Cylchgronau Cymru

servyse' and 'alle othir that lystyn to seyther by ther devocyon' should pray 'knel- yng in the presence of this holy Crosse', whereby they would obtain 'cL dayys of pardun'. The book referred to as lying in the recess is thought to have been a copy of the Sarum Breviary.5 The history of the cross falls into three periods: (i) from its arrival in Wales to 1283, when it was removed to England by Edward I: (2) from 1283 until circa 1352, when it was given to St. George's Chapel by Edward III; (3) from circa 1352 to 1552, when all that was left 'of golde perteining to the garnishing of the holie crosse' was surrendered to the use of King Edward VI by order of the Privy Council, together with most of the remaining treasures belonging to the Dean and Chapter. CROES NAID IN WALES The cross has been known by various names: Croes Naid, Nawdd, Gneyth, Neit, Croizneth, among others, and these have been interpreted as meaning variously the Cross of Refuge or Protection, or the True Cross. Reliable authorities believe the name to be derived from the legend that a priest, Neotus, brought to Wales from the Holy Land a piece of the True Cross. There is no evidence to support the view that the relic was connected with the Cistercian Abbey of Neath in Glam- organ, founded in I 129. The year 1282 is the starting point in the history of the cross as it may now be traced, but long before that date it was held in great veneration as the national palladium of Wales and carried before her princes. In it was centred the union of patriotism and religion which marked that early stage of Welsh history, and the works of bards and poets with their many references to the cross testify to the wide- spread devotion with which it was regarded in the popular mind. In 1282, Llewelyn, the last Prince of Wales of the native line, found himself excommunicate and facing a powerful army of invasion led by Edward I. There is no space here to recount the events that led up to his death when, unarmed, he was slain near Builth by an English knight. On his body was found a reliquary containing a portion of the True Cross, and this was later delivered to the King. A document signed by Edward at Rhuddlan on 25, June 1283, sets forth that there had been delivered to him at Aberconway that part of the most precious Cross called in Welsh Croes Neyt, which formerly belonged to Prince Llewelyn and his an- cestors the Princes of Wales before him. Seven Welshmen are named as having brought the relic to the King, and these received grants of certain privileges to themselves and their heirs. 6 CROES NAID IN ENGLAND Edward I having obtained possession of the cross lost little time in removing it to England. In 1285 the King carried it in procession in Westminster Abbey, preceded by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other prelates, and accompanied by a vast concourse of people who chaunted as they went. He continued to regard