4 co ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



his partizans. The young king and his governor made a brave 

 and long defence, which gave his faithful fubjects time to rife 

 and haften to his relief. The ufurper had turned the fiege into a 

 blocadc, but on their approach retired in confufion and hurry. 

 He was purfued by Bnthric, the royal orphan's guardian. Brith- 

 rlc followed him with all the ardour of a good general, and with 

 a refolution to take vengeance on his fovereign's wrongs. Edulph 

 was prcfently overtaken and feifed. There being no need of the 

 form and ceremony of a trial for fo black a treafon, he was in- 

 ilantly executed. Young Ofre d was fecurcly fettled in the throne, 

 and this cadle was no longer his prifon, but his palace. 



Walteof, the iirft of that name, Earl of Northumberland, being 

 feeble and weak with age, and unable to oppofe Malcolm, King of 

 Scots, at the head of a numerous army, made this royal fabric 

 his retreat, till he was freed from his fears by the valour of his 

 fon, Uchtred. Enraged to fee his country invaded, Ucbtrcd march- 

 ed againfl them with a few troops, haftily railed. With thefe, 

 difpofed to the bell advantage, animated by his undaunted 

 bravery and courage, with the view of glory, and the taking 

 ample vengeance of th-.ir enemies, he obtained a famous and 

 compleat victory. A victory, from which he would have reaped 

 a greater harveft of honour, had he ufed it with lenity, and not 

 fullied it with an act of cruel inhumanity. He had among his 

 prifoners fevera! Scotch noblemen, generals and officers of rank. 

 Thefe he beheaded. Their heads he placed upon poles round the 

 walls of the city of Durham. In this, he mewed he had more of 

 the fpirit of the tyrant, than of the hero, whofe foul has jult ideas 

 of glory, and always extends a generous commiferation to the 

 vanquifhed, and protects and applauds the faithful and brave 

 General in an enemy. However, Ucbt red's fuccefs, and not his 



crueltv, 



' 



