58 White Horse Jottings. 
Minister of Public Works thought that it would be an excellent 
plan to put up notice-boards to give visitors some information as to 
the various buildings that were being unearthed. Only it happened 
unluckily that he could not quite make up his mind to which of the 
conflicting schools of topography he would give his credence. And 
so it came to pass that you would one day pass along a road, and 
read to the right, “ This is the Temple of Apollo,” and to the left, 
** This is the House of the Slaves of Tiberius.” And the next day 
you would find these boards removed, and other boards put in their 
place, assuring you with equal dogmatism, “ These are the Baths of 
Livia”: “These are the Cexnacula of the Palace of Augustus |” 
Well now, as regards our Westbury White Horse. Honestly, I 
do not see why the traditional history of its origin should not be 
the true one. And my idea is that, wherever a definite tradition 
exists as to the occurrence of any historical event, such tradition 
ought to be upheld; unless, on the one hand, there is some inherent 
evidence of its impossibility ; or, on the other hand, some fresh facts 
have come to light establishing, beyond all reasonable doubt, the 
greater probability of some rival theory. Furthermore, that, in 
holding the balance between two conflicting i arn tae > should 
be allowed considerable weight. 
You will remember that King Alfred had come to the throne 
eight years previously, on the death of his brother Ethelred, and 
that he had for some time been dogged persistently by an evil fate. 
He had in the first year of his reign been worsted by the Danes in 
no less than eight or nine encounters, and had eventually been driven 
to compound with them by a money payment for their departure 
from Wessex. From this time he seems to have remained quiet, 
recruiting his forces, until in 875 he felt himself strong enough to 
resume hostilities. For a long time fortune was still adverse, and 
at the beginning of 878 we find the Danes encamped in force at 
Chippenham, and Alfred reduced to flight. ‘Then came the period 
of his residence at Athelney, during which he was alternately occu- 
pied in raising troops and (as a certain time-honoured legend informs 
us) toasting cakes, and occasionally letting them burn; until in 
May, he determined to make another bold stroke for the kingdom, 
