6 RECORDS OF OLD TIMES 



Runnymede near Ankerwyke on the Thames ; and 

 about two miles away is Hampden House, the birth- 

 place and grave of the patriot, John Hampden, 

 of whose ancestor it is recorded — 



Tring, Wing, and Ivinghoe, 

 Three churches all in a row ; 

 These Manors Hampden did forego 

 For striking the Black Prince a blow, 

 And glad he did escape so. 



Probably this was from some hasty words with the 

 renowned Black Prince, who was Hampden's neigh- 

 bour, whilst the Prince was at Princes Risborough. 

 As my visitor and myself were seated on this 

 ancient camp, within three miles on our left I 

 described Whiteleaf Cross, a noble relic of the 

 Saxons, cut out on the hill side of one of the 

 highest of the Chiltern rano;e, the turf being re- 

 moved, and thus showing the chalk beneath. The 

 cross, of great size, stands upon a huge triangular 

 base and is seen for many miles, being clearly visible 

 at O.xford, nearly twenty miles distant. This re- 

 markable work was formed by the Saxons about 

 the year a.d. 570, to commemorate their last great 

 victory over the Danes. On the low-lying lands 

 at its base is ' Bledlow,' or Bloody Plain, which 

 adjoins Horsenden, the residence of Horsa, the 

 son of Woden, and whose son ' Wiglif ' commanded 

 the Saxons ; no doubt ' Whiteleaf ' is a corruption 

 of this name. Looking ahead is Dinton, the 

 residence of Simon Mayne, the regicide in the 

 time of Charles I., and adjoining is the village of 



