GOODYER'S COUNTRY 5 



The localities most frequently mentioned in the Goodyer 

 papers are Alton on the high road from London to 

 Winchester and about half-way between Farnham and 

 Alresford, three miles east of which is Ropley. To the 

 north-east and south-west of Alton are Holybourne and 

 Chawton respectively. Bramshott and Liphook lie to the 

 east, Selborne to the west of Woolmer Forest. 



The Petersfield localities lie in a ring of about two miles 

 radius from the town : Steep due north ; Sheet to north- 

 east on the London- Portsmouth road, Durford Abbey due 

 east, Buriton due south, overhung by Butser Hill on the 

 west. The Forest of Bere is about eight miles south of 

 Petersfield ; while in the south-west quarter lie Hambledon, 

 seven miles, and Droxford and Soberton about eight miles 

 distant. Petersfield is about twenty miles from Southampton 

 and about sixteen miles from Winchester : Idsworth is 

 about six miles south. Bursledon Ferry over the H amble 

 is about four miles from Southampton. 



In Goodyer's day, according to a survey of the manor 

 of East Meon taken on 31 July 1647, 'The "bacon" 

 (beacon-fire) on Butser Hill was usually supplied out of the 

 coppices of Hyden woods both with timber and fuel. 

 Stroud Common was overgrown with bushes which the 

 tenants claim a right unto for making and mending their 

 fences, but the great wood belonging to the lord was of late 

 destroyed except some very little and young oaks all at 

 present not worth above 30^.' In the defining of the 

 boundaries of the manor, several large trees are mentioned 

 which must have been well-known landmarks to Goodyer. 

 They included the yew-tree at Wheatham Green, ' a great 

 oak standing in the midst of Chescombe, and so abutting 

 upon the manor of Berriton and Mapledurham upon the 

 south-east', and a great ash standing on the side of 

 Butser Hill.^ 



We have no information as to Goodyer's schooling. 

 We know that he was not educated either at Winchester 



^ Vict. County Hist. Hants, iii, p. 67. 



