Page:Surrey Archaeological Collections Volume 1.djvu/345

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MONUMENTAL BRASSES.
235

living at Ditton not far off, gave up the property, which, was at once carried off from the castle of Guildford. It was in consequence of this transaction that the original merchant brought an action against the sheriff of the county, the sheriff of course being responsible for the deeds of his representative, and he was fined in the full sum of 120 marks. It appears there were some circumstances connected with this matter which made it a mere question of disputed property. After all, the transaction is very questionable. I may remark, how strange does this mode of settling disputes appear to us. How strange that the sheriff of a county so near the metropolis, should have been unable to raise a sufficient number of persons to prevent so gross an outrage. Prom the first Sir John, I pass to his son, the second of that name, who died in 1327. The original brass of this second Sir John D'Aubernon is even more interesting, in certain respects, than that of his father, inasmuch as there are several others which present the same features as the brass of the first Sir John; whereas of the second there are but very few indeed. In very many places in this county of Surrey there are other brasses, all of which deserve some degree of attention, as all of them are interesting, and, indeed, all are valuable. The most important are at Kingston (Skene), Beddington (Carews), Crowhurst (Gaynesford), Ditton, Horley, East Horsley (the remarkable brass of Bishop Boothe), Lingfield (Sir Reginald de Cobham), Merstham (Elmebry gge), Shere, Cranley, and many other places.