As regards the actual Members of Parliament themselves, we have nothing to complain about. Up to the 18th century, when the "rat race" started, we always had two good men on the whole. At first these were local gentry, honest Squires, with an occasional knight. It is in our favour that out of the 537 years we returned two Members, 158 Parliaments were summoned, and our Members are known to have been present at no less than 136 of them. Strangely enough, our record was spoilt during the Commonwealth when we did not send any. Probably there were no gentry left, or persons with money, to take part in what was then an office with no profit. On the return of Charles II we came back to normal, and although Malmesbury had the reputation of being anti-King, the inhabitants managed to bring down the West Tower of the Abbey by "firing" the bells, in joy at their new found freedom.

WASHINGTON. Among the earlier and respected M.P.s was a certain Sir Lawrence Washington, of Garsdon Manor (two miles from Malmesbury and still extant, but now a farm). He was a son of the Sulgrave Washingtons, from whence came the famous George, the first U.S. President. He served as Member for Malmesbury in the Cavalier Parliament of 1661 and fought for the King, for which he was beggared afterwards with the fines imposed on a defeated cause.

He is buried in Garsdon Church and his Memorial plaque has the Coat of Arms of the Washingtons, the "Mullets and Bars," which became the famous "Stars and Stripes" of the American flag, the "Old Glory", when they wanted a suitable banner. On his death, his widow married a Pargiter and presented the famous Church Plate in his memory, which explains why her name, and not his, is inscribed. She was not to know the importance of the name Washington in future times. The originals are obviously kept in safe-keeping in a bank and only come out on especial occasions, but the late Bishop Potter of New York had replicas made for the Cathedral there.

Garsdon Manor itself is now a farm house and privately owned. There is a magnificent Tudor fireplace with the Coat of Arms of the Moody's, who preceded the Washingtons, and some fine ceilings.

Another famous man who represented Malmesbury was Joseph Addison, the great Whig writer and wit of "Spectator" fame, who served from 1709 until his death.