2 j6 ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



frclsmthecountrywcreufuallyconcealedinthemon theapproach 

 of an enemy, for their better fecurity. But covetoufnefs has no 

 reverence for facred things. The poor defencelefs monks, on the 

 dcfcent of thcthicvifh and murdering troops of ffinguar and Hubba t 

 ilccl in a fright to fave themfelves in their church. The merci- 

 Icfs enemy let fire to it, and burnt them and it to the ground (m). 

 A juft providence, ever awake to the cries of innocent blood, did 

 not let theirs go unpunifhed. Rouzed at the news of fuch an 

 atrocious deed, their fovereign, K. Ethelred, and his father-in- 

 law, Off a, King of Mcrcia, with their united forces drove them 

 in confufion and hurry to their fhips, and a ftorm arifing, they 

 were wrecked on the rocks, and almoft all drowned. 



This holy fabric laid in its aflies, unrepaired, forlorn, and de- 

 folate, till the reign of K. Edward the ConfefTor. Then To/ton, 

 Earl of Northumberland, from the motive of ambition, and not of 

 piety, rebuilt and endowed it for Black- Canons, to the honour of 

 St. Mary, and St. Ofwin, Bifliop Aidcns favourite, whofe remains 

 had been fearched for, and difcovered, under its ruins. 



That Earl being banifhed for his many murthers and outrages, 

 after feveral very cruel adventures, burning and plundering the 

 coaft as an enemy's country, at length engaged Harold Harfagar, 

 King of Norway, who was then puftiing his conquefts in the north 

 of Scotland, to enter this harbour of Tynemouth, and make a bold 

 pufh for the crown of his own brother, K. Harold II. Not awed 

 by the fight of his new foundation of St. Mary and St. Ofwin, he 

 in concert with the Norwegian, plundered and wafted the country 

 on both fides the river Tyne. They then put to fea again, and 

 entered the Humber. There they landed and committed horrid 



(m) Lei. Colledt. vol. ii. p. 297, 388. 



bar- 



