380 ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



This cadle underwent another fiege, 2oth K. Hsnry II, 1 174, by 

 William King of Scotland. He had with him an army of 80,000 

 men. Preferring plunder to a fiege, of which he had fmall hopes 

 of fuccefs, he gave orders to raiie it, and pillage the country. 

 A body of 400 horfe at Neivcafile, under the command of five 

 gentlemen, hearing of their adventures, refolved to free their 

 country of them, or die in the attempt. Bernard Baliol, a gentle- 

 man of great rcfolution, fpirit, and conduct, animated his com- 

 panions, and led the way. They came upon the King unawares 

 and on a fiuU'cn, his troops fcattered and difperfed, intent only 

 on fpoil and rapine. The king, alarmed at the danger of his 

 fnuation, by found of trumpet recalled as many of his men as 

 were within hearing. The Englif!} attacked them with great 

 courage. The Scots, not inferior in courage, but almoft wearied 

 to death with plundering, were over-matched, and victory de- 

 clared againll them. Their King, William, was taken prifoner, 

 after the greateft efforts and ftrugglcs to prevent it. Many of 

 his fcattered troops were taken prifoners ere they well knew 

 their danger. Others fled. He was conducted to Richmond-cattle, 

 from thence to Louden, and was afterwards fct at liberty by K. 

 Henry II, for a large ranfom, the fum of 1 00,000 /. fterling, one 

 moiety in ready money, and the other at an appointed time, de- 

 livering for fecimty the cailles of Edenburgh, Roxburg^ Berwick, 

 Jedivorth, and Sterling ; alfo doing homage for his crown to Eng- 

 land, the fir ft example of that kind upon record, as a perpetual 

 memorial of which he left his breaft-plate, fword, and faddlc, to 

 be kept in Tork-MinJhr (n). This battle was fought on Saturday, 

 5th July, 1174; and ought to be remembered to the honour of Nor- 

 thumberland, and of this caftle, which could make fuch formidable 

 numbers defpairof taking it (o). 



(n) H. Knight, inter x fcriptorcs. (o) lid. Chron. vol. ii. p. 91,92. 



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