The Urban District Of Warminster Official Guide 1957/8 noted that:
One projected royal visit nearly led to Warminster acquiring an unenviable notoriety. In 1688 James the Second was lying at Salisbury with his army, ready to oppose the invading forces of William of Orange. Kirke and Trelawney were at Warminster with the advance guard and John Churchill (later Duke of Marlborough) who was already preparing to desert to the invader had laid plans for the seizure (and some may say even blacker treason), of the King at Warminster. When setting out for Warminster from the Bishop’s Palace, James had a serious attack of nose bleeding which delayed his departure, and by this time desertions had made it plain that he must abandon resistance and retire. Churchill escaped arrest by a hurried desertion to the opposite camp.