memorial of the victory of the Saxons obtained over the Danes at Escesdun (i.e. Ash-down) in that county," as may be seen in reference to an able paper in the Archæologia, vol. xxxi. p. 289.

On the whole without meaning that there is no room for doubt upon the point, I think what I have said will shew that there are, at least, as strong grounds, indeed stronger, for believing the battle of Ethandun to have been fought at Etton-down, as at Edington or any other place yet suggested.

I add a translation of the passage in Geoffry Gaimar's metrical romance “L'Estorie des Engles," which relates to this celebrated fight.

Then (878) at Christmas, the felon Danes
Who had sworn to keep the peace
Broke it like knaves,

And marched into Wessex.

At Chippenham they halted for a time,
And took pleasure in doing mischief.
They destroyed houses and crops,

Chapels, and their religious.

They drove the people from their country,

And put many in prison.

The King Alfred, who was their father,
Knew not what to do or to say.
From all parts he called for aid,
But few was he able to assemble.
When he saw how he was situated
So grievously encompassed by his foes,
He took refuge in the forests and thickets,
To escape from their blood-thirsty hands.
Nevertheless, whenever he was able,
With such folk as he could obtain,

He met their squadrons,

And slew often many of them.

After Easter in the same year,

The good King Alfred had shut himself

In a castle he had for defence

At Ethelingay,

And troubled the Danes.

Four weeks after Easter,

He rode to Ecbrichstane

Which is east of Selwood.

Ceolmer came to meet him and Chude

309

Abury.

By WILLIAM LONG, ESQ., M.A.

HERE is no district in the British Isles of greater interest

to the antiquary than the tract of country between Devizes and Marlborough. Within it may be seen the Wansdyke, that last and largest of the boundaries between the Belgic and aboriginal tribes, stretching for miles along the summit of the hills; earthworks of various forms on the adjoining slopes; barrows large and small, long and round; the remains of a British settlement on Huish Hill; the camps of Oldbury, Rybury, Knap-hill, and Martin's-hill; a British trackway, which at a subsequent period formed a part of the Icknield way; the Roman road from Bath, which, after making use of the fosse of the Wansdyke, traverses the open downs in its course towards Cunetio and Londinium; the gigantic hill of Silbury; and lastly, one of the oldest, most extensive, and most interesting relics of antiquity we possess, the remains of the temple of Abury.

The pretty village of Abury or Avebury, within the parochial

1 Dr. Guest on the Four Roman Ways, p. 13 and 22 (Archæol Journal No. 54). 'Cunetio' is evidently the Latin form of the word 'Kennet,' or 'Cunnet' as Stukeley says it was called by the country people in his time.

3 The temple at Stanton Drew is supposed by many to be of older date than that at Abury. The temple which appears to correspond more nearly than any other in character and features, (being far inferior in size,) with the gigantic monument in Wiltshire, is that of Arbor Lowe in Derbyshire. It is circular, or rather elliptical: has a ditch six yards wide, within a high vallum: the area, within the ditch, fifty yards in diameter: a large circle of about 30 huge unhewn stones: an inner circle of smaller ones (doubtful), and near the centre three larger ones. The circumference of the vallum about 270 yards. There are two entrances, N. and S. and about a quarter of a mile off towards the west is a large conical tumulus called "Gib Hill" connected with the vallum of the temple by a rampire of earth running in a serpentine direction. See “Bateman's Vestiges of the Antiquities of Derbyshire, 1848, p. 109." For a suggestion as to the origin of the names Arbor and Abury, see a Note further on.