- (From Dr. Caldicot.)
King Charles the first did love Wilton above all places, and came
thither every summer. It was he that did put Philip first Earle of
Pembroke upon making this magnificent garden and grotto, and to new
build that side of the house that fronts the garden, with two stately
pavilions at each end, all "al Italiano". His Majesty intended to have
had it all designed by his own architect, Mr. Inigo Jones, who being
at that time, about 1633, engaged in his Majesties buildings at
Greenwich, could not attend to it; but he recommended it to an ingeniouse
architect, Monsieur Solomon de Caus, a Gascoigne, who performed it very
well; but not without the advice and approbation of Mr. Jones: for which his
Lordship settled a pension on him of, I think, a hundred pounds per
annum for his life, and lodgings in the house. He died about 1656; his
picture is at Mr. Gauntlet's house at Netherhampton. I shall gladly
surcease to make any further attempt of the description of the house,
garden, stables, and approaches, as falling too short of the greatness
and excellency of it. Mr. Loggan's graver will render it much more to
the life, and leave a more fixt impression in the reader. [This refers
to one of Aubrey's contemplated illustrations. See Chap. XX. (in a
subsequent page), Draughts of the Seates and Prospects.-J. B.]
The south side of this stately house, that was built by Monsieur de
Caus, was burnt ann. 1647 or 1648, by airing of the roomes.
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