Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 993. This year was Bamborough [Map] destroyed, and much spoil was there taken. Afterwards came the army to the mouth of the Humber; and there did much evil both in Lindsey and in Northumbria. Then was collected a great force; but when the armies were to engage, then the generals first commenced a flight; namely, Frene and Godwin and Frithgist. In this same year the king ordered Elfgar, son of Alderman Elfric, to be punished with blindness.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1095. Then, soon after that the king (age 39) was gone south, went the earl one night out of Bamborough [Map] towards Tinemouth; but they that were in the new castle were aware of him, and went after him, and fought him, and wounded him, and afterwards took him. And of those that were with him some they slew, and some they took alive.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1095. Hereafter at Pentecost was the king (age 39) at Windsor, and all his council with him, except the Earl of Northumberland; for the king would neither give him hostages, nor own upon truth, that he might come and go with security. And the king therefore ordered his army, and went against the earl to Northumberland; and soon after he came thither, he won many and nearly all the best of the earl's clan in a fortress, and put them into custody; and the castle at Tinemouth he beset until he won it, and the earl's brother therein, and all that were with him; and afterwards went to Bamborough [Map], and beset the earl therein. But when the king saw that he could not win it, then ordered he his men to make a castle before Bamborough [Map], and called it in his speech "Malveisin"; that is in English, "Evil Neighbour". And he fortified it strongly with his men, and afterwards went southward.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1095. The king (age 39) then went homeward; for he saw that he could do no more there this winter. When the king came home again, he gave orders to take the Earl Robert of Northumberland, and lead him to Bamborough [Map], and put out both his eyes, unless they that were therein would give up the castle. His wife held it, and Morel who was steward, and also his relative. Through this was the castle [Map] then given up; and Morel was then in the king's court; and through him were many both of the clergy and laity surrendered, who with their counsels had conspired against the king. The king had before this time commanded some to be brought into prison, and afterwards had it very strictly proclaimed over all this country, "That all who held land of the king, as they wished to be considered worthy of protection, should come to court at the time appointed." And the king commanded that the Earl Robert should be led to Windsor, and there held in the castle [Map].

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke [-1360]. In the year of Christ 1309, and the third year of his reign, the King, in order to soothe the resentment of the envious and to silence the murmurs of detractors, sent Piers Gaveston to Ireland¹ with a strong force against the rebellious Irish, assigning him stipends from the royal treasury, to be received at the exchequer there. And indeed, he achieved some successes, yet they would ultimately lead to his downfall, for his exaltation only hastened his ruin. However, fortune did not long continue its favour, for before a full year had passed, he returned from Ireland and was warmly welcomed by the King. Against him, hatred was now no longer concealed, but openly expressed through harsh words and signs of hostility. Those who opposed him believed that they were performing a service to God and to the state by removing this foreigner who, by his success and favour, had eclipsed the native nobility, whether by taking his life or exiling him from the kingdom. Thus, the King, in order to protect him from the power of the barons, placed him in Bamburgh Castle [Map], claiming that he did so to appease the nobles. Yet even this did not prevent both the King himself, most pious as he was, from suffering insults and accusations at their hands.

Anno Christi MCCCIX et ipsius regis IIJ rex, ut deliniret animos invidencium atque sedaret murmur detrahencium, Petrum ipsum transmisit in Hiberniam cum valida manu contra Ybernicos rebelles, assignans stipendium de regis erario ad scakarium ibidem recipiendum; et quedam prospere, set contra ruinam sui, exaltatus congessit. Set non diu fortuna vultus continuavit illaritatem, nondum enim plene revoluto eodem anno rediit de Hibernia ad regis contubernium gratanter acceptus. Contra quem non iam secreta set odia manifesta verbis et signis atrocibus expressa pullularunt arbitrancium se obsequium patrare Deo et reipupplice prodesse, si Petrum alienigenam, gloriam indigenarum sua prosperitate eclipsantem, vita vel regni incolatu privarent. Unde rex, ut ipsum a satrapum potestate preservaret, posuit ipsum in castro de Bamborgh, asserens hoc factum ut satrapis placeret; set nec evasit, quin contumelias et errores ipse rex piissimus passus est ab eis.

Note 1. Gaveston was banished a second time by decree of parliament in the spring of 1308. The publication of banishment issued 18th May 1308. Rymer's Fœdera 2.44.

