134 THE SEA-COAST. 



Scarborough is first mentioned in history in connexion with 

 the stern Norwegian king, Harold Hardrada, who paid with his 

 life at Stamford Bridge the penalty due to the invasion of York- 

 shire. Cleveland first felt the fury of the Norsemen, perhaps 

 supplied them with steeds ; Whitby suffered by their visit ; Scar- 

 borough withstood them in vain. Thus saith the Saga : 



" Sidan lagdi hann til Skardaborgar, oc bardiz ]>ar vid borgar- 

 menn; hann geek uppa bergit )>at, sem ]?ar verdr, oc let ]?ar 

 gora bal mikit, oc leggia i elld. Enn er balit logadi, toko )>eir 

 forka stora, oc skuto balino ofan i bseinn, oc tok J?a at brenna 

 hvert hus af odro, gafz ]?a upp allr stadrinn ; drapo Nordmenn 

 J?ar mart manna, enn toko fe allt J>at er J?eir fengo." 



This might be more nearly expressed in the Yorkshire dialect, 

 than in the ordinary English which follows : 



" Sithence he lay to at Scarborough, and fought there with 

 the burgher-men ; he ascended the hill which is there, and 

 caused a great pyre to be made there, and set on fire. When 

 the fire spread, they took great forks, and threw the brands on 

 the town ; and when one house took fire from another, they gave 

 up all the town. The Northmen slew many people, and seized 

 all that they found." 



It is not our purpose to trace the history of the formidable 

 castle, built by William le Gros in the days of King Stephen, or 

 of the Cistercian monastery, to which Scarborough owes its fine 

 old church, lately in part restored. Hinderwell's History of 

 Scarborough and the Local Guides may be consulted for many 

 details regarding the Spaw, harbour, and natural history of the 

 coast. 



A valuable addition has been made to the attractions of Scar- 

 borough, in the Museum of Local Natural History, erected near 

 the Cliff Bridge, very much in conformity with the suggestions 

 of Dr. William Smith, long resident here. The collection 

 of organic remains placed in this building by Mr. John Wil- 

 liamson, and much augmented by other contributions, is an in- 

 structive display of the riches of the Yorkshire coast. Here 



