348 SCARBOROUGH. 



to fame, and have been of great benefit to the afflic- 

 ted. 



At the east side of the town, on a lofty peninsular 

 rock, of considerable extent, stands Scarborough 

 castle. This rock is accessible only by a narrow 

 isthmus, which has been strongly fortified. This 

 formidable fortress was built by William le Gros, 

 earl of Albermarle and Holderness, about the year 

 1 134, and has been the scene of various memorable 

 transactions. During the civil wars it was bravely 

 defended by Sir Hugh Cholmley, against the forces 

 of the parliament, for upwards of a year ; and after- 

 wards sustained another siege of 5 months, under 

 the command of colonel Boynton : since that time 

 its principal buildings and fortifications have laid 

 in ruins. These dignified ruins are disfigured by the 

 presence of barracks built with brick, erected in 

 1746. 



Scarborough is an ancient royal burgh, having 

 the privilege of sending two members to parliament. 

 Jt was incorporated by a charter in the reign of 

 Henry II. dated in 1181. The corporation consists 

 of 44 members, at the head of whom are two bailiffs. 



The parish church stands close to the isthmus by 

 which we enter into the castle. It has been a very 

 noble structure, being originally the conventual 

 .church of a Cistercian monastery. There were at 

 Scarborough three convents of friars, black, grey, 

 and white ; two hospitals and four churches ; none 

 of which survived the wreck of the monastic institu- 

 tions. It has now in addition to the parish church, 

 places of worship of the Methodists, Independents, 



