LONGLEAT, (Wiltshire) or LONGFLET, 3 m. E. of Warminster, and 4 m. S.E. from Frome-Selwood in Somerset, has been for a long time the seat of the Thynnes, descended from a family who came into England in the R. of King John, and settling first at Botteville and Stratton in Shropshire were called Bottevilles, till about the time of Edw. IV. when one of them being from a very thin habit, of body called Thynn, for distinction, sake, the family retained that name ever after. The present Visc. Weymouth, a descendant from it, has a noble old house here, which was 12 years in building from 1567, and has been often damaged by fire. The gardens and avenues, being full grown, are very fine, and exceedingly well kept. It cost the late Ld. Weymouth a great revenue in hospitality to such strangers as came from Bath and Wells, Frome, &c. to see this splendid house. It is founded on the site of a priory, which was purchased of Hen. VII. by Sir John Horsey of Clifton in Devon, and bought of him by Sir John Thynn. The priory was a cell to the mon. at Hinton in Somerset.