[Illustration: Netting the Gade, Cassiobury Park] We pass next to the basin of the Lea or Luy, the Logodunum or Logrodunum of the ancient Britons, and the largest river in the county. The Lea itself takes origin in a marsh at Leagrave, or Luigrave, a little north of Luton (= Lea-town), in Bedfordshire, and after passing through Luton Hoo, in that county, where it is expanded into a large artificial lake, enters Hertfordshire at East Hyde, in the valley north of Harpenden, and flows thence by way of Wheathampstead and Brocket (where it again expands into another artificial lake) to Hatfield, whence its course is continued by way of Essendon and the north side of Bayfordbury Park to Hertford. Just before entering the county town the Lea receives the Mimram, or Marran, which rises in the parish of Kings Walden, to the north-west of the Bury, and flows to the eastward of Kimpton Hoo, and thence by way of Codicote, Welwyn, Digswell (with added supplies from local springs), Tewin Water, and Hertingfordbury to its junction with the Lea close to Hertford. In the upper part of its course the Mimram receives the small brook known as the Kime, from which Kimpton and Kimpton Hoo take their names. In Hertford the Lea is divided into two channels, one of which runs through the eastern portion of the town to cross Great Hertham common, while the other, which is navigable, passes along the western side to join its fellow at the aforesaid common. At about one-third the distance between Hertford and Ware the Lea is largely augmented by the waters of the Beane (Benefician) and the Rib, which join close to their union with the main river. The Beane rises from a ditch in the parish of Ardeley (between Stevenage and Buntingford), and thence flows in a southward direction by way of Walkern, Aston, Frogmore, Watton, and Stapleford, passing on its way through Woodhall Park, at the entrance to which it is reinforced by several strong springs. Between Watton and Stapleford it also receives a small brook flowing from Bragbury End. Starting in an easterly direction from Ardeley or Walkern, we shall cross the low watershed dividing the valley of the Beane from that of the Rib; which latter takes its rise near Reed, and after crossing the Ermine Street at the south end of Buntingford, flows by way of West Mill and New Bridge to Braughing, where it is joined by the Quin, which issues from a spring at Barkway, and passing by Hormead and Quinbury (to which it lends its name), reaches Braughing Priory. Below Braughing the Rib, as it is now called, flows by way of Hammels, Standon, Barwick, Thundridge, to cross the Ermine Street at Wade’s Mill, and thence _viâ_ Ware Westmill and Ware Park to join the Lea with the Beane.