When the East-Anglian Danes revolted against Edward the Elder (905). they forded the Thames at Cricklade, and overran and plundered the country as far as Braden, between Cricklado and Malmesbury, but retired before the king could gather his army to attack them. in the year 978 a council of the chief nobles on ecclesiastical affairs was convened by Dunstan at Caine, which became mournfully celebrated from a fearful disaster which distinguished it. The floor of the room where the council was assembled gave way ; some were killed, others dreadfully bruised, but Dunstan was unhurt. In 1003 Wiltshire was ravaged by the Dance, who plundered and burnt Wilton, and occupied Old Sarum ; the men of Wiltshire and Hampshire assembled to meet them, but the treachery or cowardice of their commander, Ealderman Elfrie, enabled the enemy to withdraw without loss. For several years the Danes continued to harass the district. In 1016, soon after midsummer, a severe but indecisive battle was fought between Edmund Ironsido, who had become king of the Anglo-Saxons, and Canute, the Danish king, at Sceorstane, now Great Sheraton, about six miles west from Malmesbury.
The Roman road from Calleva (Silehesier) to Inca Silurum (Caerleon) probably entered the county at or near Hungerford, but there do not appear to be any traces of it east of Marlborough. It is still to be traced from Fyfield, two miles west of Marlborough, with little inter ruption, for 22 miles across the downs by West Rennet, Silbury bill, and lieddingtonVick, through Spy Park, almost to the border of the county near Bathford. The remains of baths, tesselated pavements, medals, pottery, glass, des, have been dug up in Spy Park and in L'owood Park, near the supposed site of the station Verlucio. This road is included in the twelfth her of Richard of Cirencester.
A Roman road from Calleva (Silchester) and Yenta Belgarum (Win chester) to lam Dumniorum (Exeter), coincident with the fifteenth [ter of Antonlnua, and included in the sixteenth Iter of Richard, enters the county across the Hampshire border, about two miles east of the village of West Winterslow, passes by the hamlet of Middle Winter low (near which its remains are called the Devil's Causeway), across Winter bourne-Down, and thence to Old Sarum; from which place the road runs sonth-west by Stmtford-Dean, Bemerton, and Vernditeh Lodge, and across Irernditch Chace, into Dorsetshire, where it is in one part known as Achling Ditch, or Atchling Street, The Roman Foss Road touches the boundary of the county on the north side, about two miles from Cirencester; it rums south-west about 23 miles upon or within the boundary of the county, coinciding throughout with existing roads, and showing its Roman origin by the directness of its course. There are traces of a Roman settlement at Easton.Grey on the Foss, where a profusion of medals has been found.
Another Roman road enter° the county on the north side, and runs south-east, coinciding with the modern road from Cirencester to Cricklade, near which it crosses the Thames, just however avoiding the town. From near Cricklade, it runs still south-east by or near
Water-Eaton, Wanborough, and Baydon, into Berkshire, uniting at Spines or Spcen with the Roman road from Londinium to Aquas Stills, or Bath. It is comprehended in the thirteenth Iter of Antennas's, and is coincident throughout its Wiltshire course with modern roads or lanes. Numerous minor roads evidently of Roman construction have been traced in the county.
Of the station Cunetio traces are found both at Mildenhall on the north side of the Kennet, and Folly Farm on the south side. The bill on which Folly Farm stands is covered with a variety of banks and earthworks, probably belonging to the period before the Roman dominion, and within these more ancient works are traces of the Roman settlement. A portion of the rampart, which was quadrangular with round'd angles, may be seen ; and funeral remain., coarse teases lated pavement., medals, and other relics have been dug up.
The earthworks of Sorblodunnm, now Old Sarum, are very conspi cuous. They are ou the right of the Marlborough road, about a mile and a half from Salisbury, and consist of a circular or rather oval intreuchtnent ; a smaller intrenchment of similar form within the first ; and some earthen banks extending from the inner to the outer intrenchment, and subdividing the area between them. Numerous roads met here, of which traces are still distinguishable.
At Stockton Wood Corner, 10i miles from Sorbiodunum (Old Sarum), on the road which leads into Somersetshire by Kingston Deverhill, are some indications of a Roman settlement, pottery and raelsie haring been dug up. At Biabopatrow, between Warminster and II ytesbury, on. the line of the supposed road from Sorblodtinum (Old Sarum) to Aqnsi Sulis (Bath), the remains of a Roman settlement have been found ; an earthen) vellum inclose, an irregular quadran gular area of 50 acres, still called the Bury: large fragments of Roman pottery have been dug up in every part of the incloeure. At Pitmead, close to Ilishopatrow ; at nudge, near Ens:field ; at Bromham, near the alto of the station Verlucio; and at Littlecote, near Ramsbury, tease late.] pavements have been discovered, but the principal of them were destroyed soon after they were found. At Mudge a brass cup and some medals were found in a well : the cup was Inscribed with the names of several of the stations on the Roman wall in Northumberland. An engraving of It is given In Horsley's ' Britannia Romano,' and in Ileare's 'Ancient Wiltshire.' Many other Roman remains, but not of great importance, have been found ; some of them, such as stuccoed and painted walls, and hypocausts, were found within the inclosures of what were supposed to be British settlements.