76 On the Barrow at Lanhill near Chippenham; 
of God. Advancing in warlike array, they boldly challenged 
their most renowned enemy to battle...... The two armies fought 
the greater part of the day, and their cries and the clashing of 
their arms were heard far and wide.” 
It must also be objected that, from the promptitude of Alfred’s 
movements, it is hardly probable that the Danes could have 
advanced so far to the south as Edington, fourteen or fifteen miles 
from Chippenham, after obtaining intelligence of the king’s 
approach. Little difficulty, it must be admitted, exists on the 
ground of orthography, in accepting Edington as the representative 
of Ethandun; Edington being clearly the Edendone of Domes- 
day, and being written Edyndon, at least as late as the time of 
Henry the VIth, (1449.)! An objection, on this ground, does exist 
against Heddington, near Calne, which is, the Edinfon of Domes- 
day, but which has been assigned most improbably, as the site of 
this battle by Milner. 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, appear 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. That the Danes had advanced 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. Even if Edington must be admitted as the site of the 
battle, we should still demur to accepting the camp at Bratton as 
the Danish fortress. Those who are familiar with the site of this 
earthwork, on the edge of the steep escarpment of the downs above 
Edington, will admit the difficulty of the Danes effecting a retreat 
thither; and we think it must be further granted, that Alfred 
could scarcely have maintained a successful siege whilst remaining, 
as he must, in the vale below; the Danes, meanwhile, possessing 
free egress to the south. The white horse, cut out in the chalk, directly 
1 “ Modern Wilts,” by Sir R. C. Hoare, ‘‘ Hundred of Westbury,” p, 15. 
2 “ History of Winchester,” 1798. 
3 There seems indeed much doubt whether the entrance to the north, with the 
road to Edington, are not altogether of modern origin. The principal entrance 
