overpowering Cromwell. In 1685 the Duke of Monmouth lodged in its castle, was proclaimed King there, and even laid his hand on many persons for the king's evil. It is impossible not to smile at this superstition. Even Dr. Johnson was, in his childhood, touched for it by Queen Anne, though he could not boast of its efficacy. All that he used to say about it was, that he was the last upon whom the good Queen tried the experiment, and that he just remembered his being introduced to an old lady in a black satin hood, finely dressed and bespangled with jewels! Bridge'water carries on trade with Bristol, Wales, and Cornwall. It had also a foreign trade, chiefly to Portugal and Newfoundland. The extensive manufactory of almost every kind of metal carried on in this town, by T. Pyke, Esq. is well worthy inspection.

The celebrated Admiral Blake, who did such wonders in the time of Cromwell, was a native of Bridgewater, and represented it in several parliaments. The object of all his enterprises was the aggrandisement of old England. Disliking many parts of the Protector's conduct, he continued to fight on, saying to his captains;-It is not for us to mind state matters, but to keep foreigners from fooling us! Mr. Gilpin tells us, "that one personal singularity is recorded which gives a sort of portrait of him. When his choler was raised, and he was bent on some desperate undertaking, it was his custom to twirl his whiskers with his forefinger.

Whenever that sign appeared, those about him well knew something dreadful was in agitation."

In the river Parret, not far from Bridgewater, is the small island of Athelney, whither the immortal Alfred fled from the Danes, and where happened the incident of the herdsman and his wife, who employed the Monarch in baking a cake! This little story is wrought by Mrs. Barbauld, in her Evenings at Home, into a drama, well calculated to delight the youthful imagination, Mr. Joseph Cottle also, in his entertaining Epic Poem, entitled Alfred, has introduced the circumstance with effect. The thoughts of final victory, that possessed the mind of Alfred at this desperate period of his affairs, and which were indulged in this secluded spot, are thus described. The cottager and his wife were gone to rest :-

But ALFRED's eye

No slumber visited. He watch'd the moon,
And counted o'er the brightest of the stars
That shone in heaven, and strove to dissipate
The fix'd and gnawing load that on his heart
Press'd hard; but it was vain, his woes sprang up
Pre-eminent, and dared his will, and bore
A master's sway-ruling his passive mind.
His faithful ODDUNE leagur'd round, and now
No force to aid him. Of ALSWITHA slain-

For ever gone-and of his infant son

Toss'd on the hostile spear, whose piercing cries
No father's arm could succour.

""Tis the hour

Of vengance!" cried the King. "My kindling breast
Glows with one purpose! By the eternal God,
Now am I roused! The Danish cup is full!

The incense of their crimes has steam'd to heaven,

And God demands my vengeance!" Many plans,
All deadly, to and fro through ALFRED's mind
Pass'd rapid, till at length a heavy sleep

Fell on him, and his dreams were mixed with blood!

COTTLE.

Alfred afterwards made the herdsman Bishop of Winchester, and built a monastery here, the foundations of which were discovered 1674. Among other subterraneous remains of this building, were found the bases of church pillars, consisting of wrought free-stone, with coloured tiles; and soon afterwards near this island, was found a sort of medal or picture of St. Cuthbert, with a Saxon inscription, which imported that it was made by order of King ALFRED. It seems by its form to have been hung by a string, and it is conjectured that the King wore it either as an amulet, or in veneration of St. Cuthbert, who is said to have appeared to him in his troubles, and assured him of the victories which he afterwards obtained.

A little beyond Bridgewater, to the right of the road which leads to Wells, lies the village of Sedgemoor, near which the Duke of Monmouth and his adherents were routed. The battle was fought July 6, 1685. The following particulars are worthy of being preserved.

"The approach of the King's forces, under the command of the Earl of Feversham, was first discovered by Mr. William Sparke, a farmer of Chedzoy, who was at that time on the tower, and by the assistance of a glass, saw them coming

BATTLE OF SEDGEMOOR.

109

down Sedgemoor. One Richard Godfrey, of the same parish, was immediately dispatched to Weston Zoyland, to take a nearer observation, who, having informed himself of their strength, and the order of their encapment, ran to Bridgewater to apprize the Duke. A consultation being held, it was determined to assault the royal camp in the dead of the night. Accordingly on Sunday, July the 5th, a little before midnight, the DUKE's party marched out of Bridgewater, taking Godfrey with them for a guide, who conducted them through a private lane at Bradney (known at this day by the name of War Lane,) and passing under Peasy farm, brought them, at length, into North Moor, directly in the rear of the King's army. Unluckily for the Duke, at this juncture, a pistol was fired by some person unknown, which alarming the enemy, they soon put themselves in a posture to receive the attack.

"The action began on Monday morning, between one and two of the clock, and continued near an hour and a half. Sixteen only of the King's soldiers were killed (as appears from a memorandum, entered at the time, in the parish register at Weston) five of whom were buried in Weston church, and eleven in Weston churchyard. Above one hundred were wounded, and among them Louis Chevalier de Misiere, a French gentleman, who died of his wounds, and lies buried in the church of Middelzoy. On the part of the Duke 300 were killed in the field of battle, and

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SINGULAR CRUELTY.

500 were taken prisoners in the pursuit, and upwards of five hundred were apprehended afterwards by the civil officers and others.

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Immediately after the battle, the Earl of Feversham ordered twenty-two of the prisoners to be hanged on the spot, four of whom were hanged in chains! The fate of one man in particular is too extraordinary to be passed over. This person, remarkably swift of foot, was prevailed upon, on condition of being pardoned, to entertain the general with an instance of his agility. Accordingly, having stripped himself naked, a halter was put round his neck, and the opposite end of it was fastened to the neck of a horse. They started at a place called Bussex-rhine, and ran from thence to Brintsfield-bridge, a distance somewhat exceeding half-a-mile; and though the horse went at full speed, the man kept pace with him the whole way, But, notwithstanding this exertion of his ability, and the terms of the agreement, the inhuman General ordered him to be hanged with the

rest.

"The barbarity of the soldiers, who were employed in burying the slain, was yet greater. Several unfortunate men of the Duke's party, who lay wounded on the field, were thrown into the earth with the dead; and some endeavouring, with the little strength they had left, to crawl out of their graves were prevented by the unfeeling soldiers, who dispatched them with their spades!

Upon reading this account of Sedgemoor battle,