POLITICAL HISTORY 



After David's departure, however, Cumin behaved as though he were 

 bishop, receiving the homage of the barons and disposing of the episcopal 

 domains. For some time Cumin appears to have remained peaceably in 

 possession of the temporalities of the bishopric and strengthened his position 

 by building a castle at Northallerton (part of St. Cuthbert's territory locally 

 situated in the county of York), which he handed over to his nephew 

 William, who had married a niece of the earl of Albemarle. 



On 14 March, 1 143, William of St. Barbara was elected bishop in spite 

 of Cumin's efforts, and shortly afterwards made his first attempt to oust the 

 intruder. It appears that Roger Conyers, one of the episcopal barons, had 

 refused to do homage to Cumin as his brethren had, and fearful of Cumin's 

 anger, had fortified his house at Bishopton, some fourteen miles south of 

 Durham.'"' Thither the new bishop, somewhat unwillingly, proceeded 

 towards the end of August. Many flocked to meet him, and escorted by 

 Conyers and some other barons he proceeded towards the castle of Durham. 

 The bishop's first attempt to oust the intruder was anything but successful. 

 Cumin, disregarding the bishop's attempts to compromise, assumed the 

 offensive, and on their approach drove back the episcopal troops, who retired 

 to St. Giles's Church, situated on a height about a mile to the east of the 

 castle. The next morning Cumin attacked St. Giles's, drove his opponents 

 back, and fortified the church as an advance post from whence the bishop's 

 troops were harried by frequent sallies of the garrison consisting of a company 

 of men-at-arms and archers. 



The bishop's position was now precarious, as Cumin had entered into 

 arrangement with the earl of Richmond to attack the bishop in rear. He 

 accordingly retreated to Bishopton, the movement being attended with loss 

 owing to the activity of Cumin's troops." Meanwhile the bishop fortified 

 and occupied Thornley, a village commanding the Hartlepool road some 

 eight miles from Durham, but, famine threatening, a truce was arranged on 

 30 November, 1143, to last till 13 January, 1144. 



Before this truce had expired, and through the mediation of the 

 archbishop of York, it was extended till 24 June, 1 144, the terms being that 

 Cumin was to occupy the castle at Durham and receive a third of the rents 

 of the bishopric lands between the Tyne and Tees." The truce was ill 

 observed, for after the bishop had spent some time in Northumberland he 

 returned to Jarrow, where Cumin — who during the bishop's absence had won 

 over to his cause some of his adherents, including Hugh the son of 

 Pinton his steward — made (6 May, 1 144) a desperate but unsuccessful attempt 

 to capture him.^^ The bishop then retired to Lindisfarne and enlisted the 

 somewhat doubtful assistance of Henry earl of Northumberland, son of King 

 David. He, however, had been induced to make a separate truce with 

 Cumin till 15 August, 11 44. On 14 August Cumin began to fortify the 

 church of Merrington, which stands on a height some nine miles to the south 

 of Durham, possibly enabling him to keep open his communications with 

 the earl of Richmond. Berfore the work was completed three of the bishopric 

 barons, Roger Conyers, Geoffrey EscoUand, and Bertram Bulmer, collecting 

 all their available forces, attacked and carried the church by storm.'* 



" Simeon, op. cit. (Rolls Sen), i, 150. " Ibid. 152. 



"Ibid. 155. "Ibid. 157. "Ibid. 158. 



141 



