158 
NATURE NOTES 
Dissolution ihcie was a tomb with an inscription, “ Hie Jacet, Harolus Infelix.” 
The successors of Harold’s canons were accused by Henry II. of loose living and 
he turned them all out, replacing them on June il, 1177, with sixteen canons, 
under the rule of St. Augustine of Hippo, six from Oseney, six from Cirencester, 
and four from St. Osyth : these were practically monks, so buildings such as a 
dormitory, refectory, kitchen, guest-house and prior’s house had to be erected. 
In the time of Edward II. an attempt was made to Gothicise the west end by 
carrying the nave arches up to the clerestory, but the stability of the structure was 
affected and further alterations were stopped. 
In the time of Edward III. the fine decorated Lady Chapel was added. 
Waltham was a favourite residence with Henry \'HI., who had a house in the 
Romeland, so-called because the rents went to the See of Rome. There are other 
Romelands at St. Albans and Norwich. Mr. Plowman said that at another hou.se 
in the Romeland there was a memorable conversation between Cranmer, then a 
student at Cambridge, and Henry’s two ministers, P'ox and Gardiner, when the 
former made use of remarks on Papal supremacy which practically initiated the 
Reformation in England. The monastery was disestablished in 1540, and Mr. 
Plowman handed round a copy of the seal of the deed of surrender fronr Robert 
P'uller, the last Abbot. The choir, transepts and chapels were levelled to the 
ground, leaving the central tower ; but this was so much weakened that in 1556 
the greater part of it fell down, and the remainder had to be blown up. The 
existing tower at the west end was then built by tbe inhabitants. Sir Anthony 
Denny having given them the materials for the gift of a nag. The manor was 
conferred on Sir Anthony, who, it will be remembered, is a character in 
Shakespeare’s play of Henry VHI. Mr. Plowman expressed his conviction that 
the existing church is in great part the work of Harold, and called attention to 
the fact that the pillars to the east end contained some remarkable ornamenta- 
tion in the form of deeply-cut spirals and chevrons which are very unusual, as 
other examples are only to be found at Durham and Lindisfarne, and two at 
Norwich, and instanced that a chronicler of the time of Henry I. describes how 
the arches and pillars were ornamented with brass. It was a remarkable fact 
that in one of the pillars are still to be seen the remains of the rivet-holes, which 
seems a strong piece of evidence. Mr. Plowman said that it was unreasonable 
to suppose that a church built in such a magnificent style in 1060 would have 
been rebuilt within one hundred and seventeen years after. Mr. James Parker 
had made out that the edifice dated from 1177, but had not adduced any archi- 
tectural evidence, but relied on the fact that he had found in the Pipe Rolls of the 
Exchequer an account of large disbursements on buildings at Waltham, and had 
also discovered a contract for a large supply of stone ; but this may be easily 
accounted for from the fact that Henry IP’s sixteen canons were really monks, 
and it was necessary for large monastic buildings to be erected. Mr. Plowman 
told a story of Henry HI. going to Waltham disguised as one of his guards, and 
being assiduous in his attentions to a piece of beef. The Abbot said that he would 
give ;^loo to possess such an appetite, as his queasy stomach could scarcely 
digest the breast of a chicken. Shortly after the Abbot was sent to the Tower, 
where he was fed on bread and water. At the end of ten days a piece of beef was 
placed before him, and he was making a hearty meal, when the king came in and 
requested the ;^loo as a fee for his restoration to health. Just before the 
Reformation, Sir John Colte, of Netherhall, caught some of the monks of 
Waltham in a buck- net when they were out poaching one night, and brought 
them before Henry VHI. in a very bedraggled condition. The king remarked 
that “he had often seen sweeter but never fatter venison.” Some interesting 
objects were shown in the vestry, some coins, a pilgrim’s bottle, a wooden 
stake, found in the market place driven through a human .skeleton, and the 
head of an ancient axe. The Register dates from 1563. Under the tower is 
to be seen a carved whipping post, dated 1598, and also an old pillory. Mr. 
Plowman, in conclusion, expressed his thanks for the kindness and couitesy he 
had met with from the Vicar, the Rev. E. 11 . Johnston, and also from the Rev. 
J. H. Stamp. 
May 28. — Mr. James E. Whiting, Honorary Secretary of the Hampstead 
llranch, had a very large following for the second ramble which he has conducted 
