
would not have failed to have been given to poor men, if they had
not been bestowed about the garnishing of the Cross! and as though
there were nothing lost, but what is bestowed about Christ's Cross!"
"Wolsey, says Cavendish, on his fall, gave to Norris, who brought
him a ring of gold as a token of good will from Henry, "a little
chaine of gold, made like a bottle chain, with a cross of gold,
wherein was a piece of the Holy Cross, which he continually wore
about his neck, next his body; and said, furthermore, 'Master
Norris, I assure you, when I was in prosperity, although it seem but
small in value, yet I would not gladly have departed with the same