[illustration]

SURREY

[map of Surrey]

SURREY.

CHAPTER V.

SURREY, by Beda called Sutbri, lieth seperated upon the North from the counties of Buc∣kingham and Middlesex, by the great River Thamisis; upon the East, Kent doth inbound it; upon the South is held in with Sussex and Hamp-shire; and her West part is bordered upon by Hamp-shire and Bark-shire.

(2) The form thereof is somewhat square, and lieth by North and by East, whereof Redrith and Frensham are the opposites, betwixt whom are extended thirty four miles. The broadest part is from Awfold Southward, to Thamisis by Stanes, and them asunder twenty two: the whole in circumference is one hundred and twelve miles.

(3) The heavens breathing Air in this Shire is most sweet and delectable, so that for the same cause many Royal Palaces of our Princes are therein seated, and the Countrey better stored with game than with grain, insomuch that this County is by some men compared unto a home-spun freeze-cloth, with a costly fair list, for that the out-verge doth exceed the middle it self. And yet it is wealthy enough both in Corn and Pasturage, especially in Holmesdale, and towards the River of Thamisis.

(4) In this shire the Regni (an ancient people mentioned by Ptolomy) were seated, whom he brancheth further through Sussex and some part of Hamp-shire. And in the wane of the Romans Go∣vernment, when the Land was left to the will of invaders, the South-Saxons under Ella here erected their Kingdome, which with the first was raised, and soonest found end. From them no doubt the Countrey was named Suth-rey as seated upon the South of the River; and now by contraction is cal∣led Sur•ey:

Page  [unnumbered](5) And albeit the County is barren of Cities or Towns of great estate, yet is she stored with many Pri•cely Houses, yea and five of his Majesties, so magnificently built, that of some she may well say, no shire hath none such, as is None such indeed. And were not Richmond a fatal place of Englands best Princes, it might in estem be ranked with the richest: For therein died the great Con∣querour of France, King Edward the Third, the beautiful Ann daughter to Charles the Fourth, Em∣perour, and intirely beloved wife to King Richard the Second; the most wise Prince King Henry the Seventh, and the rarest of her Sex, the Mirrour of Princes, Queen Elizabeth, the worlds love, and Subjects joy.

(6) At M•rton likewise Kenulph King of the West-Saxons came to his untimely end: and at Lam∣beth the hardy Canute, and last of the Danish Kings, died among his Cups. But as these places were fatal for the last breath of these Princes, so other in this County have been graced with the body and beginning of other worthy Monarchs: for in Cher•sey Abby King Henry the Sixth, who was deposed and made away in the Tower of London, was first interred without all •uneral pomp, but for his holy life was imputed a Saint, and lastly translated, and intombed at Winsor. At Kingstone likewise stood the Chair of Majesty, wherein Athelstan, Edwin, and Etheldred sate at their Coro∣nation, and first received their S•epter of Imperial power. Guildford likewise hath been far greater than now it is, when the Palace of our English-Saxon Kings was therein set. And seeing it is the midst of the Shire, the graduation from thence shall be observed, where for Latitude the Pole is raised from the degree 51, 22 s•ruples: and her Longitude from the West in the degree 20 and 2 scruples.

(7) Neither can we account Okam and Ripley, two small Villages, the least in this Shire, which have brought forth the well known men, William de Okam, that deep Philosopher, and admirable Scholar, and George de Ripley, the ring-leader of our Alchymists and mystical impostors; both of them born in this County, and very near together. But why speak I of these, sith a place nearer Page  [unnumbered] to sight and greater for •ame, even Lambeth, is the High Seat of Ecclesiastical Government, Piety and Learning, and Palace of Canterburies Arch-bishops, the Metropolita•s of England. First erected by Archbishop Baldwin, and ever since hath been the residing of all those worthy Prelates of our Church, who in a long succession (even from Anno 596:) have continued to him that now most worthily sits at the Churches stern, Richard by Gods providence Lord Archbishop of that See, a most faithfull and prudent Councellour unto King Iames, and a most learned and provident Guide of our most flourishing Church: whose gracious favour undeservedly conferred upon me, hath been a great encouragement to these my poor endeavours.

(8) Memorable places of Battles fought before the Conquest, were Wembledon, where (when the fulness of prosperity burst forth into Civil Dissentions among the Saxons) a bloudy Battle was fought betwixt Cheaulin the West Saxon and young Ethelbert of Kent, wherein he was discomfited and two of his principal Leaders slain, about the year of Christ 560. and three hundred thirty three years after, King Elfred with a small power overcame the Danes with a great slaughter at Farnham in this County, which somewhat quelled the courage of his savage enemy.

(9) Religious Houses erected in this shire by the devotion of Princes, and set apart from publick uses to Gods Divine Service, and their own salvation, as then was taught, the best in account, were Shene, Chertsey, Merton, Newarke, Rygats, Waverly, Horsleg; and in Southwarke, Bermund∣sey, and S. Maries. These all flourished with increase, till the ripeness of their fruit was so pleasing in sight and taste unto King Henry the Eighth, that in beating the boughs he brake down body and all, ruinating those houses, and seizing their rich possessions into his own hands: So jealous is God of his honour, and so great vengeance followeth the sin of Idolatry.

Page  [unnumbered](10) In this Shire have stood eight fair and strong Castles: such we•e Addington, Darking, Star∣burgh, Rygate, Gilford, Farnham, Goseford, and Brenchingley: but of greater State are Oking, Otlands, None-such, and Richmond, his Majesties Royal Mannors. And for service to the Crown or Common∣wealths imployments, this Counties division is into thirteen Hundreds, wherein are seated eight Market-Towns, and one hundred and forty Parish-Churches