By G. Poulett Scrope, Esq., M.P. 303 



additions from other sources, for the greater part unknown to us 

 in this day, but not on that account to be disbelieved when not in 

 contradiction to earlier and higher authorities. Now Geoffrey 

 Gaimar, as will be seen from the translation subjoined, says that 

 on quitting Brixton, the Saxon army "rode through the whole night 

 and the next day as far as they could, until they came to Aclee, that 

 they went on that night, and the next day at nine o'clock they had 

 reached Edenesdune," now this would accord very tolerably with a 

 march on the first night and day from Brixton to Highley (18 

 miles), and thence on the second night up to nine in the morning 

 to Etton-down (10 miles). But in no manner of way is it intel- 

 ligible that a march of [in the whole] twelve miles (from Brixton to 

 Edington) should be thus described as occupying two entire nights 

 and one day. 



It is reasonable to suppose that Alfred preferred to pass the Avon 

 at Highley, or Melksham which is close by, leaving the deep clayey 

 forests of the vale on the eastern side, and take his line of march 

 along the rising and open western ground, which would enable him 

 to intercept the communication of the Danes with Chippenham, 

 supposing them to be encamped at or near Bury Wood. It is 

 worthy of remark, that Etton-down is traversed by the ancient 

 highway from London through Chippenham to Bristol, which also 

 passes close to Bury Wood camp, two miles further on, just at the 

 intersection of this road with the great Roman Foss road. So that 

 the Danes at the approach of the Saxon army to this spot, would, 

 in order to protect Chippenham, be placed under the necessity of 

 leaving their entrenched camp, and meeting Alfred in the open field. 

 Moreover, Etton-down, the supposed field of battle, over-hangs the 

 valley and brook of Slaughterford, which the routed Danes would 

 necessarily have to cross in the retreat to their hill-fortress ; a retreat 

 throughout which Asser expressly states them to have been pur- 

 flued with great slaughter by Alfred's forces. "Paganos maxima ccede 

 prostravit, etfugientes usque ad arccm percutiens persecutus est." The 

 prevalence of a herb called 'Dane's blood' about Slaugliterford, as 

 attested by Aubrey, may be taken as a minor link in the chain 

 of proofs, of more or lesa weight. Another, hitherto unmentioned. 



