From the Abbey fields, the finest view of Harold’s noble minster is obtained, and it is with feelings of pleasant anticipation that one retraces one’s steps thereto, meditating on the way upon the many strange and wondrous scenes that have been witnessed on the ground over which one passes. As the eye wanders over the beautiful lines and the massive, age-stained walls of the ancient church, the mind is impressed with its grandeur and its significance as a vast page of England’s story. The Abbey church and town of Waltham Holy Cross alike owe their actual foundation to Tovi the Proud, standard-bearer and chief counsellor to Cnut, who, delighted by the fine opportunities for hunting which were afforded by the number of deer running in the great forest of Waltham, established a settlement here, and founded a convent. Hither, also, Tovi brought from his manor of Lutegarsbury (Montacute), in Somerset, a miraculous crucifix, and set it up in the church. The legend of this Holy Cross, as told in the _De Inventione_ tract, and translated by Lambarde, is a wonderfully interesting story. The Legend of the Holy Cross. It runs as follows: {17} “In the tyme that Kinge Cnut reigned in Ingland theare lyved at a Place of the called comonly Lutegarsbyry, in French Montague, a simple man by occupation a carpenter and by Office Sexton of his parishe, to whom on a Night appeared a Vision of Christe Crucified commaundinge him that as sone as Day brake he should goe to the parishe priest and with him accompanied by his parishioners in solemne processione to go up to the Toppe of the Hyll adjoyninge and to digge wheare (if they would beforehand make theimselves by Confession, Fastinge, and Praier worthy of suche a Revelacion) they should finde a Crosse, the very sign of Christes passion. This plaine Man, supposinge it a fantastical Dreame, tooke at first no great Head thereof, save that, he imparted it with his Wife who also thought it but an Illusion. Wherefore the Image appeared againe, and so griped him by the Hande that the Dynt of the Nayles remayned in his Hand to be sene the Daye followinge. Being thus pricked forwarde on he goeth to the Priest and discloseth the hole matter. He arrayeth his Parishe, displayeth his Banners, putteth on Copes and Surplas, and setteth the Carpenter foremost as his Captaine, they digge awhile and anone they find a great Marble havinge in it of black Flynt the Image of the Crucifixe so artificially wroughte as if God himselfe (sayth myne Auteur) had framed it. Under the right Arme of this Crucifixe thear was a small Image of the same Forme, a litle Belle also, and a black Booke conteyninge the Text of the four Evangelists. All this they signified to Tovi le Prude then Lord of the Soyle, Standarde Bearer to the Kinge and his Chief Councelor, who came to the place in great Hast and by the advice of his Gents lefte the smalle cross in the Churche theare determyninge to bestow the greater in suche