Royal visits have been many.  Henry III probably came here when he granted the charter of New Sarum.  When Henry VI visited the city the inhabitants were ordered to wear red gowns, possibly a piece of sharp practice on the part of the city fathers, who were nearly all clothiers or cloth-merchants.  Richard III was here at the time of Buckingham’s execution, and Elizabeth under happier circumstances, in 1574, when she was presented by the Corporation with a slight honorarium of twenty pounds and a gold cup, but James I, who was here several times on his way to the stag hunting in Cranborne Chase only obtained a silver cup.  Unlike his predecessor, however, he possessed a consort and the royal pair were presented with twenty pounds each.  James’ unfortunate son held here one of those unsuccessful councils of war that seemed always to turn events in favour of the enemy.  The second Charles came twice in a hurry.  The first time was after the battle of Worcester on his flight to the coast, and again he came for sanctuary with his whole court when the plague was ravaging the capital.  He was almost the only traveller from London or the east that the authorities would allow, during that dreadful time, within the city boundaries; even natives returning home were obliged to stay outside in quarantine for three months.  James II lodged at the Bishop’s Palace on his way to intercept the Prince of Orange, and here, a month later, William III stayed in his turn while the previous guest fled the country.  It is said that on the day James arrived in Salisbury an ornamental crown on the facade of the Council House fell down.

[Illustration:  LONGFORD CASTLE.]

Several delightful excursions can be taken in each direction from Salisbury.  Southwards one may proceed along the Avon valley by the Fordingbridge road to Britford, passing East Harnham, where the fine modern church is a memorial to Dean Lear.  Britford church is of the greatest interest to archaeologists, for within it are three arches which have been claimed variously as Saxon and Roman work.  The remainder of the building is of the Decorated period.  An altar tomb was at one time supposed to contain the body of the executed Duke of Buckingham.  Longford Castle, the seat of the Earl of Radnor, is just over a mile to the south.  The magnificent park extends along the banks of the Avon in scenery of much quiet beauty.  The castle, although much altered, dates from 1590, and contains a famous collection of paintings and is especially rich in Holbein’s works.  Perhaps the most celebrated of the many treasures housed at Longford is the “Imperial Steel Chair,” once the property of the emperor Rudulf II.  It is one of the most elaborate specimens of metal work in England.  Rather more than a mile west of Longford is the Early English church at Odstock.  It has a fine west tower and several points of interest.  The pulpit dated 1580 bears the following couplet: 

  “God bless and save our Royal Queen
  The lyke on Earth was never seen.”