Ælfric

“ Uplifting of the Holy Rood,
because that it was exalted with great honour
on the foresaid day to the praise of the Lord.
It is, however, to wit that it (the cross) is widely distributed,
by means of frequent sections, to every land.
But the spiritual token (signification) is always with God,
ever incorruptible, though the tree be cut in pieces.
The heavenly sign of the Holy Rood
is our banner against the fierce devil,
when we bless ourselves boldly through God
with the sign of the cross and with right belief. ”

“ He sat then in the house as High God,
and placed the Holy Rood beside his throne,
as it were for a companion in his impiety.
He then sat there from that time forth, and to his son he assigned
all his kingdom; but Christ destroyed him.
An emperor there was in those days, named Eraclius, .
a Christian and a true believer, and undaunted in war;
and he adorned his belief with good works,
and honoured God's servants with benevolent mind.
Then came Cosdrue's son against the emperor (Eraclius) ,
for he desired to win his kingdom in battle. ”

“ Now we celebrate the day on which it (the cross) was found
in honour of our Saviour, who deigned to suffer on it;
it is after Easter in the year's course [viz. May 3 ] .
And we observe in harvest-time with holy ministrations
a second festival — that on which it (the cross) was brought
again to Jerusalem, as we shall hereafter relate.
It happened, unfortunately, as very often it still does,
that the heathen nations invaded the land;
and an impious king called Cosdrue
came with a great army to the Holy Rood
where Helena had placed it, in the aforesaid Jerusalem. ”