Westbury first sent representatives to Parliament in 1448, the
last but one of the Wiltshire boroughs to do so. (fn. 93)
Thenceforth two representatives were summoned regularly until
1832 when the number was reduced to one. (fn. 94) The borough
was finally disfranchised in 1885. (fn. 95) The franchise was by
burgage Before the 17th century the representation of the
borough seems to have been determined by no obvious influence
and followed no particular pattern. It was thus slightly easier
for a stranger to be returned than was the case in most of the
other Wiltshire boroughs. (fn. 96) At Westbury the first signs
of domination by a single influence appear during the first
quarter of the 17th century. In this period Sir James Ley (cr.
Earl of Marlborough 1626) acquired all 10 estates in which the
burgages were situated, (fn. 97) and in the seven Parliaments,
for which returns survive between 1597 and 1627, Westbury was
represented either by Sir James or his brother, Matthew, or his
son, Henry. (fn. 98) For appr