4 o2 ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



In the year 1095, Robert Moivbray, Earl of Northumberland, and 

 his party, marched into it for fecurity, on the approach of the 

 royal troops to chaftife them for their treafon. The king, Wil- 

 liam II, hefieged it in perfon. As traitors never think themfelves 

 fafc any where, Moivbray fecretly fled for fanctuary to- St. Ofwinsi 

 fhrine at Tynenwuth, where he was taken prifoner. His ft.eyrard: 

 and kinfman, Morel, with a courage that would ha-ve, done- ho- 

 nour to a better caufe, defended the caftle in the abfen.ce o bis 

 unfortunate Lord. He defended it ftgainft all the forces of the 

 king. The king had turned the fiege into a blockade, and raifcd 

 a fortrefs near it, called Malvoifon, i. e. Bad Neighbour, fome time 

 before the earl fled. Morel, not terrified by fo many bad neigh- 

 bours, ilill held out, with an aftoniftiing perfeverance and, refor 

 lution, to the furprize of the king, who beginning to be uneafy, 

 tried to effect that by policy, which he could not do by force, 

 He ordered the earl to be led up to the very walls, and a decla- 

 radon to be made, that if the caftle did not furrender, his eyes 

 fhould inftantly be put out. This fucceeded to his wifti, Morel 

 no fooncr beheld him in this imminent .danger, than he con- 

 fented to yield upon terms. For his fidelity and affection to his 

 Lord, and his gallant defence, the king took him into his royal, 

 protection and favour. A godlike action, thus generoufly tore- 

 ward a faithful enemy ! For the fervant's fake, probably, the 

 incenfed fovereign fpared the life of the mafter, and only kept 

 him a prifoner in Windfor-caMe, where he remained thirty years. 



In the year 1296, K. Edward \, fummoned John Baliol, King of 

 Scotland to appear before him at his caftle, and anfwer for breach 

 of faith. Baliol not appearing, he went on to Berwick, and put 

 the Scotch garrifon to the fword. From thence he directed his 

 march to Dunbar, and in his way met with the Scotch army going to 



its 



