A HISTORY OF DURHAM 



had never perished. This fact was abundantly proved at the opening of the 

 coffin, which has been fully described for us. 65 



Flambard did much for the city of Durham, completing the plans of 

 Carileph at the cathedral, adding to the fortifications of the castle, and before 

 his death giving a large sum of money to the citizens. 66 One or two other 

 points may also be noted, as, for instance, the foundation of Kepier Hospital 

 in 1 1 12, and the grant of Finchale to the prior and convent in 1118. It 

 was probably during his absence from England that the see of Carlisle became 

 independent. A very 67 shadowy jurisdiction had been exercised over Cum- 

 berland or part of it, from Lindisfarne, but the bishops of Durham do not 

 seem to have succeeded to any authority over it. Hexhamshire, said to have 

 been dependent on Durham until Flambard, can not be proved to have owned 

 any real allegiance. Under Geoffrey Rufus (113 340) , who had been chancellor 

 in Henry's reign, the see was brought into the turmoil of the two contending 

 factions and suffered much in consequence. Geoffrey took the side of Stephen 

 in 1135, and it was perhaps in token of gratitude that the new king permitted 

 the bishop for the first time to erect a mint which survived until the Refor- 

 mation. 68 The action of Geoffrey gave David of Scotland a pretext for trying 

 to push the southward influence of Scotland, which Malcolm had been the 

 last to attempt. David accordingly advanced into England and took up 

 position at Newcastle. Stephen to oppose him flung himself into Durham. 

 For the moment terms were made, but two years later, in 1138, the invasion 

 was resumed to vindicate the claims of David's son Henry in right of his 

 mother to the earldom of Northumberland. There is no trace of any 

 bishopric force. The diocese was ravaged, Norham Castle (erected by 

 Flambard) was taken, and after great accessions from Scotland and Ireland, the 

 tide of invasion flowed on into Yorkshire, to be hurled back at the Battle of 

 the Standard. In all this crisis the bishop plays no recorded part, and the 

 semi-religious aspect of the campaign is due to the banners of St. Peter, 

 St. Wilfrid, and St. John of Beverley. In May, 1139, at Durham, a conven- 

 tion was signed which recognized the claim of David's son to the earldom of 

 Northumberland, and provided that the rights of the bishop of Durham 

 within the lands of St. Cuthbert should be fully recognized. 69 In Geoffrey's 

 time the chapter-house was completed. 70 



An interesting if discreditable episode was enacted in the interregnum 

 which followed Geoffrey's death in 1141. Cumin, who had been David's 

 chancellor, was by his master's direct help intruded into the see. 71 He 

 obtained the goodwill of the great officers in the castle and of some members 



65 



' The best account is in Raine, St. Cuthbert, 74. For the physical condition of the body, V.C.H. Dur. 

 i, 124. The original authority is Simeon, op. cit. i, 247-61, ii, 236. 



66 Flambard's work at Durham caught the imagination of William of Malm. De Gestis Pontif. (517). For 

 a contemporary account see Simeon, op. cit. i, 139, iii, 260. Summaries as to details in Hutchinson, Hist, and 

 Antiq. of Dur. i, 183 ; Surtees, Dur. i, p. xix. 



67 For early position of Carlisle, see V. C. H. Cumb. ii, 7. Another shadowy jurisdiction was Teviotdale, 

 henceforth annexed to Glasgow, as Hexhamshire, (until 1836) to York. For the latter see A Hist, of Northum- 

 berland, iii, 1 1 7. 



ra For the mint see M. Noble's Two Dissertations. 



69 Summary in Hodgson Hinde, Hist. Northumb. 207-15. 70 Greenwell, Dur. Cath. 47. 



71 A convenient summary is in Hodgson Hinde, Hist. Northumb, 216-17. The chief original authority is 

 Laurence, prior of Durham (1149-53), who witnessed the occurrences so far as Durham was concerned, and 

 described them in his poems (our chief authority for the Norman Castle), published by the Surtees Society, and 

 also in prose if, as is likely, Laurence is the first continuator of Simeon of Durham ; Simeon, op. cit. i, 143-60. 



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