A SKETCH OF OLD NEWCASTLE. 95 



Newcastle was then transferred to the king's younger son 

 Edward, who was created Earl of Leicester, then Earl 

 of Derby, and afterwards Earl of Lancaster. The posses- 

 sion of the manor of Newcastle does not seem to have 

 always attended the holder of the castle. At the battle 

 just mentioned, Lord Segrave (who held it) was one of 

 the rebellious barons, and the manorial authority was 

 taken from the family. It was soon after united to the 

 castle and borough. 



Newcastle passed through various members of the Lan- 

 caster family until, in the time of Edward III., it came 

 into the possession of his third son, the famous John of 

 Ghent (or Gaunt, as he is more commonly called) "time- 

 honoured Lancaster," as Sir Walter Scott designates him. 

 This nobleman played a conspicuous part in the politics 

 of Europe in his day, and was justly celebrated. In no 

 respect did he distinguish himself more, at least for the 

 benefit of his country, than when he took the part of 

 John Wickliffe, and personally accompanied that remarkable 

 man, " the morning star of the Reformation," when he 

 was summoned, by order of the Pope, to appear before 

 Courtenay, Bishop of London, on account of his protest 

 against the religious errors of the times. John of Gaunt 

 threw his ample shield over the intrepid reformer, so 

 that he was protected from the fury of the monks 

 and others to whom he was obnoxious. Gaunt was 

 afterwards created Duke of Lancaster ; and since the 

 time of Henry IV., his son, all the possessions of 

 the Duchy of Lancaster have been more or less con- 

 nected with the Crown. It will thus appear that our 

 borough has been identified with some of the most 

 remarkable personages in the early history of our 

 country. 



