A HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND 



It is worthy of mention that during the struggles of political 

 factions about the succession to the crown in the reigns of Richard II. 

 and Henry VI. the people of Cumberland were ranged on the side of 

 the reigning house. Far removed from the intrigues of the central 

 government and inured to the hardships of frontier defence, the con- 

 stitutional subtleties which divided the nation had little attraction for 

 them. Perhaps it was the famous stand said to have been made by 

 Bishop Merks of Carlisle, 1 that influenced the people of his diocese to 

 uphold the cause of King Richard. At all events, in 1401-2, it was 

 reported to Henry IV. that certain churchmen, exempt and not exempt, 

 and laymen as well, within the diocese were telling the people that the 

 late king was still alive and dwelling in Scotland, and that he was about 

 to invade England with the aid of the Scots enemy. Repressive measures 

 were taken to stop the reports in Cumberland and Westmorland, and 

 orders were issued to arrest and imprison all persons who maintained 

 that King Richard was alive in Scotland. 2 In like manner, during the 

 Wars of the Roses, the county, so far as it took part in the constitu- 

 tional struggle, was largely Lancastrian in sympathy, though the city of 

 Carlisle was held in the Yorkist interest notwithstanding a close siege 

 by the Scots, who had crossed the Border to assist Queen Margaret. 3 

 Several of the great families espoused the Lancastrian cause and brought 

 disaster on themselves and their estates. Thomas, lord of Egremont, 

 was slain at Northampton in 1 460 * ; Ralf, Lord Dacre, fell on the field 

 of Towton in March 1461 and was buried in Saxton churchyard under 

 ' a meane tumbe.' 5 After the battle of Wakefield, Ralf, Lord Greystoke, 

 was suspected of treachery and thereby suffered many indignities, but 

 he succeeded in clearing himself and swore allegiance to Queen Mar- 

 garet and her son. 6 When accounts came to be reckoned with the 

 vanquished Lancastrians in the first Parliament of Edward IV. the act 

 of attainder included the names of several Cumberland and Westmorland 

 men. 7 The estates of the late Lord Dacre were confiscated, and his 

 castle of Naworth (Neuwarde) was delivered to the custody of Lord 



utriusque piramidis quod occidentem spectat, dicti serenissimi Anglise regis insigniatur armis, quodque 

 orientem respicit prxfatse illustrissimae reginae Scotia; armis condecoretur.' This earthen barrier is now 

 known as the Scotch Dyke. 



1 See his speech in the Parliament of 1399 on behalf of King Richard, which has occasioned such 

 a lively controversy (Cbron. de la Traison et Mart. [Eng. Hist. Soc.], 70-1). 



2 Anct. Pet. No. 5945 ; Pat. 3 Hen. IV. ; Cbron. de la Traison et Mart (Eng. Hist. Soc.), p. kx. 



3 One of the acts of treason alleged against certain of the Lancastrians was that they procured the 

 Scots to enter the realm, ' bringyng the same Scotts and ennemyes to his Cite of Carlile, besegyngand 

 envirounyng it, brennyng the Subarbes therof, destroiyng the Howses, Habitacions and Landes of his 

 Subgetts nygh therunto in manere of Conquest : purposyng ayenst their feith and Liegeaunce to have 

 delyvered the seid Cite, the key of the Westmarches of Englond into the possession and obeysaunce of the 

 seid Kyng of Scotts, and to have spoiled the Coroune of Englond therof ' (Rot. Parl. [Rec. Com.], v. 

 478). In compensation for the immoderate violence and cruelty of this siege Edward IV. granted the 

 city of Carlisle a charter reducing the fee farm rent of the city from 80 to 40, and bestowing other 

 privileges (Royal Charters of Carlisle [Cumb. and Westmld. Antiq. Soc.], 53-5). 



* William of Worcester, Annales (Liber Niger), ii. 481. 

 6 Leland, Itinerary, vi. 1 1, ed. Hearne, 1711. 

 William of Worcester, ii. 486. 

 ' Rot. Parl. (Rec. Com.), v. 476-88. 



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