A HISTORY OF DURHAM 



Durham. As a result of this surrender while the defences were unimpaired and 

 supplies abundant, the garrison were censured for their feeble resistance, and 

 the bishop for neglecting properly to garrison so important a point in times 

 so disturbed.^' After capturing the fortress, David offered to restore it to 

 the bishop if he would desert Stephen ; but Geoffrey, unlike most of the 

 Northumbrian nobles, remained true to his king, and Norham was accordingly 

 dismantled. '^^ After a vain attempt to capture Wark, David, now openly sup- 

 ported by the powerful help of Eustace Fitz John,*" again entered the territory 

 of St. Cuthbert. Effecting a junction with some Picts, Cumbrians, and men 

 from Carlisle,''^ he passed by Durham, crossed the Tees, and advanced south with 

 a force of 26,000 men,*- until he was defeated at Northallerton by the force 

 raised by the energy of the aged Thurstan archbishop of York.*^ During their 

 retreat through the Palatinate, the Scots received as little mercy from the 

 inhabitants as the latter had received from the invaders, who are described as 

 exceeding all others in the commission of cruelties." Shortly after the battle 

 Alberic bishop of Ostia reached Durham, and negotiated a truce so far as the 

 Palatinate was concerned, till 11 November, 11 38,** and in 11 39 the truce 

 was converted into a peace, whereby Stephen granted Henry son of King 

 David the earldom of Northumberland, it being, however, specially provided 

 that Henry should claim no rights over the territory of St. Cuthbert.*^ The 

 treaty was signed at Durham on 9 April, 1 139, by Henry son of King David 

 in the presence of Queen Maud. By this treaty the Scottish border was 

 advanced to the Tees, for at this time the southern part of Durham known as 

 Sadberge had not been acquired by the bishopric, and still formed part of 

 Northumberland. 



David had not to wait long for an opportunity of adding St. Cuthbert's 

 territory to that already acquired, for two years later, May, 1141,*^ William 

 Cumin, his chancellor, on his arrival at Durham, found the bishop, Geoffrey 

 Rufus, at the point of death. Cumin hurried off to David for instructions, 

 and on his return, shortly after the bishop's death, seized the temporalities of 

 the bishopric, and obtained possession of Durham Castle from the late 

 bishop's nephew.** 



In addition he won over the barons of the bishopric to his cause, a 

 matter apparently of but little difficulty. David arrived at Durham soon 

 after his chancellor, and pressure was brought to bear on the convent to 

 obtain Cumin's election as bishop. The monks proving stubborn, David and 

 Cumin went south to appeal to the Empress Maud, who was then in power. 

 She assented, but his election was opposed by the legate, Henry bishop of 

 Winchester. David and Cumin, who both had been besieged in Winchester 

 and escaped with difficulty, returned to Durham about Michaelmas,*' when 

 Cumin was left in the castle as guardian of the bishopric for the empress, 

 David being surety between the garrison and the prior and convent that 

 neither party would inflict or suffer damage. 



'' Richard of Hexham, Gesta ^tephani, sub mm 1 1 38. '' Ibid. *" Ibid. " Ibid. " Ibid. 



" John of Hexham, Hist, sub anno 1 1 38. With the exception of Bruce and Ballioi, the names of Durham 

 men do not appear in the list of those engaged. 



" Ric. Hexham, Gesta Siefhanl (Rolls Ser.), 66. *' Ibid. 54. " Ibid. 58. 



" The bishop died in 1 1 41, not 1 140, as it was the year in which the Empress Maud was driven from 

 London and the battle of Lincoln fought ; Simeon, op. cit. (Rolls Ser.), i, 145, 161. 



" Ibid. 164. "Ibid. 145. 



140 



