Somerset | Page 5

For the birds of Somerset, see a paper by the Rev. Murray A.
Mathew, M.A., F.L.S., in the "Proceedings of the Somerset
Archaeological and Natural History Society," vol. xxxix., from which
we have borrowed.
[2] For fuller information, see "The Flora of Somerset," by the Rev.
R.P. Murray, M.A., F.L.S., from which the above facts are taken.

VI. HISTORY
Somerset gets its name from a Saxon tribe, but its earliest inhabitants,

like those of the southern half of bur island generally, were Britons or
Celts, and the Saxon invasion was preceded by the Roman. Reminders
that the county was once occupied by a Welsh--speaking race occur in
the constituents of many place-names, such as Pen Selwood, Maes
Knoll, and the numerous combes (cp. Welsh _cwm_). The name of the
British king, Arthur, is associated with Cadbury (near Sparkford); and
the neighbouring villages of Queen Camel and West Camel recall the
legendary Camelot. The earliest church at Glastonbury (_Avalon_) is
believed to have been of British origin, and it is Arthur's reputed
burial-place. In the dedication of the churches at Porlock (Dubricius or
Dyfrig) and Watchet (Decuman or Tegfan) is preserved the memory of
certain British saints, though these probably came on an evangelistic
mission from the other side of the Bristol Channel. But of the primitive
population the most trustworthy memorials are the numerous
earthworks and other material remains which survive in various parts of
the county, and these will be more appropriately noticed under another
heading (see pp. 20-21).
Of the Roman occupation the traces are more varied. Bath and Ilchester
are Roman towns, and from and through them Roman roads run across
the county. In constructing these, the Romans probably used in many
instances existing British trackways. The principal was the Fosse Way
(as it is called), entering the county near Chard from Seaton, and
leaving it at Bath for Lincoln. Within Somerset it is still a very
important artery of traffic. From near Chard a road is thought to have
diverged from it to the N.W., towards the Quantocks, passing by Castle
Neroche. The Fosse Way was, and is, cut at Ilchester by a road coming
from Dorchester and continuing to Glastonbury, and near Masbury, on
the Mendips, by a second, connecting Old Sarum with Axium (Uphill,
near Brean Down). At Bath it was joined by two more roads, one
coming from London and the other (the _Via Julia_) from Aust and
South Wales. The road along the Mendips was doubtless largely used
for the transport of the lead which was mined at Priddy and elsewhere,
and shipped at Uphill. Somerset, during its occupation by the Romans,
seems to have enjoyed tranquillity, for their villas, pavements, and
other remains indicative of peaceful possession are not confined to the
neighbourhood of their large cities (see p. 21).

When the Saxons made themselves masters of England, Somerset
became part of the kingdom of Wessex. Its subjugation was
accomplished in three stages. The first is associated with the name of
Ceawlin, who, after defeating the British at Deorham (in
Gloucestershire), captured Bath, and by 577 reduced the northern part
of the county between the Avon and the Axe. Englishcombe near Bath
recalls this occupation, and the Wansdyke probably served as a barrier
between Saxon and Briton. But between this conquered territory and
Dorset, which was also Saxon, there still remained in the hands of the
Britons a large strip of country; and from this they were not expelled
until the time of Cenwealh (652), who defeated them in 658 at "The
Pens" (identified by many with Penselwood), and drove them westward
to the Parrett. Somerton now became the capital of the Somersaetas, the
Saxon tribe that gave its name to the county (just as the Dorsaetas and
Wilsaetas have done to Dorset and Wilts). The third stage of the
conquest was completed by Ina (688-726), who subdued the rest of
Somerset, forcing the British (whose king was Geraint) into Devon and
Cornwall, and building Taunton as a fortress against them. Williton and
Willsneck (in the Quantocks) perhaps preserve the name of the defeated
Welsh. Ina is famous for more than his military prowess, for he was the
first King of Wessex to issue written laws for the guidance of his
subjects.
During the Saxon period Somerset did not escape the raids of the Danes;
and in the reign of Alfred it was the scene of one of the most eventful
crises in English history. Alfred, after many battles against the invaders,
had at last seen Guthrum their leader retire from Wessex into Mercia.
But in 878, in midwinter, Guthrum suddenly surprised Chippenham
and made himself master of Wessex, and Alfred was forced to
withdraw to the fens of Athelney. To the narrow limits of the "Isle of
the Nobles" the Saxon