344
THE SAXONS IN ENGLAND.
[book I.
and running from east to west, divides the county
of Surrey into two nearly equal portions, once per-
haps two petty kingdoms ; the range of hills now
called the Hog,s-back. It is a little to the north
of the ridge, nearly on the summit ; the springs of
water are peculiarly pure and never freeze. In all
probability it has been in turn a sacred site for
every religion that has been received in Britain.
Wanborough, formerly Wodnesbeorh in Wiltshire,
lat. 510 33' N., long. I0 42' W., about 3⅜ miles
S.E. of Swindon, placed upon the watershed which
throws down the Isis to the north, and Kennet to
the south Woodnesborough, formerly Wodnesbeorh,
in Kent, lat. 51o 16' N., long. 1° 29' E., throwing
down various small streams to north and 'south,
into the Stour and the sea. Wonston (probably Wod-
nesstan) in Hampshire, lat. δl0 10' N., long. 1° 20'
W., from which small streams descend to north and
south, into the Test and Itchen. Wambrook (pro-
bably Wodnesbroc) in Dorsetshire. Wampool (pro-
bably Wodnespol) in Cumberland. Wansford (pro-
bably Wodnesford) in Northamptonshire. Wansford
in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Wanstead (pro-
bably Wodnesstede) an old Roman station in Essex.
Wanstrow, formerly Wodnestreow, in Somerset.
Wanborough or Warnborough, formerly Wodnesbeorh,
two parishes in Hampshire. Wembury, formerly
Wodnesbeorh, in Devonshire. Wonersh (probably
Wodnesersc), a parish at the foot of the Hog’s-back,
a few miles from Wanborough. Wansdike, formerly
Wodnesdic, an ancient dike or fortification, per-
haps the boundary between different kingdoms : it
CH. x∏∙]
HEATHENDOM. WO'DEN.
846
extended in a direction from east to west through
more than one of our southern counties. Its re-
mains are visible three or four miles W.S.W. of
Malmesbury in Wiltshire, and it crosses the northern
part of Somerset from the neighbourhood of Bath
to Portshead on the Bristol Channel, where it ends
⅛ lat. 51o 29' N., long. 20 47' W.
In addition to these references, which might be
made far more numerous, if necessary, we have
many instances in the boundaries of charters, of
trees, stones and posts set up in Woden’s name,
and apparently with the view of giving a religious
sanction to the divisions of land. In this, as in
other respects, we find a resemblance to Hermes.
It is also to be borne in mind that many hills or
other natural objects may in fact have been dedi-
cated to this god, though bearing more general
names, as O'sbeorh, Godeshyl and so forth.
One of the names of Odin in the Old-norse my-
thology is Osk, which by an etymological law is
equivalent to the German Wunsch, the Anglosaxon
Wise, and the English Wish. Grimm has shown
in the most convincing manner that Wunsch may
be considered as a name of Wuotan in Germany1;
and it is probable that Wusc or Wise may have had
a similar power here. Among the names in the
mythical genealogies we find Wuscfrea, the lord of
the wish, and I am even inclined to the belief that
Oisc, equivalent to E'sk, the founder of the Kentish
line of kings, may be a Jutish name of Woden
ɪn this form,—ésc, or in an earlier form 6ski, i. e.
’ Deut. Myth. p. 126 seq.