Its popularity was expressed in copies as well as legends, to satisfy the pilgrims who made the cathedral of Lucca the goal of their voyages from all parts of Europe. Like other famous relics or images, such as the Virgin's Belt of Prato to this day, it appears to have often only been available to view on certain appointed days in the year, and at least some of the time wore rich textile clothing as well as the wooden carved robe. "By the face of Lucca" was the 'customary oath' of William II of England.Bosanquet, G. (tr.), Eadmer's History of Recent Events in England, Cresset, 1964, p. 31. Eadmer was a well-placed observer: see Cresset, pp. ix-x. See also William of Malmesbury, in e.g. A History of the Norman Kings (1066 - 1125), Llanerch, 1989, p.63; and Schaff, Philip, History of the Christian Church, Volume V: The Middle Ages ( {http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/history/5_ch03.htm on-line text]). The Holy Face appears on medieval Luccan coins. Dante mentions the Holy Face of Lucca in his Inferno, Canto XXI, where a demon cries:
