The CHURCH of ST. NICHOLAS, stands on the west side of the bridge, over the river Wey. It is an old structure, and is said to have had a round tower; but having undergone many alterations, and been new pewed, it was opened in its improved state, July 13, 1800, and is a very handsome church. Here are some good monuments to the memory of Sir William More, and his lady, with various emblems; another to Sir More Molyneux, &c. The tower contains eight bells.

Opposite Trinity church is TRINITY HOSPITAL, founded by archbishop Abbot, in 1619; his grace settled on this hospital lands to the value of 300l. per annum, a third of which sum was to be employed towards setting the poor to work; the other portions were appropriated for the maintenance of a master, twelve poor brothers, and eight poor sisters, who wear blue coats and gowns, and have an allowance of 2s. 6d. per week; they are to be single and unmarried, above sixty years of age, natives of, or residents in Guildford, for twenty years. The hospital is of a quadrangular form, with a noble tower-gate, crowned with four turrets at the entrance. The chapel, at the north-east corner, is spacious and lofty; but its chief ornaments are two fine Gothic windows, representing, in well stained glass, the following subjects:

NORTH WINDOW. First light. Isaac sending Esau for renison, Rebecca behind; and from a window is discovered Esau hunting. Underneath, Latin inscriptions, thus translated:

"By the impulse of paternal affection, blind indulgence pre ferring the elder, errs; but nature does not grant the favour." Second light. Rebecca instructing Jacob to obtain the blessing.

"The mother, being inspired from Heaven while she bore the twins in her womb, advises the younger to obtain the blessing."

Third light. Isaac blessing Jacob, Rachel behind.

"The reward of the blessing belongs to those who feed, not to those who eagerly desire it; and is conferred according to the decree of Heaven, not according to birthright."

Fourth

Fourth light. Isaac, Esau, Jacob, and Rebecca; Esau with the savoury meat, threatening Jacob.

"The elder is angry with the younger, and grieves at what is taken from him, which he demands as due to him from his birth. Hence arose the greatest hatred between the brothers."

Under each of these compartments are armorial bearings of Abbot impaling the bearings of the sees of London and Canterbury, &c. In the centre, above, is 1621.

EAST WINDOW. First light. Jacob's ladder. neath, Latin inscriptions, translated as follow:

Under

"A stone is for his pillow, and Heaven for his canopy: here the ladder is seen, and pious are even the dreams of pious men."

Second light. Laban embracing Jacob; Rachel behind, with her sheep, the well, &c.

"Being at first kindly received, he feeds strange sheep, serving on hard terms, but patient a long time."

Middle light. Jacob, Rachel, Leah, Dinah, and the twelve Patriarchs.

"Being happy in a fruitful wife, he is made father of the Patriarchs, and sees a numerous offspring the seed of a future church."

Fourth light. Laban's covenant with Jacob; behind are tents, with his wives, children, &c.

"Returning home he pacifies his envious father-in-law pursu ing him, and enters into a mutual covenant, God admonishing him in a dream."

Fifth light. Jacob praying, the cattle round him; a scroll from his mouth in Latin, translated "I am not worthy of the least of thy mercies and thy truth, which thou hast shewed to thy servant." Underneath,

"He who formerly poor, passed over Jordan with a staff and a light burden, now returns full of wealth, of which he declares he is not worthy."

Near the top of the window are three angels holding scrolls; inscribed,

"I give to the poor. I restore to God. What shall I return unto the Lord? Here will I pay my vows."

Under

Under these are four angels, with escutcheons on their breasts, bearing the arms of York, France, Lancaster, and Scotland. This window is also ornamented with armorial bearings*.

Against the north wall is a half length portrait of the archbishop; of Sir Nicholas Kempe, who gave 600l. to_ wards this foundation: also of the late Mr. Thomas Jackman, a magistrate of the corporation; another benefactor of 6001.

This

It has been asserted by modern historians, that the reason for the archbishop's erecting Guildford hospital was in consequence of his having accidentally killed a man, and that this foundation was intended as an atonement. is untrue, and contrary to that prelate's mode of thinking, The accident happened in 1621, and the first stone of the hospital was laid in 1619. The archbishop founded this hospital" from the mere mercy of the blessed God (besides the inward graces of his Holy Spirit) having been partaker of some earthly and worldly benefits more than most of my birth and rank have attained unto, I have held it agreeable with my duty to leave behind me to posterity some monument of thankfulness to my Creator, and some testimony of my faith in Jesus Christ, which if it bring not forth some fruit to his glory, is to be held but a dead and unprofitable faith. And therefore my affection leading me to the town of Guildford, where I was born, and where my aged parents lived many years with good repute, I have thought upon the erecting of an hospital there, which I have dedicated to the blessed Trinity, &c." This worthy prelate, however, had such a sense of the fatal accident,

* Dr. Ducarel tells us, that "These windows, which are exquisitely fine, consisting of the most ancient and beautiful colours, were taken by archbishop Abbot from the old monastery at Guildford." But the doctor is entirely mistaken, as they were most undoubtedly painted for this place, and supposed by the same painter as of the window at Lincoln College Chapel, given by the archbishop's friend the lord keeper Williams. The designs from Albert Durer. Two of the lights in the east window, viz. the second and fourth, are in the window of Shoreditch church, London.-Russell's Hist. of Guildford.

which gave him a real and heart-felt concern; that besides a monthly fast, he kept the anniversary with great fasting and humility. The following account of this hospital, in the words of the celebrated Mr. Speaker Onslow, is the most unfeigned encomium on the founder." He was eminent for piety, and a care for the poor; and his hospi tality fully answered the injunction king James laid on him, which was to carry his house nobly, and to live like an archbishop. He had no thoughts of heaping up riches; what he did save was laid out by him in the erecting and endowing an handsome hospital for decayed tradesmen, and the widows of such in the town of Guildford; under the statutes of which, for near one hundred years [1723] that hospital has maintained the best credit of any I know in England.".

In Guildford is an antient Gothic structure, called the FRIARY, belonging to the earl of Onslow, in one part of which the judges are accommodated, during the assizes: assemblies and public feasts are usually kept here; but the other part was converted into a boarding school for young gentlemen. This friary formerly belonged to an order of mendicants.

The Grammar School is a most elegant structure of the Gothic order, and was founded and endowed in 1509 by Robert Beckingham, of London, grocer; it has been liberally augmented by contributions before and since the time of king Edward the Sixth, who, by his letters patent in 1551, established it into a free grammar school, by the name of "Schola Regia Grammaticalis Edwardi Sexti," and gave 201. per annum for ever. After whom William Hammond, Esq. and Dr. John Parkhurst, bishop of Norwich, were liberal benefactors; it is at this time in a very flourishing state. At this school have been educated among other very eminent persons, GEORGE ABBOT, archbishop of Canterbury; his brothers, ROBERT, bi hop of Salisbury; and Sir MAURICE ABBOT, lord mayor of London, in .638. Dr. JOHN PARKHURST, bishop of Norwich, 1650. Dr. HENRY COTTON, bishop of Salisbury, 1698. Dr. WILVOL. V. No. 116.

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LIAM COTTON, bishop of Exeter, 1621. Sir ROBERT PARKHURST *, lord mayor of London, The right honourable ARTHUR ONSLOW, speaker of the House of Commons, &c.

The Hall wherein the county assizes were long held being much decayed, an elegant structure, with suitable offices, was built for that purpose in the year 1789, at the expence of lords Onslow and Grantley; adjoining to which was also built in the same year a commodious Playhouse.

Guildford has a small remainder of an old manufacture in the clothing trade; which extends itself to Godelmin, Haslemere, and the vale country on the east side of the Holmwood. This trade, however small, affords great assistance to the poor of this part of the county, where the lands are but very indifferent, and the inhabitants, generally cottagers, living chiefly by the commons and heathground in the vicinity.

The town draws great support from travellers on account of its elegance, and the public road from London to Chichester, Portsmouth, Southampton, and other capital towns in the south and west parts of England.

A fine circular course near the town is used for horseracing. King William III. gave a plate of one hundred guineas value to be run for in the Whitsun week, at which time three subscription plates are annually run for exclusive of matches. At these diversions some of the royal family, and the numerous surrounding nobility and gentry, sometimes attend.

On DRAKE, or St. CATHARINE'S HILL, are the ruins of a chapel, formerly a chapel of ease to the church of St. Nicholas. This chapel was built with a sort of tile, which when broken has the appearance of iron, and the cement of them is so hard, that it is in a manner impenetrable.

*The house in which Sir Robert was born is still remaining, and is an antique mansion, in which the family were resident till within a few years. A tradition prevails that hounds were kept here from the time of the Conquest; it bears the name of Hound House.-Russell's Guildford.

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