All About History Books
Published March 2025. The Deeds of King Henry V, or in Latin Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
Available at Amazon as eBook or Paperback.
Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1878 V17 Pages 253-254 is in Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1878 V17.
Supposed Stone-Circle near Abury
One mile south of Silbury the wanderer over the down in that district may have noticed a few sarsen stones lying scattered in an irregular line on the brow of a hill commanding a full view of Silbury to the north, with Abury beyond it.
A close examination of these stones some years ago caused me to suspect that though now overthrown, and so moved from their original position, they must have once formed the segment of a large circle. But though I have many times visited them, and speculated on their probable intention, it was not till this autumn, when a more careful scrutiny resulted in my finding four other stones peeping just above ground, and certain faint indications of a trench, all of which would come within the supposed circle, that I determined to examine the ground more searchingly with the probe and the spade.
Accordingly having obtained the ready permission of the owner, the Rev. Robert Ashe, and the cordial consent of the occupier, Mr. Pinniger, and having happily secured the valuable assistance of one, who by his admirable treatises on Abury and Stonehenge, has earned the title of a master in British antiquities (Mr. William Long), I set a careful man to dig early one morning in September last; and guided by the stones which appeared above ground, and the mark of the trench, we triumphantly vindicated our impression that it was a circle, by unearthing in that one day no less than twenty-two sarsen stones, lying from two to twelve inches below the surface.
That these stones, though generally very small, were manifestly placed in the position they now occupy, in many cases nearly touching one another, and that they formed part of a large circle, is (I think) unmistakable. What that circle was, and what was its probable intention, I will not now discuss. Enough for the present that we have proved its existence; that the area it occupied is very large, with a diameter of about ninety yards; that the traces of the entire circle are by no means complete; and that subsequent days' diggings have as yet revealed but four more stones, none of which come within the exact circle.
It is my intention to continue the examination, when the weather will allow on that most exposed down. I only make mention of the investigation now, before it is completed, in order that, while the stones are yet uncovered, any one who desires to do so, may visit the spot, and form his own opinion of the circle, which may readily be found by following the waggon-track nearly opposite Silbury, on the Beckhampton side, and continuing due south till the stones are reached.
A. C. SMITH.
Yatesbury Rectory,
October 24th, 1877.
Note 1. It has been suggested to me that the rebus may stand for Baynton, as one of that family had the Britford manor for a few years as trustee. The foliage however appeared rather to be that of an ash.