But after all there has been always a strong Cornish element in Devon, even since the time when athelstan drove the Britons out of Exeter and set the Tamar for their boundary, and I think the original word is really Cornish.
"The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries"
W. Y. Evans Wentz
Whitesand Bay has historical memories; athelstan sailed from here to conquer the Scilly Isles after his sanguinary victory at St. Buryan.
"Cornwall"
G. E. Mitton
Bodmin scorns Truro's claims of long descent, turning to athelstan as its founder.
"Cornwall"
G. E. Mitton