Crux commissa. This was, when a piece of timber erected, was joyned in the middle to a traverse, of over-thwart top; somewhat shorter than the piece erect, in manner of a Roman T. This is called Crux Antoniana, S. Anthony his Cross, because he is often painted with such a Cross.
Crux immissa. This was when a short traverse somewhat obliquely crossed the stake erect, not quite in the middle, as Crux decussata, nor quite on the top as Crux commissa, but near the top, in this manner †. This is thought[596] to have been Crux Christi, the Cross on which our Saviour Christ suffered.
[596] Lipsius de cruce lib. 10. cap. 10.
The Ceremonies used by the Romans towards those whom they crucified were these: First, they scourged them, and sometimes tyed them to a Piller in time of scourging. Artemidorus[597] is clear in this, Προσδεθεὶς κίονι, πολλὰς ἔλαβε πληγὰς, that is, being tyed to the Piller, he received many stripes. Plautus[598] is thought to have alluded to the same.
———Abducite hunc
Intro, atque adstringite ad columnam fortiter.
[597] Joseph. excid. lib. 5. cap. 32. Philo contra Flaccum. It. Liv. lib. 1.
[598] Plaut. Bacch.
The ancient Fathers[599] report that our Saviour was whipt thus ad columnam: but the Scripture is silent, both touching the place and manner of this whipping, only that he was whipt is testified. He scourged Jesus, and delivered him to be crucified, Mat. 27. 26.
[599] Prudentius; Hieron. Beda vid. Lip. de cruce, lib. 2. cap. 4.