202 Recent Books, Pamphlets, Articles, &c., on Wiltshire Matters. 
Privé de sa Majesté. Isaac de Caus inv. Oblong 4to. N.D. 
Price £1 1s. 
This is a fac-simile reproduction by Quaritch (P) of the rare set of etchings 
by Isaac de Caus published ¢. 1640, the title being taken from that of the 
large folding plate, and a list of the 26 plates added, including the title 
page and advertisement. The other plates are .—A Bird’s Eye View of the 
Garden, folded; Plan of the Garden, folded; 5 Plates of Embroydered 
Flower Plats; 4 Fountains with Statues; the two Groves, with Statues of 
Bacchus and Flora; a Fountain surmounted with a Crown; 2 Elevations of 
the Covered Arbours ; 2 Plates of the Gladiator ; Elevation of the Front of 
the Portico ; Plan of Portico ; Perspective Views of Interior of Grotto with 
Figures ; a Platt with two Statues, fountain, &c.; the Raised Terrace. 
These etchings, of which the originals are so rare as to be practically 
unattainable, are admirably reproduced and give a good idea of what must 
have been in its day one of the most extensive and elaborate gardens of the 
Italian sort, with clipped hedges, arbours, statues, fountains, grottoes, 
formal “ platts,” and geometrical walks, ever devised. It was doubtless a 
fine thing of its kind—but, when one thinks of the beauties of Wilton as 
it is, it is hard to regret its disappearance. 
Wiltshire Notes and Queries, No. 16, Dec., 1896. Mr. Elyard concludes 
his “ Annals of Purton” with a description of the Church, illustrated by a 
plate of architectural details, and the charities of the parish. Then follow 
ten pages of the valuable records for the History of Cholderton. The 
sufferings of Quakers in Wilts for non-payment of tithes and Church rates 
and non-attendance at public worship in the “ Steeple House,” taken from 
a MS. book of “ Sufferings from 1653—1756,” afford many interesting 
points. The parish clergyman is always spoken of as “ye prist.” The 
sufferers themselves seem to have come chiefly from the neighbourhood of 
Salisbury, Bradford, Chippenham, Calne, Bishops Cannings, and Lavington. 
After this Mr. Tompkins returns to the charge on the subject of the 
whereabouts of the Swinbeorg of Alfred’s will, and adduces some ingenious 
evidence in favour of its being “ Swanborough Ashes,” or “ Tump,” in the 
parish of Manningford Abbots—of which he gives a sketch. Nonsuch 
House, Bromham, is illustrated by a drawing, and notes on the Norris 
family, to whom (with many other small properties in Wilts) it belonged 
during the whole of the eighteenth century. There is also a nice drawing 
of Ivy House, Chippenham. Altogether the number is quite one of the 
best yet published. 
Ditto, No. 17, March, 1897. This number—the first issued under the editorship 
of Mr. Arthur Schomberg—contains an unusually large number of queries 
and short notes. Of the latter perhaps the most interesting is the in- 
formation given as to the holding of a Court Leet for the Hundred of 
Swanborough in 1764 at ‘“ Swanborough Ash,” and also another in 1763 at 
Foxley Corner, in the parish of Urchfont, for the same Hundred. The 
writer suggests that, as the ancient Hundred of Stodfolde was incorporated 
in the Hundred of Swanborough, Swanborough Tump doubtless represents 
