The house is great and august, built all of freestone, lined with brick, which was erected by Henry Earle of Pembroke. [Holbein’s porch, and probably other parts of the house, were anterior to the time of the first Earl Henry.  See the introductory note to this chapter.- J. B.] Mr. Inigo Jones told Philip, first Earle of Pembroke, that the porch in the square court was as good architecture as any was in England.  ’Tis true it does not stand exactly in the middle of the side, for which reason there were some would have perswaded his Lordship to take it down; but Mr. Jones disswaded him, for the reasons aforesayd, and that we had not workmen then to be found that could make the like work. — (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.  In anno 1648 Philip (the first) re-edifyed it, by the advice of Inigo Jones; but he, being then very old, could not be there in person, but left it to Mr. Webb, who married his niece.

The pictures.  In the hall (of old pieces) were the pictures of the Ministers of State in Queen Elizabeth’s time, and some of King Henry the Eighth.  There was Robert, Earle of Essex, that was beheaded, &c.

At the stairecase, the picture of Sir Robert Naunton, author of “Fragmenta Regalia;” his name was writt on the frame.  At the upper end was the picture of King Charles I. on horseback, with his French riding master by him on foot, under an arch; all as big as the life:  which was a copie of Sir Anthony Vandyke, from that at Whitehall.  By it was the picture of Peacock, a white race —