Annales Londonienses 154

He sailed from Bristol on the 28th June, having been appointed regent of Ireland on the 16th of the month. Rymer's Fœdera 2.51. Vita Edward II, 167-169.

He returned to England early in July 1309; served in the campaign against the Scots in 1310-11; and was placed for security in Bamburgh, when Edward returned to the south in July 1311.

In August 1311 Piers Gaveston 1st Earl Cornwall (age 27) withdrew to Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland [Map].

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke [-1360]. In the year of Christ 1312,¹ around the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist [24th June], for the defence of Piers Gaveston, he was removed from Bamburgh Castle [Map] and placed under the custody of Aymer de Valence (age 37), Earl of Pembroke. The Earl had sworn before the King, having taken the most sacred oath upon the altar, that he would protect Gaveston from all his enemies for a certain period, within which the King intended to reconcile him with the barons. However, envy, which corrupts even the greatest loyalties, and the desire to please Gaveston's enemies, led his guardian to abandon his oath through negligence. Eventually, Gaveston was taken against his will by one of his familiar enemies and delivered into the hands of his foes at Deddington Manor, located between Oxford and Warwick. There, neither natural hiding places nor fortifications could shield him from the proximity of the Earl of Warwick. That night, Pembroke departed from Gaveston, and at dawn, Guy de Beauchamp (age 40), Earl of Warwick, accompanied by a small force and great commotion, arrived. Gaveston was then taken to Warwick Castle, where, after deliberation with Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, and Humphrey, Earl of Hereford, he was executed in their presence at a place called Blacklow Hill [Map] on the 19th June 1312. His body was entrusted to an honourable burial² in the Dominican friary at Langley [Map] by order of the King.

Anno Christi MCCCXJ, circa festum Nativitatis Ioannis Baptiste, pro defensione Petri, Petrus revocatus a castro de Bamborgh committitur custodie Adomari de Valence, comitis Penbrochie, adiurati coram rege, inspecto sancto sanctorum sacramento altaris, quod ipsum indempnem quatenus posset contra omnes adversarios suos custodiret ad certum tempus, citra quod intendebat rex alico modo Petrum regni proceribus reconciliasse. Set fidem invidia inter summa lacescens et amor placendi inimicis Petri tutorem ipsius contra iuramentum in negligenciam abduxerunt. Ducitur tandem Petrus quo non vellet per familiarem inimicum in mediam potestatem inimicorum, in manerium videlicet Dathintone, que est inter Oxoniam et Warewyc, ubi nec latibulum naturale nec castrum aut munimentum aliquod artificiale posset a vicinitate comitis Warewyc Petrum sequestrare, Adomarus nocte ab ipso Petro recessit, et in aurora Guido Warewyc cum comitiva mediocri et cum hutesio accessit. Petrum quoque ductum ad castrum Warewyk, habita deliberacione cum Thoma comite Lancastrie et comite Herefordie, in ipsorum conspectu in loco qui dicitur Caveresich XIX die mensis Iunii fecit decapitari; cuius corpus in ecclesia fratrum ordinis Predicatorum de Langliþe rex honourifice commisit sepulture.

Note 1. Baker has entirely omitted Gaveston's movements in 1311-12. He seems to have confused Bamburgh and Scarborough. By the Ordinances, Gaveston was again banished 1st November 1311. He went to Flanders, but returned almost immediately, and rejoined Edward at York at the beginning of the new year; the king's writ declaring his banishment illegal bearing date the 18th January 1312. Rymer's Fœdera 2.153; Annales Londonienses 203.

On the approach of the confederate lords Gaveston fled from Newcastle and took refuge in Scarborough early in May; was besieged, and surrendered, 19th May, to the earl of Pembroke. Annales Londonienses 204.

The Chronicle of Lanercost 217.

The story of his surrender and subsequent capture by Warwick is told by the Monk of Malmesbury, Vita Edward II, 177.

Warwick made Gaveston his prisoner at Deddington on the 10th June, Annales Londonienses 206.

He gave him over to Lancaster, who with his confederates led him out to execution, the earl of Warwick remaining in his castle. Murimuth (Rolls Series), p. 17, is evidently wrong in stating that Warwick dismissed him and that he was afterwards made prisoner again. In the following extract from the Annales Londonienses 207.

