32 RECORDS OF OLD TIMES 



was named ' Salt Hill,' from the collection of 'salt,' 

 as it was called, which was money collected from 

 all who were present, or who travelled along the 

 high road that day. Royalty often attended the 

 meeting. The late Mr. Montagu Williams, O.C., 

 who was an Etonian, and proud of it, as they all 

 are, or ought to be, says, in his ' Leaves of a Life,' 

 that ' Royalty itself was not free from the tax. Two 

 " salt-bearers " were stationed on Windsor Bridgfe, 

 and when the Queen drove down the hill — and she 

 never missed a Montem — the elder of the two 

 stepped forward, stopped the carriage, and, taking 

 off his hat, with the words, " Salt, your Majesty, 

 salt," placed under contribution the highest and 

 noblest lady in the land.' The gentlemen students 

 of the school went in military procession from 

 Eton to Salt Hill — those on the higher forms in 

 scarlet military jackets, white trousers, and plumed 

 cocked hats, wearing swords ; those on the lower 

 forms in the present costume of short jackets, lay- 

 down collars, and top hats. On arriving at Salt 

 Hill, the ensign, who was the lieutenant, or second 

 boy in the school, ascended the Mount, waved and 

 flourished a flag, either the Union Jack or Royal 

 Standard, whilst the boys marched round in pro- 

 cession. A short Latin service was then read by the 

 chaplain and his clerks. The salt-bearers were 

 busy in collecting the salt. These officials were 

 leading students, and were dressed in splendid 

 mediceval costumes of great beauty, velvet or satin 

 cloaks, trunk hose, gorgeous hats with plumes of 



