giving to it fourteen acres of land in ‘Luchentuna.’ <g>Environs.</g>--The neighbourhood of Waltham presents a few historical sites, and some interesting localities. The river <g>Lea</g> was the scene of Isaac Walton’s piscatory rambles. It is now chiefly remarkable as giving motion to a number of powder-mills. The neighbouring hamlet of <g>Waltham Cross</g> contains one of the few that remain of the crosses erected by Edward I., in memory of his beloved queen Eleanor. To the south of Waltham is Enfield Chase; and a short distance to the west is the site of the Palace of <g>Theobald</g>. To the north may still be seen the mouldering ruins of the Nunnery of <g>Cheshunt</g>, said to have been founded in the reign of Henry III. There is still a vague legendary tradition of a subterranean communication between the Abbey of Waltham and Cheshunt Nunnery. But the monks of the former house, who are accused of having sought comfort among the gentle occupants of the latter for the troubles and vexations they received from the litigious lords of the manor, appear to have sought no such hidden road by which to pay their visits to the nunnery. The tales which continued to be current in the time of Fuller, show that there must have been some ground for the scandal. The following story has found a place in the “Church History:”-- “One Sir Henry Colt, of Nether Hall in Essex, much in favour with King Henry VIII. for ‘his merry conceits,’ came to Waltham late at night, being informed by spies that the monks were on a visit at Cheshunt Nunnery. In order to intercept them on their return, he pitched a buckstall (which was used to take deer in the forest) in the narrowest place in the marsh, where he knew the monks must pass, and placed some of his confederates to watch it. The monks, as was expected, ran all into the net; where they were secured till next morning, when Sir Henry Colt brought the king to show him his game. The merry monarch is said to have burst into a loud fit of laughter, and to have declared that, ‘although he had often seen sweeter, he had never seen fatter venison.’” AUTHORITIES.--Michel, Chroniques Anglo-Normandes.--The Legend De Invent. Sanct. Crucis Walthamensis, MS. Harl. 3776.--Miracles of the Holy Cross, MS. Cotton Julius, D. VI.--Fuller.--Farmer’s History of Waltham Abbey, Lond. 1735.--Wace’s Chronicle of the Norman Conquest.--Leland, &c. [Illustration: CARISBROOKE CASTLE, _ISLE OF WIGHT._] [Illustration] CARISBROOKE CASTLE, <g>Isle of Wight</g>. When as the pliant Muse, with plain and easy flight Betwixt her silver wings is wafted to the <g>Wight</g>, That isle which jutteth out into the sea so farre, Her offspring traineth up in exercise of warre. Of all the southern isles she holds the highest place, And th’ greatest coronal hath been in Britain’s grace.--POLYOLBION.