42, 
taken place there, you must suppose Alfred to have made a long 
march of eighteen miles the first day to Highley Common—the 
“Tglea” of Whitaker and Dr. Thurnam—which place is simply 
a swamp nearly surrounded by water, and on the very road of 
the Danish communications with the south, so that they would be 
sure to have heard of his movements. Then Yatton is to the 
rear and west of Chippenham, and Old Bury Camp, to which the 
Danes have to retire over the ford of Slaughterford, is some 
distance to the west. So that Alfred would have placed himself 
between two fires and got into a very difficult country, attacking 
under every disadvantage ; and when successful he would be in 
the enemy’s country, and he could not, perhaps, have maintained 
the blockade; whereas at Bratton he could completely isolate 
the Danish army and would be himself in too strong a position 
to be assailed from Chippenham, should any troops march to 
the relief of Guthrum. And after all Whitaker does not believe 
the battle was at Yatton, but at Slaughterford. This name is 
certainly referable to some bloody action in the neighbourhood. 
But may not the first attack of the Danes on Chippenham have 
been attended with slaughter of the Saxons? And this is, I 
think, confirmed by a name occurring a little to the north of 
Slaughterford, “‘ Woeful Danes Bottom;” besides which it is 
known that there was a great fight at Sherston, not far off. 
Again, if we refer to the Saxon chronicle, in the very beginning 
of the year 878—“The Danish host bestole (i.e. came suddenly) 
upon Chippenham, then they rode through the West Saxons’ land 
and there sat down, and mickle of the folk over sea they drove, and 
of the other the most deal they rode over, all but the King 
Alfred, he with a little band hardly fared after ye woods, and on 
the new fastnesses.” How came the victorious Danish army to be 
crouching behind the fortifications to the rear of Chippenham ? 
On the whole then, I think that the balance of probabilities is 
decidedly in favour of Ethandun being Edington, The name is 
almost identical, and tradition finding its expression in, or deriving 
—_—_— 
a 
