110 The Sheriff’s Turn, Co. Wilts, A.D. 1489. 
‘¢Decenna de CHEVERELL Mae@na ven’ ples Et dat de certo 
ad hune diem xv’. iiij’. Et pres’ qa Ricsaile Touker molen= 
Inia xii? -dinarius injusté cepit tolm ex®. Ideo ipse in mia. Et qd 
ue zens (apud) Hoke Bench infunderetur in defectu Johis 
Russell. Ideo ipse in mia. 
‘‘Decenna de LiTLEeTon yen’ Biaw ee dat de certo ad hune 
mia vi‘ diem viij*: viij‘. Et pres’ qd Wills Léted moln* injusté cepit 
tolm. Ideo ipse in mia. 
“Decenna de Lavyineton GeRNoN quum venire deberet plené 
non venit nec aliquis de decenna sua Et nihil datum de 
certo Et vocata sub pena xl* non yenit. Ideo 
pena predicta,” [And s0 on.] 
The Return for each Hundred concludes with a Declaration on 
the part of the Jury, confirming the Presentments in each case. 
‘‘xiiim Jurati. videlect Johes Stampford et soc’ sui affirmant omnia 
superius presentata. | Presentant ultra predic’ quod via 
regia prope Chirton infunderetur ad nocumentum in defectu 
deoaie de Cherington. Ideo ipsa in mia. Et precept ’est 
Decenne de Chirton emend cit’ prox’ sub pena xl*,” 
Oakley or Oxley, or some name of similar sound, attached to some petty hill, 
copse, or corner. At all events, if the Hundred of Aicglei in Berks any where 
touches the boundary of Wilts, a forced march of thirty five miles would have 
brought Alfred’s men of valour from Ecbright’s stone on the western frontier of 
Wilts to Aicglei on the eastern, in the course of the second day. 
On the next day the celebrated Athandun battle took place. There is an_ 
Edington quite close to Hungerford, but Dr. Beke suggested Yattendon which 
is about fourteen miles off. This latter is the place mentioned in King Alfred’s 
will as one of his own estates, and certainly nothing is more likely than that he 
would have secured to himself the very soil on which he crushed the Danish 
power and secured his throne. 
Dr. Beke’s explanation has been by some considered to be very improbable. 
But why so? Alfred’s expedition was a master stroke, the sudden pouncing of 
a hawk upon its prey. It required energy and celerity. Tardy movements of 
a few miles a day, almost within sight of the enemy, would never have answered 
his purpose. In this respect Dr. Beke’s suggestion is one that seems to satisfy 
the most essential demands of the case. 
