Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/32

 direct line of the road called Danes' Pad, the track usually taken by the Northmen in former incursions into the Fylde and county. In addition it may be mentioned that tradition affirms that a large quantity of human bones were ploughed up in a field between Burn and Poulton about a century ago. Sharon Turner says:—"It is singular that the position of this famous battle is not yet ascertained. The Saxon song says it was at Brunanburgh; Ethelwerd, a contemporary, names the place Brunandune. These of course are the same place, but where is it?" Having done our best to suggest or rather renew an answer presenting several points worthy of consideration to Mr. Turner's query, we will, before bidding farewell to the subject, give our readers a translated extract from the old song to which allusion has been made:—

Athelstan king, Of earls the Lord, Of Heroes the bracelet giver, And his brother eke, Edmund Atheling, Life-long glory, In battle won, With edges of swords, Near Brunanburgh. The field was dyed With warriors blood, Since the sun, up At morning tide, Mighty planet, Gilded o'er grounds, God's candle bright, The eternal Lord's, Till the noble creature Sank to her rest.

West Saxons onwards Throughout the day, In numerous bands Pursued the footsteps Of the loathed nations. They hewed the fugitives, Behind, amain, With swords mill-sharp. Mercians refused not The hard-hand play To any heroes, Who with Anlaf, Over the ocean, In the ship's bosom, This land sought.

There was made to flee The Northmens' chieftain, By need constrained, To the ships prow With a little band. The bark drove afloat. The king departed. On the fallow flood His life he preserved. The Northmen departed In their nailed barks On roaring ocean.

Athelstan, in order to encourage commerce and agriculture, enacted that any of the humbler classes, called Ceorls, who had crossed the sea thrice with their own merchandise, or who,