The great defeat given by Alfred to the Danish invaders is said by Mr. Gough to have taken place near Ashdown, in Berkshire.  “The burial place of Baereg, the Danish chief, who was slain in this fight, is distinguished by a parcel of stones, less than a mile from the hill, set on edge, enclosing a piece of ground somewhat raised.  On the east side of the southern extremity stand three squarish flat stones, of about four or five feet over either way, supporting a fourth, and now called by the vulgar Wayland smith, from an idle tradition about an invisible smith replacing lost horse-shoes there.”—­GOUGH’S edition of Camden’s Britannia, vol.i., p. 221.

The popular belief still retains memory of this wild legend, which, connected as it is with the site of a Danish sepulchre, may have arisen from some legend concerning the northern Duergar, who resided in the rocks, and were cunning workers in steel and iron.  It was believed that Wayland Smith’s fee was sixpence, and that, unlike other workmen, he was offended if more was offered.  Of late his offices have been again called to memory; but fiction has in this, as in other cases, taken the liberty to pillage the stores of oral tradition.  This monument must be very ancient, for it has been kindly pointed out to me that it is referred to in an ancient Saxon charter as a landmark.  The monument has been of late cleared out, and made considerably more conspicuous.

Note 3.  Ch.  XIV.—­Leicester and Sussex.

Naunton gives us numerous and curious particulars of the jealous struggle which took place between Ratcliffe, Earl of Sussex, and the rising favourite Leicester.  The former, when on his deathbed, predicted to his followers that after his death the gipsy (so he called Leicester, from his dark complexion) would prove too many for them.

Note 4.  Ch.  XIV.—­Sir Walter Raleigh.

Among the attendants and adherents of Sussex, we have ventured to introduce the celebrated Raleigh, in the dawn of his court favour.

In Aubrey’s Correspondence there are some curious particulars of Sir Walter Raleigh.  “He was a tall, handsome, bold man; but his naeve was that he was damnably proud.  Old Sir Robert Harley of Brampton Brian Castle, who knew him, would say it was a great question who was the proudest, Sir Walter or Sir Thomas Overbury; but the difference that was, was judged in Sir Thomas’s side.  In the great parlour at Downton, at Mr. Raleigh’s, is a good piece, an original of Sir Walter, in a white satin doublet, all embroidered with rich pearls, and a mighty rich chain of great pearls about his neck.  The old servants have told me that the real pearls were near as big as the painted ones.  He had a most remarkable aspect, an exceeding high forehead, long-faced, and sour-eyelidded.  A rebus is added to this purpose:—­

     The enemy to the stomach, and the word of disgrace,
     Is the name of the gentleman with the bold face.