This is yet to be seen at severall old
houses and seates, e. g. Bradfield, Alderton, Stanton St. Quintin,
Yatton-Keynell, &c.
Fallersdowne, vulgo Falston, was built by a Baynton, about perhaps
Henry the Fifth. Here was a noble old-fashioned house, with a mote
about it and drawbridge, and strong high walles embatteled.
They did consist of a layer of freestone and a layer of flints,
squared or headed; two towers faced the south, one the east, the other
the west end. After the garrison was gonn the mote was filled up,
about 1650, and the high wall pulled down and one of the towers.
Baynton was attainted about Henry the Sixth. Afterwards the Lord Chief
Justice Cheyney had it About the beginning of Queen Elizabeth, .....
Vaughan of Glamorganshire bought it; and about 1649, Sir George
Vaughan sold it to Philip Earle of Pembroke.
Longleate House is the most august building in the kingdome. It was
built by [Edward] Seymor, Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector,* tempore
Edward VI., who sent for the architects out of Italy. The length is
272 foot, the breadth 172 foot; measured by Mr. Moore, Clericus. It is
as high as the Banqueting house at Whitehall, outwardly adorned with
Dorick, lonick, and Corinthian pillars. Mr. Dankertz drew a landskip
of it, which was engraved. Desire Mr. Rose to gett me a print of it.
*[This statement is erroneous. Maiden Bradley, which is not far from
Longleat, has been a seat of the noble family of Seymour for many
centuries, and they have an old mansion there; but the family never
possessed Longleat.
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