Page 48

48              S T o x       HNa Reflored, &c.
       Camp, (in Wiltjbire, and probably not far from the Place whe
       Stone-Lfeng ftands,) and having viewed the manner of their encampinz,
       and obferved their Security, he returned back to feveral of his Lords,,
       retreated into the Ifland called Edlingfej, invironed with two Rivers,
       Thane and Parret, in SomerfitJbire) and acquainting them in how
       carelefs and open a Potlure he found the Enemy; recolle&ed the
       fcattered Remains of his Forces, and with thefe furprizing the Danes
       and putting them firft into a pannick Terror, and then to Flight,
       gave them fo conftderable a Defeat, that they immediately fubmit-
       ted to a Treaty, and delivered Hoftages for Performance of Conditin
          Now, confidering the extreme low Ebb of Fortune, to which this
       excellent King was at that time brought.; and the high Flood of Prof.
       perity that in the mean while had advanced the  Danes over all Parts
       of his Dominions, infomuch that nothing feemed wanting to comi
       pleat their Conqueft, but only to find out the few pefendants who
       remained in Obfcurity; and withal refle&ing upon the former-mcn-
       tioned Cuftom of that ambitious and martial Nation, to ezke& Courts
       Royal of huge Stones, according to the mantier defcribcd, for the
       leffion of their Kings, in all Countries, -where the happySticcefs ol
       their Arms had given them a Title to Sovereignty : I am apt to be.
       lieve, that having then over-ran the whole Kingdom, except onl)
       SomerfetJbire, and encamping their main Army in Wiltjire, for nea
       upon two Years together ; and fetting up their Reft in a Confidenci
       to perpetuate their newly acquired Power, they employed themfelves
       during that Time of Leifur nd jollity, in ereding Stone-Heng, a
       a Place wherein to Ele& and Inaugurate their Suprcanc Commander
       King of England: The Weaknefs of the diftrefl-ed Alred affordin
       them a fit Opportunity, and that Country yielding them fit Materi.
       als for fo great and fiupendous a.Work. - Nor is'it improbable, thai
       the great Supinity and Diforder in which the'Royal Spie found them
       when the Magick of his Fiddle had charmed them into an Imper.
       ception of the Majefty of his Perfon, and procured him a free Wld
       come into their Camp; might be occafioned by the 7ubilee they ce,
       lebrated, after they had finifhed that laborious Task, and therein newl3
       crowned their King, after a triumphal Manner, fuch as at once corre.
       fponded with the Fafhion of their Anceftors, and expreffed the Pro
       fufenefs of their publick Joy. For many of our Hiftorians relate
       that the Danij Army was at that time let loofe to Luxury and Reve
       -ling; and that the unknown Mulician was brought to play before thed
       King, Gurmund, in his Tent, during a long and magnificent Feaft
       But perhaps I may be thought too bold, in daring, from fuch flen.
       der Paffages and circumiftantial Hints, thus precifely to guefs at ti
       Age of this Antiquity; concerning whofe Original, neither Hiftory
       nor Tradition, hath left any Glimpfe of Light, whereby the Inqui.
       fitive might be guided thro" the darkfome Vale of Uncertainty, tc
       the delightful Manfion of Truth. Leaving every Man, therefore, tc
       the Liberty of his own Thoughts, touching this Particular, as alfi
       whatever elfe hath been faid of the Monument it feilf, and its ori-i-
       nal Defignation: I here put a Period to this Difcourfe, wherein,
       though I have adventgred to contend. with Oblivion; I had no Dc-
       fign to ufurp upon the Judgment of others.
                                FINIS.