The making of England

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 edition. Excerpt: ...the vale of White Horse. The height was, no doubt, crowned with the mound or barrow from which its name is drawn--the barrow of Woden, the god from whom the kings of Wessex believed their race to spring: and its sacred character may have backed its advantages as a military position; for Wanborough was the key of Ceawlin's shrunken realm.' So long as he held the post, the old king 1 I gather this from the point at which Ceawlin takes post against the rebels, as well as from their junction with "Britons" against him. See postea. E. Chron. a. 590. Malmesbury (Gesta Regum, i. 17) identifies its "Ceol " with Ceolric. 'E. Chron. a. 584: "There was Cutha slain." E. Chron. a. 591. Guest ("Welsh and English in Somerset," Archaeol. Journal, xvi. 106, 107) fixes this "Wodnes beorge"at Wanborough. Malmesbury (Gesta Regum, i. 17) attributes the rising to the hatred felt towards Ceawlin ("quia enim in odium sui quasi classicum utrobique cecinerat "), but does not give its causes. Guest, "Welsh and English in Somerset," Archaeol. Journal, xvi. 107. Chap. v. could communicate by Roman roads with WinchesThe strife ter and Old Sarum; another road ran by Silchester "querors" to the regions south of the Thames which he had 57-M517 won at Wimbledon; while reinforcements from the--district of the Four Towns could reach him by the Icknield Way, which ran along the edge of the downs on which he stood. It was this that made his overthrow a decisive one. After a terrible slaughter, the day went against Ceawlin;1 he was driven from his realm, and perished two years after, it may be in some effort to regain his throne." The battle of Wanborough marks, as we have seen, a new stage in the...