and honourable family, and John, her son by him, was CHAP. I. in the first year of the reign of Richard III. created duke of Norfolk. At the same time

Thomas Howard, son of this John, was created earl of Surrey; and though this nobleman was attainted in the first year of the reign of Henry VII. yet that politic prince was so sensible of the prudence, gravity, and fidelity of his character, that he soon received him into favour, appointed him one of his privy council, restored him to the title of earl of Surrey, and all the lands which belonged to his wife's inheritance. His valour and conduct at the battle of Flodden Field, in 1513, procured him the further restitution to the dukedom of Norfolk, and other honours. He died in May 1524, and his eldest son,

Thomas, succeeded him in his several titles, having been previously created earl of Surrey, at the same time that his father was restored to the dukedom. Dying in 1554, he left his honcurs to his grandson,

Thomas, whose father, Henry, earl of Surrey, had been sacrificed to the malice of the enemies of his family, during the life-time of the late duke, was fully restored in blood, and created a knight of the garter by Queen Elizabeth, whose favour he for many years enjoyed; but being suspected of too great a partiality for Mary queen of Scots, and even of a design to marry her, he was tried on this charge, and also on a pretence of otherwise conspiring against the crown and dignity of her implacable rival, and executed in 1572. By his attainder, the earldom of Surrey became forfeited, with his other titles, and lay dormant till the first year of the reign of James I. when it was revived in the person of

Thomas, grandson of the late duke, and since that

BOOK I. time it has been enjoyed, without interruption, by the illustrious house of Norfolk.

Places which give

titles.

The following is a list of such places in Surrey as have been the capital residences of barons by tenure, or by writ of summons; or have given titles to peers created by letters patent :*

Battersea.-B. Sir Henry St. John, fourth baronet, by patent, July 2, 1716. Baron St. John of Battersea.

Beechworth.-B. Hussey Roger, by writ of summons, 22 Edward III. Extinct from 35 Edward III. 1361.

Cranley.-B. George Onslow, by patent, May 14, 1776. V. by patent, June 19, 1801. Viscount Cranley of Imbercourt. Effingham.-B. William Howard, fourth son of Thomas, seventh duke of Norfolk, by patent, March 11, 1554. 2 E. Francis Howard, seventh Baron Howard of Effingham, by patent, December 8, 1731. Extinct 1816.

Guildford.-C. Elizabeth, daughter of William, first earl of Denbigh, by patent, July 14, 1660. Extinct on her death, 1673. 2 E. John Maitland, first duke of Lauderdale, June 25, 1674. Extinct on his death, 1682. 3 B. Francis North, by patent, Sept. 27, 1683. 4 E. Francis North, Baron Guildford, by patent, April 8, 1752.

Imbercourt.-B. Dudley Carlton, by patent, May 22, 1628. Died 1631, when his titles became extinct.

Kennington.-E. William Augustus, duke of Cumberland, brother of George II. by patent, July 27, 1762. Extinct on his death, 1765.

Kingston.-B. John Ramsey, by patent, Jan. 22, 1620. Extinct on his death, 1625.

Lagham.-B. John St. John, by writ of summons, 25 Edward I. 1297. Extinct from 23 Edward III. 1349.

*B. stands for baron; V. for viscount; E. for earl; C. for countess; M. for marquis; and D. for duke or duchess.

Loughborough.-B. Alexander Wedderburn, first Baron CHAP.I. Loughborough, of Loughborough, in Surrey, by patent, Oct. 1, 1795

Merton.-V. William, Baron Nelson, by patent, Nov. 20,

1805.

Nonsuch.-B. Barbara Villiers, mistress of Charles II. by patent, Aug. 3, 1670. Extinct 1774.

Ockham.-B. Peter King, Lord King, by patent, May 29,

1725.

Parkhurst.-B. George Macartney, first Earl Macartney, by patent, June 8, 1796. Baron Macartney, of Parkhurst. Extinct on his death, 1806.

