Theobalds and its immediate vicinity is very rich in historic incidents. With it are associated the lives and deeds of Cardinal Wolsey, the great Lord Burleigh, Queen Elizabeth, James I., Charles I., the Cromwells, and others. Theobalds formed one of the six manors into which was parcelled the parish of Cheshunt, which itself at the time of the Conquest formed a manor in the Honour of Richmond, conferred upon Earl Alan by his uncle, William the Conqueror. The origin of the name is unknown, but in 1441 we find the manor of Theobalds was granted by the Crown to the hospital of St. Anthony, in London. About the middle of the sixteenth century it was conferred upon William Cecil, afterwards Lord Burleigh, Secretary of State to Edward VI. and Elizabeth. In July, 1564, the queen paid her trusty counsellor a visit here, and was so pleased with her reception and the beauty of the place, that she expressed her intention of returning hither at a future date. Cecil accordingly demolished the old grange and erected a spacious and handsome mansion for her majesty’s reception. A contemporary biographer of Cecil has pertinently observed, “He buylt three houses; one in London for necessity, another at Burghley, of computency for the mansion of his Barony, and another at Waltham for his younger sonne, which at the first he meant but for a little pile, as I have hard him saie, but after he came to enterteyne the Quene so often there he was inforced to enlarge it, rather for the Quene and her greate traine and to sette poore on worke, than for pompe or glory, for he ever said it wold be to big for the smalle living he cold leave his sonne.” The same author also says Cecil “greatlie delighted in making gardens, fountaines, and walkes, which at Theobalds were perfected most costly, bewtyfully and pleasauntly, while one might walk twoe myle in the walkes before he came to their ends.” Norden has remarked of Cecil’s new house: “To speake of the state and beauty thereof at large as it deserveth for curious Buildings, delightfull walkes and pleasaunt conceits within and without and other Thinges very glorious and elegant to be seene, would challenge a great portion of this little treatise, and therefore leaste I should come short of that one commendation that it deserveth, I leave it as indeede it is, a princely seate.” Vallens, in his “Tale of Two Swannes” (1590) also pays a graceful tribute to Cecil and old Theobalds in the following lines: “Now see these Swannes, the new and worthy seate Of famous Cecil, tresorer of the land, Whose wisdome, counsell, skill of princes’ state The world admires; then Swannes may do the same: The house it selfe doth shewe the owner’s wit, And may for beautie, state and every thing, Compared be with most within the land.” James I. and Theobalds.