CROSS, in antiquity, a species of punishment, or rather the instrument wherewith it was inflicted, consisting of two pieces of wood crossing each other.
This punishment was only inflicted on malefactors and slaves, and thence called servile supplicium. The most usual method was to nail the criminal's hands and feet to this machine, in an erect posture; though there are instances of criminals so nailed with their head downward.
Invention of the Cross, a festival observed on May 3d, by the Latin church, in memory of the empress Helena's (the mother of Constantine) finding the true cross of Christ on mount Calvary, where she caused erect a church for the preservation of it.
Exaltation of the Cross, a grand festival solemnized on September 14th in commemoration of Heraclius's restoring to mount Calvary the true cross, that had been carried off by Cosroes king of Persia, upon taking the city of Jerusalem.
Order of the Cross, an order of ladies instituted in 1668, by the empress Eleanor de Gonzaga, wife of the emperor Leopold, on occasion of the miraculous recovery of a little golden cross, wherein were inclo-
fed two pieces of the true cross, out of the ashes of a part of the palace that had been burnt down; though the fire burnt the case wherein it was inclosed, and melted the crystal, it appeared that the wood had not received the least damage.
Cross, in heraldry. See HERALDRY, n° 25.
The cross is a very ancient and honourable bearing; and is frequently to be met with in the coats of arms of those whose ancestors attended the warlike expeditions against the Turks.
Cross, in mining, two nicks cut on the superficies of the earth, thus , which the miners make when they take the ground to dig for ore. This cross gives the miners three days liberty to make and to set on stones. As many of these crosses as the miner makes, so many mears of ground he may have in the vein, provided he set on stones within three days after making his cross or crosses. But if he make but one cross, and a stander-by makes the second, and a stranger makes the third, every one is served with the next mear, according as they have first or last, sooner or later made their cross, or crosses upon the ground.
Cross, in coins, a name given to the right side, or face; the other being called the pile or reverse. It has been a common error, that the reverse was meant by the cross; because at this time, with us, it is marked with figures disposed in that form: but the stamping the head of the prince in these kingdoms, on the right side of the coin, was preceded by a general custom of striking on that part the figure of a cross, while the other, called the pile, contained the arms, or some other device.
Cross-Bar Shot, a bullet with an iron bar passing through it, and standing six or eight inches out at both sides: it is used at sea, for destroying the enemy's rigging.
Cross-Jack, pronounced cro-jack, a sail extended on the lower yard of the mizen mast, which is hence called the cross-jack yard. This sail, however, has generally been found of little service, and is therefore very seldom used.
Cross-Piece, a rail of timber extended over the windlass of a merchant-ship from the knight-heads to the belfry. It is stuck full of wooden pins, which are used to fasten the running rigging as occasion requires. See WINDLASS.
Cross Trees, certain pieces of timber, supported by the cheeks and trestle-trees, at the upper ends of the lower masts, athwart which they are laid to sustain the frame of the top.
Cross-Bill, in ornithology. See LOXIA.
Cross-Wort, in botany. See VALENTIA.
Cross, an English artist, famous only for copying, in the reigns of Charles I. and Charles II. Of this talent there is a story current, more to the credit of his skill than of his probity. He is said to have been employed by Charles I. to copy the celebrated Madonna of Raphael in St Mark's church at Venice; and that, having obtained leave of the state for that purpose, he executed his piece so well as to bring away the original and leave his copy in the place of it. The deception was not detected until it was too late to recover the loss; and this piece was bought in Oliver's time
by the Spanish ambassador for his master, who placed it in the escurial.