Though they were driven into the mountains of the far distant west, they never forgot their language, ceased their customs, or gave up their aspirations to recover their own.

This is now their aim, and until recently it seemed as if they were about to accomplish it.

For they held all that country anciently called Cornwall, having crossed over the Severn, and marched down the southern shore.

The rich land of Devon, part of Dorset (all, indeed, that is inhabited), and the most part of Somerset, acknowledged their rule.

Worcester and Hereford and Gloucester were theirs; I mean, of course, those parts that are not forest.
Their outposts were pushed forward to the centre of Leicestershire, and came down towards Oxford.