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 



