10 The Seventeenth General Meeting. 
as the spot whereat all commercial dealings between the two places 
were transacted. Aubrey says that Charles I. “did love Wilton 
above all places, and came thither every summer,” and the king had 
such especial affection for the fish caught in the neighbourhood of 
Broadchalke “that the Earl of Pembroke was wont to send for these 
troutes for his Majesty’s eating.” Prince Maurice was quartered 
at Wilton in 1644, and in 1646 Fairfax paid a visit to the Princess 
Henrietta at Wilton House, where she was staying previous to her 
removal to Richmond. Many other celebrities have visited and 
resided in this ancient town, which had its Royal charters, its mint, 
its guild of clothiers and weavers, and, according to Leland, and 
confirmed by Sir Richard Hoare, twelve churches, besides the 
chapels which were attached to three of the hospitals. The Hospital 
of St. John, which is situated near, or just without the west gate of 
Wilton, and is an object of great interest, was not dissolved, being 
considered rather of a charitable than a religious nature. It was 
founded by Hubert Walter, Bishop of Sarum, during the reign of 
Richard I., and between the years 1189 and 1193. It is possible 
that this establishment was connected with the Knights Hospitallers, 
or Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Time will not permit 
me to touch further on the historical associations of this ancient 
town. I do not think that its glory has yet departed, and it is still 
possessed of an excellent trade. Its carpet manufactory, I suppose, 
sends its carpets all over the world. In looking over some old 
papers at Compton, a day or two ago, I was amused to find an 
account of wearing apparel in use in the year 1759, and therein was 
mention made of 1. Wilton coat, 1. Wilton silver twist waistcoat. 
It would appear as if Wilton in those days gave a name to garments, 
as Melton does now in our own. ‘To-morrow we hope to make a 
pretty excursion into the country, touching at the chief points of 
interest en route. We shall see Wardour Castle, famous in history 
from its gallant defence by Lady Blanche Arundel, and the fine 
paintings and objects of antiquity at Wardour House, by permission 
of Lord Arundel, and I doubt not that when we arrive at Ferne, 
the residence of Mr. Grove, whose ancestor perished with mine on 
the scaffold for his loyalty, we shall enjoy the luncheon, to which 
