38 
other side, where the ground is precipitous, it has only a single 
ditch and vallum, and at one spot it has no artificial defence. 
This encampment has two entrances in the area, S.E. towards the 
plain, and N.E. towards Edington, both defended by redoubts. 
The circuit of the vallum is 1540 yards, the general height of 
of the ramparts 31 feet. The area is 23 acres. Outside the 
ramparts, on the 8.W. declivity of the hill, is a figure of a White 
Horse cut from the surface in a walking attitude, 100 feet. high 
from the hoof to the tip of the ear, and 100 feet from the ear to 
the tail. According to Gough, Camden and Gibson, it is an 
undoubted monument of the battle of Ethandun. 
Doubts have been thrown on the identity of Bratton Castle 
with the stronghold of the Danes to which they retired after 
Ethandun, on account of there not being more than one entrance 
except from the south; but this is in the face of facts, and there 
is no improbability in the Danes flying to it after the battle. 
In order to enforce the argument from the nature of the ground 
I must take a brief general review of the history of the years 
877-878, as given by Asser and other contemporary historians. 
Writers differ as to the position of affairs in the year 877. Some 
say that the Danes were, during that year, fiercely engaged in 
war with Alfred, and that he had fought so many battles with 
them that his people were both wasted and worsted. But it is 
asserted with more seeming authority by Turner, that that last 
year and some previous years had been a period of comparative 
peace and quiet, during which Alfred had contrived to alienate 
the minds of his subjects by his bad government. If the former 
supposition be true about the continued battles, which were 
generally victories over the Danes, we may ask how was it that 
Alfred was so suddenly overcome, his people stricken with panic 
and himself driven from the Royal Vill, of Chippenham, which 
was so girt with strong fortified posts, without a blow to the 
woods and marshes of West Somerset ? 
If, however, the other supposition be true that Alfred had lost 
