ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 23? 



Tliis part of the bridge was repaired by Thomas Ruthal, Bifliop 

 of Durham, famous in the reigns of K. Henrys VII, VIII ; not 

 only for being the richeft fubject then in Britain, but for the un- 

 fortunate miftake he made in delivering the book of his own 

 private affairs to the afpiring cardinal Wolfey^ inftead of one he 

 had wrote on the ftate of the kingdom by the defire of his fove- 

 reign, whereby the cardinal effected his ruin, and ftept into his 

 biflioprick. A misfortune this, worthy of notice, and mews 

 how God Almighty, by the flighteft means, does punifh us, when 

 we are lefs faithful and diligent in his fervice, than that of men, 

 and more concerned how to get rich and great in this world, 

 than to difcharge our duty. For this Bifhop Ruthal, being a privy 

 counfellor to K. Henry VIII, was fo ftudious of obliging that 

 king, and fo afliduoufly attendant on the court, that he could 

 find but little time to attend on the weighty affairs of his bimop- 

 rick ; fo when he moft needed felf-recollection, and prefence of 

 mind (divine gifts !) God left him to his own ftrength, and gave 

 his bifhoprick to another fiv}* 



The Town-Court is on the fouth fide of the Sand-hill, on the 

 banks of the Tyne. Its original foundation was by that munifi- 

 cent patron of Neijucajtle, Roger de Thornton. It was rebuilt by the 

 corporation, i6j8, after a defign fuitable to the dignity of that 

 opulent body. It coft upwards of 1 0,000 /. befides 1 200 /. the dona- 

 tion of one of the magiflrates (x). The effigies of K. James II, 

 on horfe-back, placed in the area before it, coft ryoo/. It was 

 of copper, large as the life ; the horfe Handing upon his hind- 

 feet, raifed upon a pedeftal of white marble, encompalled with 

 iron-rails j pulled down 1688. 



(w) Hal. Chroji. vol. ii. p. 796. (x) Alderman Jfaimwfb* 



The 



