POLITICAL HISTORY 



Under the latter's firm rule the bishopric was not only retained for the 

 king, but large sums of money were collected on his behalf.^^ Ulecote's 

 position was one of great difficulty, as the north was the stronghold of the 

 baronial discontent, and in addition the Scottish forces maintained a threatening 

 attitude. Fortunately for John he was supported by the Balliol interest, then 

 the most powerful in the bishopric. Settled soon after the Conquest at Gain- 

 ford by the Tees, the Balliol family rapidly increased in power. Bernard 

 Balliol, who died about 1167, built on the Tees the castle which is named 

 after him, and became the head of the extensive lordship which spread over 

 the greater part of the southern and western portion of the present county. 

 As part of Sadberge, Barnard Castle passed, by Richard's grant, under the 

 control of the bishop,*^ though as will be seen later the Balliols did not 

 acquiesce in this transfer without a struggle. 



At this period Hugh was the head of the house of Balliol, and with his 

 brother Bernard supported John. During the rising after the grant of 

 Magna Charta, Ulecote appears to have taken charge of Northumberland 

 whilst Vipont held the country between the Tyne and Tees for the king.*" 

 On 5 June, 1216, Hugh Balliol was appointed to succeed Ulecote, who was 

 thought to be dying. *^ Ulecote, however, recovered. With the North- 

 umbrian barons in open revolt, and Alexander of Scotland actively support- 

 ing them,*'' the situation was so serious that John himself came north and 

 early in 121 6 restored order in the district. At the beginning and again at 

 the end of January he was at Durham, where he received the submission of 

 four of the principal men of the bishopric — Gilbert Hansard, Robert of 

 Amundaville, Roger Daudre, and William of Laton,"" and in addition Henry 

 Neville fined to the king for the castle of Brancepeth, which was to 

 remain in the king's hands.** After John had retired Alexander advanced 

 through Cumberland and approached Barnard Castle about July.*' During a 

 reconnaissance, however, Eustace de Vesci, his brother-in-law, was killed, and 

 Alexander retired. 



After this stormy period Durham enjoyed peace for nearly a century. 

 Of the series of bishops who occupied the see between Pudsey and Bek 

 there is but little to relate, and during the period in question the Balliols 

 appear to have been the dominant influence, especially in the person of John, 

 who during the barons' war supported the king's party as his father Hugh 

 had supported King John. Of the other great barons Robert Bruce '" stood 

 by Henry III whilst Richard Neville sided with the barons at Lewes. It is 

 in connexion with Montfort's rising that the first conflict took place between 

 the king and the bishop of Durham as to the latter's right to forfeitures of 

 war within the Palatinate. After the battle of Evesham the king seized the 

 manor of Greatham held by Peter de Montfort, and granted it to Thomas of 

 Clare. Bishop Kirkham protested, and the king revoked his grant to Clare 

 and acknowledged the bishop's right to forfeitures in the Palatinate." 



^' Boldon Bk. (Surtees Soc), App. xiii et seq. " Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec. Com.), i, i 29. 



^ Rot. Lit. Pat. (Rec. Com.), 152^., Both Wendover and Matt. Paris, Chron. Maj. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 64.1, 

 state that Hugh Balliol and Ulecote were placed in charge of the land between the Tees and Scotland, but 

 the entries on the Close and Patent Rolls do not bear this out. "^ Rot. Lit. Pat. (Rec. Com.), 1S6. 



*' He besieged Norham in Oct. 1215 without success. Chron. Melrose, sub anno 1215. 



*'"^ Rot. Lit. Pat. (Rec. Com.), 163. 



*' Excerf>ta e Rot. Fin. (Rec. Com.). *' Melrose Chron. sub anno 1 2 16. 



'" Dugdale, Baronage, 450. " Lapsley, Co. Pal. of Dur. 42 ; Surtees, Hist. Dur. iii, 134. 



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