306 



On Devizes Castle. 



Rainscomb, that being the estate to which it refers. There are still 

 noted in the map remains of ancient fortifications, and in the neigh- 

 bourhood are many old barrows, which may possibly account for 

 some of the names, though the word beorg or beorh means a hill as 

 well as a tumulus. Anyhow the charter is interesting as shewing 

 us the large extent of Safernoc (Savernake) Forest in ancient days, 

 and in enabling us to trace the eastward course of Wansdyke, as it 

 would seem to have touched, at one point, what we now call Rains- 

 comb. 



One word more may be added : namely, that there are few Anglo- 

 Saxon manuscripts more imperfectly written, or in which there are 

 so many evident mistakes of the scribe, as the Harl. MS. 436, from 

 which the charters given above are taken. Every consideration is 

 therefore due to those who are venturesome enough to attempt to 

 interpret them. 



W. H. J. 



By Tom Buegess, Esq., F.S.A. 



(Read before the British Archaeological Association, at Devizes, August, 1880,) 



O idea of reading a paper on this subject occurred to me until 

 the day following the visit of the Association to Devizes 

 Castle ; but when I learned how little was known of the Castle or 

 of its origin, I yielded to a request made to me, and would now 

 attempt to throw some light upon what appears to be an obscure 

 passage in the history of Devizes. My knowledge of the subject is 

 derived from analogy, from a visit to many fortified places, from a 

 study of earthworks extending over many years, and from the com- 

 parison of ideas and experiences with those who have a deep and 



