9 th S. V. JUNE 2, 1900.]
NOTES AND QUERIES.
447
by scholars, has been followed by a rendering in
modern English, appealing to a general public, and
designed to present to average Englishmen a real
and great man, " practical, right-feeling, and earnest
beyond his generation," instead of the half -legendary
shape in which Alfred stands before them. The task
has been admirably accomplished, the prose portion
being rendered word for word, so as to preserve the
directness and vigour of the original, while the
rendering of the alliterative verse retains, while
following closely the text, much spirit and an agree-
ably archaic ring. The book is, indeed, well
executed in all respects, and can be read with more
contentment and delight than any modern version
of Boethius with which we are acquainted. An
admirable introduction gives a full account of
Alfred's method of translation, and most interest-
ing and valuable bibliographical information. In
opposition to many modern scholars, Dr. Sedgefield
holds the view that the metrical version, which
follows the prose, is the work of Alfred himself. Dr.
Sedgefield alludes to a metrical version of all the
'Carmina' of the first book and two of the second,
executed by Thomas Challoner or Chaloner, Am-
bassador to the Low Countries in 1559-60 and to Spain
in 1561-5 (qy. 1564 ?). This is still in MS. in the
Public Record Office, is unmentioned by Chaloner's
biographers, and is sufficiently spirited, to judge by
the specimens that are given, to merit publication.
Prof. Arber might, perhaps, see his way to include
it in some future volume of ' The English Garner.'
The work forms a worthy tribute to one who was
called by Freeman "the most perfect character in
history. Dr. Sedgefield thus renders one of the
spontaneous outbursts to which Alfred was led in
the course of his translation : "It has ever been
my desire to live honourably while I was alive, and
after my death to leave to them that should come
after me my memory in good works."
The Church Towers of Somerset. By E. Piper, R.P.E. With Introduction, &c., by John Lloyd Warden Page. Parts XVII.-XLX. (Bristol, Frost & Reed.)
THREE more parts have appeared of this attractive and meritorious publication, the first volume of which is now in the hands of the public, while some progress has been made with volume the second, and there seems a probability that the close of the century will witness the completion of Miss Piper's task. Part XVII. opens with the church of St. Mary, Huish Episcopi, which words Mr. Page translates Bishop's House, without, however, being able to state when a bishop dwelt there. What is the origin of Huish, sometimes spelt Hewish, we are unable to conjecture. The tower is in some respects the most beautiful yet depicted, being, as Mr. Page says, of the Glas- tonbury type, and from pinnacle to base without a flaw. The ornamentation, especially that of the parapets and battlements, is exquisite. The tower is Perpendicular, though a transition Norman arch in the porch tells of an earlier church which stood on the spot, and was probably destroyed by fire. Next follows the twin church All Saints of Lang- port, the proportions of which are shrunk into something like insignificance by those of its neigh- bour, the arms sculptured on the central battle- ments being, as Mr. Page is informed, those of Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. In the inside of the edifice are many objects of interest, including the arms of Sir Amyas Paulet. Keeping
still to the neighbourhood of Lang-port, we find our-
selves contemplating, in Part XVIIl., the churches
of Westonzoyland and Chedzoy, marking the limits
of the battle of Sedgemoor. Rising out of the marine
marshes, indicated by the name Zoy, that border
the estuary of the Parrett, the tower of St. Mary's,
Westonzoyland, which reaches an elevation of one
hundred and twenty feet, is a sufficiently con-
spicuous landmark. It is richly ornamented, though
it has suffered from the iconoclasts, is weather-
worn, and stands in need of "judicious restoration."
Mr. Page noted a quantity of ferns growing out of
the masonry. This is a not unbecoming adjunct to
a church so exposed and battered, but the roots
will soon rend the stories one from another. At
Chedzoy, also, the church is dedicated to St. Mary.
Its tower is scarcely half the height of Weston-
zoyland, but is pretty and cosily placed. The build-
ing itself is rich in associations with Sedgemoor,
the story that the deep scoring on one of the
buttresses was done by the rustics whetting their
scythes or the dragoons sharpening their swords
having won general currency. Part XIX. contains
the title-page to vol. ii. and index of plates to
vol. i. It then, taking us westward of Bridgwater,
on the high road to Taunton, exhibits yet one
more church of St. Mary at North Petherton. This
tower, of red sandstone, is one of the richest and
most elaborate in Somersetshire, the topmost stages
being a mass of delicate and beautiful workman-
ship lacework, so to speak, in stone. The quaint
figures of the gargoyles cannot be preserved in an
etching. To another Mary St. Mary Magdalene
is dedicated the church at Bridgwater, which
follows. The tower of this, one of the lowest in
Somerset, is surmounted by a tall spire, one hundred
and seventy-four feet high. This feature, uncommon
in Somersetshire, arrests much attention. It ia
eminently graceful.
The Abbey Church of Tewkesbury: the Priori/ Church of Deerhurst. By H. J. L. J. Masse, M.A. (Bell & Sons.)
FEW of our ecclesiastical buildings can vie in beauty or interest with the noble Abbey Church of Tewkes- bury, the great tower of which is, in its way, unequalled. The inclusion of the edifice, accord- ingly, among the extra volumes of Bell's " Cathedral Series" was to be expected. To Mr. Masse, to whom is owing the account of Gloucester Cathedral, has been confided the duty of supplying the history and description of this glorious building. The task has been lovingly and well executed. In the open- ing portion truth is carefully winnowed from the husks of tradition and myth, the refounding of the church being assigned to Giraldus, Abbot of Cran- bourn. Robert Fitz Hamon, who died in 1107, is reputed to have supplied the money, in order to make atonement for the destruction by Henry I. of Bayeux Cathedral. After escaping the fire which, in 1178, burnt the monastery, and similar risks, the church had, in 1471, to be specially cleansed from the pollution of blood at and sub- sequent to the battle of Tewkesbury. At the Dissolution of the Monasteries the patriotic in- habitants of the town raised the then large sum of 453. for the purpose of rescuing the church from the king. In modern days the most formidable danger of all was faced, the abbey having been " restored" by Sir Gilbert Sc9tt. This produced a protest from William Morris, published in the Athenaeum, which, in turn, led to the establishment
