Searchng for a cross in a haystack (Updated)

Thanks to Still Wonderin' for directing me to the kina (liturgical dirge) where the cross is mentioned.

The exact quote is (something like) "the fear of them rattled us (heershee-oo) / their sign made things hard for us(?) (heekeesh-oo)"

According to the gloss, "their sign" is the cross crusaders attached to their clothing and flags.