By Geo. Matcham, Esq. 179 



from any conceivable marcli whicli Alfred could have made, his 

 remark and the inferences which he draws from it, are of no mo- 

 ment. It seems reasonable to suppose that the king, on account 

 of the wooded character of the neighbourhood, advanced due north 

 from Bucley or Westbury Leigh, till he came to a line parallel 

 with Edington, diverging from which direction, he attacked the 

 camp on the western or northwestern side, in which case, Bratton 

 would be sufficiently in the rear of the Danes to permit their re- 

 treat to that fortress. I fully admit the difficulty of flight to the 

 southern entrance, and consequently that if there were then no 

 northern approach to Bratton camp, the obstacle would be nearly 

 insuperable. Dr. Thurnam, therefore, with sufficient astuteness 

 adds, "the principal entrance is clearly that on the south side, and 

 it is by no means certain that originally any other existed." The 

 question however to be determined is, not whether a N.E. entrance 

 eriginaUy existed, but whether it existed at that time. Sir Richard 

 Hoare after a very minute inspection, observes, that "this earth- 

 work was first made by the Britons, and afterwards used by the 

 Romans, Saxons, and Danes :" he further states, that " the N.E. 

 point presents an additional earthwork, like a small detached camp." 

 Now there is here, I think, evidence to shew that this entrance was 

 not broken through in modern times : but that it was an approach 

 formed with care, on the principles of ancient fortification, the 

 place of admission being guarded with appropriate defence: or 

 advantage being taken of a strong outwork in forming a subsequent 

 entrance. And hence, although we may agree with Dr. Thurnam, 

 that " earthworks were not usually weakened by approaches on the 

 side of a declivity," yet where such an approach was deemed ex- 

 pedient, the " weakness" which it occasioned was counteracted by 

 powerful out-works, and the entrance guarded with proper securit5^ 

 Nor does it appear improbable that an approach on the side of 

 Chippenham might have been made even by the Danes themselves, 

 either for a convenient communication with that place, or for the 

 temporary purpose of its connection with the camp at Edington. 



It may tend to determine the ancient military character of this 

 entrance, if I add, that the outer line of cntrencliiuent is extended 



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