Petersham.-1 B. John Maitland, first duke of Lauderdale, in Scotland, by patent, June 25, 1674. Extinct on his decease, 1682. 2 V. William Stanhope, first earl of Harrington, by patent, Feb. 9, 1742.

Putney.-B. Edward Cecil, by patent, Nov. 9, 1625, Baron Cecil, of Putney. Extinct on his death, 1638.

Ripley.-B. John Ligonier, by patent, 3 George III. 1763. Extinct on his death, 1770.

Ryegate.-B. John Mordaunt, first earl of Peterborough, by patent, July 10, 1659. Baron Mordaunt, of Ryegate. Extinct 1814.

Shere.-B. Edmund Bray, by writ of summons, 21 Henry VIII. Extinct from 4, 5 Philip and Mary, 1557.

Sterborough.-B. Henry Cobham, by writ of summons, 6 Edward II. Extinct from 46 Edward III. 1372.

Streatham.-B. Wriothesley Russel, by patent, June 13, 1695. Baron Howland of Streatham.

West Clandon.-B. Sir Richard Onslow, second baronet, by patent, June 25, 1716. Baron Onslow, of West Clandon. Wimbleton.-V. Edward Cecil, first Baron Cecil, of Putney, by patent, July 25, 1626. Extinct on his death, 1638.

CHAPTER II.

CLIMATE, SOIL, AGRICULTURE, AND GEOLOGY.

Climate.

BOOK I. THE climate of a county where the soils and elevations are so various, must of course vary considerably. It is a generally received opinion, that less rain falls in most parts of Surrey than in the metropolis, or in the vale of London, so that the climate may, upon the whole, be regarded as dry, as far as respects the quantity of rain merely; but the weald district must necessarily be moist and damp, from the nature of the soil, the flatness of the surface, and the immense number of trees which cover it, and obstruct ventilation. The low parts near the Thames also partake of the same character. On the other hand, the atmosphere of the chalk hills is dry, keen, and exceedingly bracing. On the open heaths about Bagshot, Aldershot, and Hind-head, a similar climate prevails, so that the whole west side may, with a very small exception, be said to have a dry and rather cool atmosphere. The wind blows most steadily from the west and southwest, seldom keeping long in any point between the northwest and north-east. In the spring, and frequently towards the end of Autumn, the easterly winds prevail, and the weather is then cold and sharp, with a drizzling moisture but the greater quantity of rain falls when the wind blows from the south-south-west, or south quarter.

The climate is generally considered on the whole as very healthy, particularly between the southern district,

called the weald, and the river Thames, and near the CHAP. II. northern foot of the chalk hills. The dryness of the soil and atmosphere, and the entire freedom from the smoke of the metropolis, by the prevalence of the westerly winds, have deservedly conferred the character of salubrity on the northern portion of Surrey. Even in the weald, where the surface is low, and the soil moist, diseases are by no means frequent, neither is the ordinary duration of human life abridged.

The soil of Surrey is extremely various, and by no Soil. means so clearly defined as in some other districts of the kingdom, the different kinds lying a good deal intermixed in small patches, especially in the northern part. They may be reduced to the four general heads of clay, loam, chalk, and heath. The most extensive tract of uniform soil is that which extends along the whole southern border of Surrey, and the northern portion of Sussex, with a considerable part of Kent, and forms what is denominated the weald, a district about thirty miles in length, and varying from six to twelve in breadth. This almost entirely consists of a pale, cold, retentive clay, upon a sub-soil of the same nature: its surface is flat, covered with wood, and its elevation is said to be less than that of any other vale district in the kingdom. The agricultural management of the soil not only requires a large capital, but also superior skill, attention, and activity, in order to make the most of the proper seasons. Northward of the weald is a district of sandy loam, likewise stretching across the county from east to west, but on the former side it seldom exceeds half a mile in breadth, till at Albury and Shalford it expands as far as Hascomb and Hambledon on the south. The best part of this tract lies round Godalming; the soil is