The View near Eagle-Hurst. 55 



the west. Passing on to Eagle-hurst, and noticing the truth 

 of the termination even to this day, let us sit down on the 

 shore. Here is a view which should be remembered. In one 

 sense the world cannot show its equal. Far away to the 

 east stretches the low Hampshire coast, ended by the harbour 

 of Portsmouth and its bare forest of masts. To the south, 

 towards Spithead, rides the long line of battle-ships ; and 

 round the harbours of the two Cowes sail fleets of yachts, 

 showing how much still of the old Scandinavian blood runs in 

 our veins — of the spirit which finds employment in adventure 

 and delight in danger. Steamers, with their black pennants 

 of smoke, hurry down the narrow strait, carrying the news 

 or the merchandise of the world ; whilst all is overshadowed 

 by supreme natural beauty, the hills of the Isle of Wight 

 standing boldly up, crested with their soft gi-een downs, and 

 their dark purple shadows resting fold over fold on the valley 

 sides. Still continuing along the shore w^e reach Leap, a small 

 fishing village, where boats ply across from its hard to the Island. 

 Its name is, perhaps, derived from the Old-English leap, a weel, 

 or basket for catching fish. Here, it is said, but I know not on 

 what authority save that worst — tradition, that the Dauphin, 

 afterwards Louis VIII. of France, embarked after the defeat of 

 his army at Lincoln, and his fleet ofl Dover. Certain it is that 

 he had adherents to his cause in the neighbourhood, especially 

 in William de Vernon, whose arms were formerly blazoned with 

 his own in the east window of the north aisle of the Forest 

 Church of Boldre.* 



* At the date of the Dauphin's leaving England, William de Vernon 

 was dead, which makes his embarkation at Leap less probable. Neither 

 Koger of Wendover (vol. iv. p. 32. Ed. Coxe), nor Walter Hemingburgh 

 (vol. i. p. 259. Ed. Hamilton), nor Ralph Coggeshale {Chronicon Angli- 



55 



