Cathedrals, abbeys and churches of England and Wales : descriptive, historical, pictorial . 78, Guthrum poured his Danish host down upon the royal palace at Chippenham,in Wiltshire, the power of Wessex seemed to be completely overthrown. Tlieonly refuge open to the fugitive king was the marsh-land of Somerset. But thebeaten ruler was no ordinary man, for his subsequent action showed, and posterityhas recognised, King Alfred to be the greatest of all the English kings beforethe Norman Conquest. He retreated to the island of Athelney, a spit of landbetween the Barret and the Tone, which fmnished
Cathedrals, abbeys and churches of England and Wales : descriptive, historical, pictorial . 78, Guthrum poured his Danish host down upon the royal palace at Chippenham,in Wiltshire, the power of Wessex seemed to be completely overthrown. Tlieonly refuge open to the fugitive king was the marsh-land of Somerset. But thebeaten ruler was no ordinary man, for his subsequent action showed, and posterityhas recognised, King Alfred to be the greatest of all the English kings beforethe Norman Conquest. He retreated to the island of Athelney, a spit of landbetween the Barret and the Tone, which fmnished him with an impenetrable 29i ABBEYS AND CHURCHES. [Bridgwater, Weston fastness. There, like a tiger crouching for a spring, he sojourned for eightmonths, until he was ready to inflict a crushing blow upon the invader this period is attributed the episode of the burning of the cakes, dear to theheart of Mrs. Barbauld. The wars of King Stephens reign must have swept over this district, for theking laid siege to the castles of powerful and predatory barons in various directions. Bridgwater: the exterior. around it; but notliing need be recorded here respecting them. Taunton Castlewas, however, rebuilt by Bisliop GifPard in the previous reign; Bridgwater Castle,built by Walter de Briwere in the reign of King John, has now totallydisappeared. Upon three occasions the peace of this neighbourhood hasbeen distinbed by conflicts for the possession of the English crown. PerkinWarbeck, after failing to effect nuich in Ireland, landed upon the coast ofCornwall, wliere his chief sympathisers were, and advanced eastward to conquerEngland. He seized upon Taunton, but got no further. Here he was faced bythe royal forces, from which he fled without striking a blow, and was speedilycaptured and ultimately led to the gallows. When, on April , 1642, Sii- John Hotham, by order of Parliament, closed ZOYLAND, AND TauNTON-I CAVALIER AND ROUNDHEAD. 293 the gates of Hull against King Ch
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