39 
and in the pulpit the small marble pillars contain 13th centmy 
mosaics from the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. 
After lunch they proceeded to Wilton House, the seat of the 
Earl of Pembroke, who kindly gave permission to inspect the 
house and grounds. They were conducted through the principal 
rooms, which are filled with pictures by Old Masters, statues, 
busts, and other treasures. In the entrance hall are several suits 
of armour, chiefly taken at the battle ol St. Quinton in 1557* 
The lofty ceilings are painted in the Italian style. Many of the 
statues and busts are copies of well known examples in the Italian 
Art Galleries, among them being the “ Apollo Belvedere ” in the 
Vatican and the “ Medici Venus ” in the Vffizi Gallery in 
Florence. There are several Roman Sarcophagi from the 
Columbarium, discovered on the Via Appia in 1726 and one found 
near Athens. 
The party then enjoyed a walk in the gardens and grounds. 
These are tastefully laid out, and contain a number of very in¬ 
teresting trees and shrubs. Majestic limes, planes, and ash trees 
forming a background with the waters of the Nadder glistening in 
the foreground. There were several good specimens of the 
Himalayan pine, Pinus excelsus , a fine tulip tree, a Medlar 
raised from Geo. Herbert’s tree at Bemerton, a fine Alder 50ft. 
high and a pendulous form of the Nootka Sound Cypress. On the 
lawn in front of the house is a fine group of Lebanon Cedars. 
In a small temple in the garden,—according to credible tradi¬ 
tion—Shakespeare played in “ As you like it." 
On the other side of the Nadder is a deer park; it was the 
scene of a victory by King Alfred over the Danes about 870, and 
a tumulus marks the burial place of the slain. 
Wilton was an Abbey for about 700 years, till the dissolution 
in 1539, and in 1542 the site and surrounding lands were granted 
to William Herbert. 
After leaving the gardens some of the party visited the Guild¬ 
hall, where, by the kind permission of the Mayor, Mr. Alderman 
Slow, several interesting documents were inspected, among them 
being a Charter of Henry I., one of King John, one signed bv 
Queen Victoria, and a document bearing the signature of Judge 
Jeffreys. • 
After tea at the Pembroke Arms, the return journey was 
made. On the way a visit was paid to Old Bemerton Church, 
specially interesting from its connection with George Herbert, 
who was Rector from 1630 to 1632. He died at the Rectory, 
and lies buried within the altar rail of the Church. The present 
Rector, the Rev.. Canon Warre, courteously invited and personally 
conducted the party through his parsonage and garden, where 
was seen the old Medlar tree planted by George Herbert nearly 
300 years ago. 
The homeward journey was then resumed and, after an 
agreeable drive home through Sopley and Ririgwood, Bourne¬ 
mouth was reached about 8 p.m. 
