File:The greater abbeys of England (1908) (14598424710).jpg

Identifier: greaterabbeysofe01gasq (find matches)
Title: The greater abbeys of England
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: Gasquet, Francis Aidan, 1846-1929
Subjects: Abbeys
Publisher: New York, Dodd, Mead and company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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upon a wonderfulcrucifix carved in black marble. The discovery natu-rally made a great impression at the time, and, indeed, thefact suggested the war-cry of the English at the battle ofSenlac: Holy Cross, out, out!^ The lord of themanor of Montacute at the time of the discovery wasnamed Tovi, a well-known soldier who was standard-bearer to King Canute. By his direction the crucifix wasplaced on an ornamented car, to which were harnessedtwelve red oxen and twelve white cows, and the ultimatedestination was left to their instincts, guided, of course, byProvidence. The spot at which they ultimately stopped,and which was thus pointed out by fate as the place wherethe cross was to remain, was Waltham, a small and com-mon hunting box in Hertfordshire. Here Tovi, with theKings help, established two priests to act as guardians ofthe crucifix thus so strangely found at Montacute andprovidentially brought to Waltham. From the first thiscross was believed to possess miraculous powers, and (326)
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*#^ WALTHAM ABBEY WALTHAM ABBEY amongst other favours thought to have been obtained atits shrine was the cure of Harold, son of Earl Godwin,from the palsy. In recognition and gratitude for this,Godwin began the building of a large church and estab-lished twelve priests in charge, in place of the two whohad served the small chapel previously. The church thus begun with what the chronicler callscolumnce sublimes—marvellous columns—and arches con-necting them, was finished in 1060 and was consecrated onMay 3 of that year. It was 278 feet in length; and acrossthe transept it was 94 feet. The walls were all in stone,and there is said to have been much gilding over the altar,with gilt and embossed metal plates round the capitals.At the time of the dedication, Edward the Confessor, whowas present, gave his royal charter confirming Haroldsliberal donation of seventeen manors to the church ofWaltham. On his way to the decisive battle of Hastings, in whichhe lost his life, Harold came to Wa

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