Somerset | Page 6

dominions in the W. were for some months
reduced. Here in the Eastertide of 879 Alfred, in the words of the
"Saxon Chronicle," "wrought a fortress [of which perhaps the Mump at
Borough Bridge is the site], and from that work warred on the (Danish)
army, with that portion of the men of Somerset that was nearest."[3]
Seven weeks after Easter, Alfred emerged from his place of refuge to
join the men of Somerset, Wilts, and Hants, who had gathered in force

at "Ecgbryhtes Stane" (Brixton Deveril in Wilts). Putting himself at
their head, he covered the distance that separated him from the foe in
two stages; for, halting for the night at "Iglea," the next day he defeated
the Danes at "Ethandune," and then besieged and reduced their fortress
or fortified camp. Guthrum, after his defeat, was baptised at Aller; and
at Wedmore subsequently a treaty of peace was concluded between him
and Alfred. The site of the battle of "Ethandune" is unfortunately
difficult to determine. There is an Edington in Somerset on the Polden
Hills; and the fact that the battle was followed by Guthrum's baptism at
Aller and the treaty at Wedmore (places near the Somerset Edington) is
in favour of this being the scene of the encounter. Those who accept
this identification assume that the Danes had moved from Chippenham
to the Poldens, and here, whilst watching Athelney, were taken in the
rear by Alfred, whose single night-halt at "Iglea" on the march from
Brixton Deveril is placed at Edgarley, a locality near Glastonbury.[4]
But the distance between Brixton Deveril and Glastonbury seems too
great to be accomplished by a large body of men along indifferent
roads in a single day; and by many authorities "Ethandune" is identified
with Edington, near Westbury, or Heddington, W. of Melksham, both
in Wilts. However this may be, it was from the Somerset marshes that
Alfred issued forth to his victory, and it was at a Somerset town that he
secured the fruits of it.
The importance of Somerset during the reign of the Saxon kings who
succeeded Alfred is evidenced by the many noteworthy incidents that
are connected with its chief city, Bath, and its great abbey of
Glastonbury. It was at Bath that King Edgar was crowned in 973; and
at the same place at a later date (1013) the Danish king, Sweyn,
received the submission of the western thegns. At Glastonbury were
buried three of the Saxon kings, Edmund (son of Edward the Elder),
Edgar, and Edmund Ironside. Here too was born Dunstan, who was so
prominent an ecclesiastic in the reigns of the first Edmund and five of
his successors. He was made abbot of the abbey by Edmund, and, after
becoming Archbishop of Canterbury, was buried at Glastonbury (988).
Two other Somerset men who filled the see of Canterbury during the
Saxon period were Ethelgar and Alphege.

Under the Plantagenets the history of the county was not very eventful,
though some localities suffered severely in the disturbances of the
Norman period. In William Rufus' reign it was the scene of several of
the movements directed against the king in favour of his brother Robert.
The powerful baron-bishop, Geoffrey of Coutances, with his nephew
Robert of Mowbray, after seizing Bristol, burnt Bath, but was
unsuccessful in the siege of Ilchester (1088). On the death of Henry I.
Somerset favoured the claims of Matilda, and the castles at Cary, E.
Harptree, and Dunster were held by their owners for her against
Stephen, to the no small discomfort of their respective neighbourhoods.
Castle Cary and Harptree were taken by Stephen, but he seems to have
regarded Dunster (defended by William of Mohun) as impregnable.
In Tudor times Somerset witnessed the attempt made on the throne by
Perkin Warbeck in 1497, who was supported by Lord Audley of Nether
Stowey and other Somerset gentlemen. The pretender advanced from
Devonshire to seize Taunton; but when Henry VII. entered Somerset,
passing in his progress through Bath, Wells (where he stayed with the
Dean), and Glastonbury, to Taunton, Warbeck lost heart and fled.
When captured and brought into Henry's presence he was spared; but
the king's clemency did not extend to his supporter Lord Audley, who
was executed on Tower Hill.
During the Great Rebellion in the 17th cent. Somerset was the field of
many important operations. At the outbreak of war in August 1642, the
royal cause was maintained by the Marquis of Hertford, who was
supported by Lord Powlett, Sir Ralph Hopton, Sir John Stawell, and
other leading gentlemen of the county. But the sympathies of the
yeomen and manufacturers were with the Parliament, and Hertford had
to withdraw from Wells, where he had taken up his position, to
Sherborne. In 1643, however, the king's Cornish army entered
Somerset, and was joined