A HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND 



By the defeat of Ecgfrid the kingdom of Northumbria was de- 

 prived of some of its dependencies, for Bede 1 states that the strength of 

 the English Crown from that time began to waver, insomuch that the 

 Picts recovered their land and some of the Britons their liberty ; but it 

 must not be taken that the ecclesiastical relations of our district with the 

 see of Lindisfarne were disturbed by the catastrophe. Though the 

 events which followed are shrouded for a long time in darkness, so late 

 as 854, when Eardulf was consecrated bishop, Carlisle was a portion of 

 that diocese. 2 During this episcopate came the Danish invasion, which 

 swept every organization in church and state into the abyss of paganism. 

 The whole kingdom of Northumbria was overrun and desolated by the 

 Danes. The church was in dire jeopardy and its rulers hesitated whether 

 to stand their ground or to flee. Eardulf on consultation with his clergy 

 determined on flight. He summoned Eadred, abbot of Carlisle, surnamed 

 Lulisc, from Luel the ancient name of the city, with whom he took counsel 

 about the shrine of St. Cuthbert. 3 After an exchange of views it was 

 deemed more agreeable to St. Cuthbert's wishes that his bones should 

 not be left to the danger of desecration. Raising the holy and uncorrupt 

 body of the father, says Symeon, 4 they placed beside it the relics of the 

 saints, such as the head of St. Oswald, some of the bones of St. Aidan, 

 together with the bones of those revered bishops Eadbert, Eadfrid and 

 Ethelwold, successors of St. Cuthbert, and fled, abandoning the mother 

 church of the Bernicians, which had been the residence of so many saints. 

 No sooner had Bishop Eardulf departed with his sacred burden than a 

 fearful storm burst over the whole province of Northumbria. Every- 

 where did the Danes burn down the monasteries and churches, and carry 

 fire and sword from the eastern to the western sea. For this reason the 

 bishop of Lindisfarne and those who were guardians of St. Cuthbert's 

 relics found no place of repose, but going now forward, now backward, 

 hither and thither, they fled from the face of the heathen invader. 

 Crossing into Cumbria they made their way to the mouth of the Derwent 

 at Workington, with the hope of taking ship to Ireland. But as a storm 

 prevented them leaving the haven, they bent their steps towards Gallo- 

 way, where they stayed till the death of Halfdene, the Danish king, 

 emboldened them to return. 



1 Hist. Ecdes. iv. cap. 26. 



2 Symeon of Durham (Surtees Society), i. 67. 



3 Ibid. i. 73. Ancient Monuments, Rites and Customs of Durham (Surtees Society), pp. 55-6. 



4 The story of the translation of St. Cuthbert's relics has been handed down as a precious tradition 

 in the northern church. To the writings of Symeon (Of era et Collectanea (Surtees Soc.), i. 162-4), 

 and Reginald (Libellus, Surtees Soc. pp. 16-19, 20-1), two of the historians of Durham, we are chiefly 

 indebted for the details. Attempts to trace the course pursued by the fugitives, who carried the 

 sacred burden, have been often made. John de Wessington, prior of Durham from 1416 to 1446, 

 compiled a list of places where they rested, and hung it over the choir door of the church of Durham. 

 The original compilation in the prior's handwriting has been found (Eyre, History of St. Cuthbert, 

 pp. 98-9). The list includes as resting-places in Cumberland and Westmorland such parishes as St. 

 Cuthbert's, Carlisle, Edenhall, Great Salkeld, Plumbland, Embleton, Lorton, and Cliburn, to which 

 have been added, from other versions, Bewcastle and Dufton. In recent years all of the sixteen churches 

 in the two counties which bear the dedication of St. Cuthbert have been added to the list (Trans. Cumb. 

 and Westmorl. Archteol. Soc. ii. 14-20 j vii. 128-31). 



