Place as God should appointe. Forthewithe therefore he caused to be yoked twelve red Oxen and so many white Kyne and layeth the Stone in a Wayne myning if God so wille to cary it to Canterbyrye, but the Cattle could not by any Force be compelled to draw thytherwarde. When he saw that he changed his Mynde and bad theim dryve toward his House at Readinge whearin he had great Delighte, but still the Wayne stode immoveable notwithstandinge that the Oxen did thear best. At the Lengthe he remembered a small House that he had begone to buyld at Waltham for his Disporte and commanded them to make thytherward. Which words he had no soner spoken but the Wayne of itselfe moved. Now in the way many weare healed of many Infirmities; amongste the whiche threscore sixe Parsons’ {18} vowed their labour towarde the Conveiance of this Crosse, and weare the first Founders of Waltham Towne wheare was nothing before but only a simple House for this Tovi to repose himself at when he came thyther to hunte notwithstandinge that he had thereby divers Landes, as Enfield, Edelmetun, Cetrehunt, Myms, and the hole Baronie that Goffrey of Maundville the first of that name had. Now when the Crosse was broughte thyther, Tovi commaunded it to be set up, and while one by Chaunce perced it with a Nayle the Blood issued out of the Flinte in great Abundance. Whereat Tovi beinge greatly amazed, fel downe and worshipped it promiseth before it to manumittee {20} his Bondmen to bestow possession on such as should deserve it.” [Picture: Waltham Abbey one hundred years ago. (Dr. Hughson’s “Circuit of London,” 1808)] The cross gave its name to the place, and over a long series of years attracted crowds of the devote, the maimed, and diseased to the place. In 1192 the cross was covered with silver, but the figure of Christ was left untouched by reason, it is surmised, of a remarkable incident that had happened a few years previously. On that occasion, the crucifix being under repair, Robert the Goldsmith, of St. Albans, removed the circlet round the thigh, when all present were stricken blind for a considerable time. Harold’s Minster. On the site of Tovi’s foundation Earl Harold, upon whom Waltham and vast lands had been bestowed by Edward the Confessor, reared and endowed a magnificent church, which he intended to rival in beauty and importance King Edward’s abbey church at Westminster. The dean and twelve secular Black canons who formed the ecclesiastical constitution of Harold’s foundation, were amply provided for, each of the latter having a manor and the dean six manors for his maintenance. In later times (1177) Henry II., on the ground that the canons had grown wasteful and corrupt, substituted for Harold’s foundation an Augustinian priory, then, seven years later, raised this to the dignity of an Abbey, installing Walter de Gaunt, of Oseney, as the first abbot.