The nicknames which Gaveston gave, with such deadly offence, to certain lords are noticed by several of the chroniclers. All does not appear to have been properly explained. The Chronicle of Lanercost 216.

The prose Brute chronicle has also some interesting particulars on this point. This chronicle is extant in both a French and an English version. Of the French version there are two editions, both compiled in the reign of Edward III, and ending with the account of the battle of Halidon Hill in 1333. From the second edition of this French version the English version was translated; and to this translation further additions were subsequently made. The names of the writers are unknown, but it appears that one of the later editions of the English version is due to John Maundeville, rector of Burnham Thorp, co. Norfolk, 1427-1441 (Notes and Queries, 1856, p. 1.) To the authorship of the second edition of the French version perhaps a clue may be found in certain extracts, or rather translations, from a French chronicle, which are printed in Leland's Collectanea, 1.454. Many of these extracts prove that much of Pakington's chronicle must have been word for word the same as the revised edition of the French Brute. The English Brute chronicle was printed by Caxton in 1480, with the title Chronicles of England.

Caxton's Chronicles do not appear to have had the attention of modern historians as much as they deserve. Barnes, the writer of the History of Edward III, 1688, did not know the book; but he found in the library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, a MS. of the English Brute chronicle, and made ample use of it, referring to it as MS. Vet. Angl. in C.C.C. Cantab. Barnes's quotations have been cited by later writers, who have failed to recognize in them the text of Caxton. In the following notes I have printed some interesting passages from the English Brute, making use of Harley MS. 2279 and Egerton MS. 650.

Gaveston's nicknames for the barons are thus described: "Kyng Edward lovede Piers of Gavastone so moche that he mygte nougte forlete his companye; and so moche the kyng yaf and behigte to the peple of Engelonde that the exiling of the forsaide Piers shulde bene revokede atte Staunford thurj hem that him exilede. Wherfore Peris of Gavastone come ayen into Engelonde, and, when he was come ayen into this lande, he despisede the gretteste lordes of this lande, and callede sire Robert of Clare, erle of Gloucestre, horeson; and the erle of Nicole, sire Henry Lacy, brust bely; and sir Guy, erle of Warwyke, blak hounde of Arderne; and also he callede the noble erle and gentil Thomas of Lancastre cherle; and meny other scornes and shame hem saide, and by many other grete lordes of Engelonde. Wherfor thei were towardis him ful angry and sore annoyede." The terms for these names in the French version (Royal Ms. 20 A. 3) are 'filz a puteyne', 'boele crevee,' 'noir chien de Ardene,' and 'vielers.' This last word the English translator has not understood. In the extract in Leland's Collectanea there are additional words: 'vielers, porceo quil est greles et de bel entaille.' Misunderstanding the first two words of this sentence, Lingard has made out that Lancaster was called 'Old Hog.' But the words mean: 'Fiddler, because he is slim and tall.' This seems to be confirmed by Walsingham (Historia Anglicana, 1.115) who says that Gaveston called Lancaster 'histrionem,' and further that Pembroke was nicknamed 'Joseph the Jew,' the reason being 'quod pallidus erat et longus [because he was pale and tall].' The 'pallidus' and 'longus,' which do not appear to be specially descriptive of a Jew, would perhaps belong better to the 'Play-actor,' just as 'greles' and 'de bel entaille' are applied to the 'Fiddler.'

Note 2. Gaveston's body lay for two years at Oxford, Vita Edward II, 209: "A few days after Christmas, the lord King Edward had the body of Piers Gaveston, his former special friend, transferred from Oxford to Langley. For now more than two years had passed since Peter's beheading, and until this time he had lain unburied among the friars at Oxford. It is said that the king had intended first to avenge Peter's death, and only afterward to commit his body to burial. But now those from whom the king had once sought vengeance had been reconciled with him in friendship. So the king, at Langley, where he had previously established a house for the Dominican friars, had the body of his Peter buried with great honour.

Warkworth's Chronicle. 1462. Also Quene Margrett¹, Herry Duke of Excetre (age 31), the Duke of Somersett, and other lordes² that fleede England, hade kepte certeyne castelles³ in Northumberlond, as Awnwyk [Map], Bambrught [Map], Dunstonebrught [Map], and also Werworthe [Map], whiche they hade vytaled and stuffed bothe with Englischemenne, Frenschemenne, and Scottesmenne, by the whiche castelle, they hade the moste party of alle Northumberlond.

