180 The Battle of Ethandun. 



to that outwork. After this great battle, whicli determined the fate 

 of England, we must conclude that such earthworks were rarely 

 used, much less subject to additional castrametation. With these 

 facts in view, which sufficiently indicate a means of retreat for the 

 Danes to this entrenchment by its N.E. entrance, I confess my 

 inability to comprehend the force of Dr. Thurnam's deductions, in 

 the following passage, (p. 76). " The narrative of Asser seems, 

 however, decidedly opposed to our assuming Edington and Bratton 

 Castle as the sites of these important events. The description of 

 the fortress, and the booty of horses and cattle found outside, ap- 

 pear to point, not to a stronghold hastily thrown up, or resorted to 

 under the pressure of events, but clearly to a place of security 

 where they had been some time encamped." If a "strong fortress, 

 with double ramparts and a large outwork" can be " hastily thrown 

 up," there may be some truth in the remark ; biit how it could be 

 made in the face of the accompanying plan of Bratton, I am at a 

 loss to know. The writer continues; "That the Danes had ad- 

 vanced to meet Alfred and give him battle, seems evident ; but it 

 is not probable that they would have encumbered themselves with 

 stores of horses and cattle." To this statement I beg to object, 

 that the first, is a gratuitous conclusion, and by the way, incon- 

 sistent with the lengthy encampment, of which we were informed 

 in the preceding sentence, that "horses" were necessary to a pre- 

 datory military fort, and that "spoil" was the daily fruit of 

 Danish occupation. 



But it is urged, that "Alfred could scarcely have maintained a 

 successful siege in the vale below, the Danes possessing free egress 

 to the south." I should have thought, however, that considering 

 the great slaughter which preceded the flight, the victorious army 

 of Alfred would be quite sufficient to blockade both entrances 

 against any attempt of escape, from their reduced and disheartened 

 enemy.^ 



' " The king, with vigorous judgment followed the northmen to their fortress, 

 and contrary to their hopes, encamped himself strongly round it. By this de- 

 cisive measure he cut them off from all reinforcement, and confined them to the scan- 

 ty suhsistence which happened to be in their station. Whilst the siege lasted the 

 strength of Alfred augmented id. lyroportion, which destroyed in the Danes every 



