Did the first Danish Invaders come directly from Denmark:- Thierry (Norman Conquest, Book II) says, "In three days, with an east wind, the fleets of Denmark and Norway, two-sailed vessels, reached the south of Britain anno 787; " and Lappenberg (vol. I p 273) says the first landing took place on the coast of Dorsetshire from three ships. If they started from the most southerly point of Denmark, and landed in Portland Bay in Lat 50 deg 35 in, the point of the coast nearest Dorchester - the city where the reeve Beaduheard lived, who went to question them - they must have had at least 680 miles to sail. Now if we go even further south, and take Hamburgh in Lat 53 deg. 24 min. as the point of rendezvous, we shall find that, with an east wind, they would have to make a port 2 deg 49 min. south of the one from which they start ; and sail for seventy-two hours at a rate of nine and a half miles per hour. But their sailing night and day����.. to be continued

Notes and Queries Vol. 3 3rd S. (76) June 13 1863 Page 467

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