Rev. J. E. Fackson’s Address. 35 
of the book. As to the original memorials which Aubrey saw in 
the windows of churches and houses, they have nearly all been 
destroyed long ago; so that his collections, if properly put forth, 
would be a curious and interesting volume. I have lately taken 
the trouble to make at Oxford, a correct copy both of the manu- 
script itself, and of all the illustrations; and they form the contents 
of the portfolio which I have here. I merely mention and exhibit 
them now, as we are talking about Wiltshire Topography, and are 
wishing to know what we have got upon that subject. 
The company will be so kind as to pardon me, if I take this 
opportunity of saying a few words on another matter, much con- 
nected with Wiltshire history, which has occupied my attention for a 
considerable time. When I first came into this part of England, I 
happened to settle at Farleigh Castle, a place well known as having 
been formerly the property of the celebrated family of the Hunger- 
fords. They and their history were at that time totally new to 
me; but having under my immediate notice the interesting chapel 
and monuments there, we very soon became better acquainted. In 
following up the acquaintance, I found relics of them—of their 
name and connexion—scattered all over this county, and very 
common in others adjoining. 
As to Wiltshire, it is no exaggeration to say that there is hardly 
a corner of it, with which, at some period or other, or in some way 
or other, they were not associated. A good deal about them, their 
pedigree, and family history, has been printed in a little work of 
Sir R. C. Hoare’s; but it is not accurate: and of their estates his 
notices are most inadequate. It was this point which rather took 
my fancy ; and I set to work to find out, if I could, all that they 
had really had, and where. A rent-roll of the reign of James I., I 
found in the library of Col. Houlton; another still older, of the 
reign of Elizabeth, I discovered at the bottom of an old box full of 
rubbish at Farleigh; but a more perfect and valuable register was 
kindly lent to me by the Right Hon. Henry Hobhouse, of Hadspen, 
near Bruton; who, upon my case being properly stated to him, 
with the greatest courtesy placed the volume in my hands to use 
and consult at convenience. I am induced to mention this circum 
stance more emphatically, because one of the greatest difficulties 
that persons engaged in such researches have to contend against, is 
that of obtaining access to documents in private hands. It is, of 
course, and ought to be, a delicate matter, to ask for a sight of 
family documents. ‘Title-deeds are dangerous things to meddle 
with. In most cases, however, that have fallen under my own 
notice, the documents that are of most value to an antiquary, are 
those which, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, are of very little 
importance to the owners of estates, so far as regards their title. 
Antiquaries do not deal much in modernities. Their fancy lies 
rather towards those venerable stores of parchment which have been 
*Q 
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