198 FIELD MEETINGS. 
of a struggle, which, had England been successful, might 
have resulted in the conquest of South-western Scotland, and 
in its junction politically with the South-east, already Anglian. 
Now the site of the decisive battle, wherein a host of Scots, 
Picts, Galwegians, Irish, Danes, and Cumbrians fought 
against Athelstan of England, is somewhat doubtful. That 
it lies within our county is maintained by that acute historian, 
Dr. Neilson, and what I have to say is little more than a 
summary of his argument. Of the fight we possess at least 
20 different accounts, some of little value, some of none at 
all. From the multitude of counsellors the first point emerges 
—the battle took place in the west. The names of the com- 
batants and the presence of the western Celtic corridor would 
justify that. Besides one of the most authentic accounts men- 
tions that the Norsemen after the defeat fled back to Ireland 
by sea. In the narrowing down process we are aided in the 
next step by the fact that one account distinctly states that 
the fight took place near the Solway. Indeed a _ revised 
version of the same account tells us that the battle was decided 
beyond the Solway on the northern side. Further, Dr. Neil- 
son calls attention to the evidence furnished by the famous 
Egil’s Saga, and the incidents therein recorded and the 
details given fit Birrenswark to a nicety. Two ‘“ borgs,’’ 
i.e., earthworks, one on the south and one on the north, are 
referred to, and the flat top of the hill on which the final 
struggle took place is insisted upon. Even the difference in 
slope between the two hill faces is stated. One piece of 
evidence is worth mention. Egil tells lovingly of the heroic 
death and of the burial of his brother Thorolf, and he expressly 
notes that a great mound was thrown up. And does not 
Birrenswark possess such a tumulus in the saddle between the 
crests? Itis Thorolf’s grave, and the excavation made on it in 
1899 confirms this view. Altogether we are, I think, justified 
in saying that we have a good claim to enrol in our shire’s 
annals the name of a battle of first-rate importance in the 
country’s history. 
