350 Notes on the Border of Wilts and Hants. 



prudence o£ the advice was clearly proved by the fate of the dog. 

 It was the engagement between him and the lioness that gave time 

 for the keepers to rally. But for that interference the mischief to 

 the mail would have been more considerable. - " 1 



Sir Benjamin Brodie. 



Winterslow is further remarkable for having been the birthplace 

 of the late eminent surgeon, Sir Benjamin Brodie. And there is a 

 volume, written by the late Mr. Hazlitt, a distinguished author, 

 which he calls " Winterslow/' from having been composed whilst 

 he resided at the village. I have not been able to meet with it in 

 time for this paper, but I am told that the preface contains matter 

 very interesting to those who are connected with the country and 

 like to hear about it. 



Clarendon. 



From Winterslow a few miles brings us to Clarendon Park, a 

 palace of the Crown from the time of the Saxon Kings to Charles II. 

 In the reign of Henry II. national councils were held here to adjust 

 the differences between that king and Thomas a Becket : which 

 ended in 1164 in producing the celebrated Constitutions of Clarendon 

 of our legal history, by which it was hoped that a settlement of the 

 English constitution in Church and State would be finally established. 

 Some small remains of one of King John's hunting seats are still 

 to be seen. 



There is a story connected with this estate in later times. Charles 

 I., wanting money, borrowed £20,000 from Sir Edward Hyde 

 (afterwards the famous chancellor and author of tbe History of the 

 Rebellion) , and mortgaged the property to him. The royal exchequer 

 being, and continuing to be, impoverished, Hyde fully reckoned 

 upon the debt's never being paid off, and being made a peer in the 

 next reign, he took his title from his expected estate. But the new 

 king, Charles II., suddenly repaid Hyde his £20,000 and gave the 



1 " Gentleman's Magazine," 1816, Pt. II., p. 455. 



