The spelling of the word "wert at bottom of" can be confusing, but it is actually a contraction of "were at the bottom of". In IPA phonetic transcription, it would be pronounced /wɜːr ət ˈbɒtəm əv/. The contraction is commonly used in old English literature and can cause confusion for those unfamiliar with it. However, once the contraction is recognized, it is easy to understand the meaning of the phrase.