THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 131
admirably demonstrated in the wide landscape before our eyes. Naturally
the most interesting historical event was connected with Ashingdon, where in
1016 Canute obtained his great victory over the Saxons. Traces of an
encampment are there, and also some barrows near. Mr. Holmes read the
following extract from Freeman's Hist. of the Norman Conquest as an historical
commentary on the scene :—
"The Danes meanwhile sailed along the coast of Essex, and entered the
estuary of the Crouch. There they left their ships, while the army went on a
plundering expedition into Mercia, which is spoken of as being more fearful
than any that had gone before it. After this they returned towards their
ships, the latter part of their course leading them along the high ground
which lies south of the Crouch. Along these heights Eadmund followed
them, and at last overtook and engaged them in the sixth and last battle of
this wonderful year, the memorable fight of Assandun. At the extremity of
the range, two hills of slight positive elevation, but which seem of consider-
able height in the low country in the east of England, look down on the
swampy plain watered by the tidal river. Between the hills and this lowest
ground lies a considerable level at an intermediate height, which seems to
have been the actual site of the battle. Of the two hills, one still retains the
name of Ashington, an easy corruption of the ancient form ; while the other,
in its name of Canewdon, perhaps preserves the memory of the Danish con-
queror himself. On Assandun, then, a site marked by entrenchments which
are possibly witnesses of that day's fight, possibly of yet earlier warfare,
Eadmund drew up his forces in three ranks, and at first seemed disposed to
await the attack of the enemy. . But Cnut had no mind to attack ;
probably he wished to avoid a battle altogether, and merely sought to regain
his ships with his plunder. At all events, he had no mind to attack the
English as long as they were posted on a spot where the ground gave them
the advantage. . . . He gradually led his troops off the hills into the
level ground : that is, the intermediate height between the hills and the
swampy plain. The main object of Eadmund was to cut off the Danes from
their ships ; he had therefore no choice but to leave his strong post and to
descend to the lower ground. . . He accordingly began the battle
with a furious assault upon the Danes . . and the fight was kept up
with equal valour and with terrible slaughter on both sides. But, on the
whole, the Danes had the worst, and they were beginning to give way, when
Eadric again betrayed his lord and king and . . . took to flight. The
battle, however, was kept up till sunset, and even by the light of the moon ;
but after the flight of Eadric, the English had to maintain the struggle on
very unequal terms. All England fought against Cnut ; but Cnut had the
victory."
A short rest was taken at St. Peter's Church, which is traditionally said
to be the original church built by Canute in memory of his victory. It
occupies high ground, and there are pleasant views from the church-yard.
Mr. E. B. Ferry, in the Archaeological Journal, vol. 31, p. 47, has the following
remarks on this church :—
" I have examined Hockley, as well as Canewdon, in the search for Saxon
work. It is impossible, however, to tell the date of the masonry, for the
whole has been so entirely plastered over outside that not a vestige of the real
surface of the walls is visible. On the south side of the chancel is a window
built of a material resembling the Reigate fire-stone. The stones are very
small, less than ordinary, and the inner order [? border] of the window
appears to have been cut away to allow of the insertion of new glass. The
church has a north aisle, separated from the nave by an Early English arcade,
with elegant foliated caps formerly plastered over, but restored to view again
some thirty years since. The west tower doorway had been elaborately