Note 1. Also Quene Margrett. This was in the year 1462. Towards the end of the year Edward appears to have made a tour to the West of England, perhaps for the purpose of seeing how the country was disposed towards him:- "Deinde Rex Edwardus, Cantuariam peregre profectus, partes meridionales pertransiit, ubi Willielmum Episcopum Wintonie de manibus querentium animam ejus eripuit, insectatores suos graviter redarguit, et eorum capitaneos carcerali custodi emancipavit. Bristollie apperians, a civibus ejus cum maximo gaudio honoratissimè receptus est. [Then King Edward, having journeyed to Canterbury, passed through the southern regions, where he rescued William, Bishop of Winchester, from the hands of those seeking his life, severely rebuked his pursuers, and freed their leaders from prison custody. Upon arriving in Bristol, he was received with the utmost joy and honor by its citizens.]" - MS. Arundel, Coll. Arm. 5, fol. 169, ro. This Chronicle in the College of Arms was first used, as far as I know, for an historical purpose, in a MS. note in a copy of Carte's History of England in the Bodleian Library, where it is referred to on the important testimony of the death of Henry VI. Mr. Black quotes it in the Excerpta Historica, but its value does not appear to be fully appreciated by that author; it is the diary of a contemporary writer on the side of the House of York, and extends to the execution of the Bastard of Fauconberg, and Edward's celebration of the feast of Pentecost which took place immediately afterwards.

The following very curious account of the pageant which received Edward at Bristol is from a MS. in Lambeth Palace, No. 306, fol. 132, ro. I am indebted for it to the Rev. S. R. Maitland, F.R.S., Librarian to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who had the extreme kindness, at my request, to send me a transcript.

"The receyvyng of Kyng Edward the iiijth, at Brystowe.

"First, at the comyng inne atte temple gate, there stode Wylliam Conquerour, with iij. lordis, and these were his wordis:

'Wellcome Edwarde! oure son of high degre;

Many yeeris hast thou lakkyd owte of this londe-

I am thy forefader, Wylliam of Normandye,

To see thy welefare here through Goddys sond. '

"Over the same gate stondyng a greet Gyant delyveryng the keyes.

"The Receyvyng atte Temple Crosse next following;

" There was Seynt George on horsbakke, uppon a tent, fyghtyng with a dragon; and the Kyng and the Quene on hygh in a castell, and his doughter benethe with a lambe; and atte the sleying of the dragon ther was a greet melody of aungellys."

9th September 1461. Sir Bawdan (or Baldwin) Fulford (age 46) was brought before the King, and beheaded at this place on the ninth of September; his head was placed upon Castle Gate. Rot. C. 8. Mus. Brit.

Note 2. And other lordes. Among them was Thomas Lord Roos (age 34). Paston Correspondence, vol. I. p. 219.

Note 3. Certeyne castelles in Northumberlond. See two contemporary accounts of the sieges of these castles, edited by Mr. Black, in the Excerpta Historica, p. 365.

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A Brief Latin Chronicle. And during this so lengthy a delay of nearly the entire English military force assembled there against our enemies what, I ask, was done that is memorable or worthy of praise, except that the three aforementioned castles were taken? And the Earl of Warwick, holding the field with a small force, diligently and bravely drove off the Scots and their allies, remaining unharmed, protected, as usual, by the most gracious right hand of God. He then, not long after, with other lords, left the north and came to King Edward in London. And while they were feasting in London, and I know not what else they were doing, the Scots with the French attacked and captured Bamburgh Castle [Map], along with two other castles.

Et in hac tam longa mora tocius pene milicie Anglicane illic adversus adversarios nostros congregate, quid, queso, memorabile, quid laude dignum actum est, nisi quod predicta tria castra capta sunt? Et comes Warwic cum paucis campum tenens curiose viriliterque Scottos cum suis excuciens, protegente eum gratissima, ut solito, Dei dextra, illesus permansit. Qui et infra breve cum aliis dominis, Boream relinquens, ad dominum regem Edwardum London. venit; epulantibusquc illis London., et nescio quid agentibus, invaserunt Scotti cum Francigenis castrum de Bamburgh, et ipsum occupaverunt, cum aliis duobus castris.

Archaeologia Volume 47 1882 Section 16. Halle and Grafton corroborate this, naming Holy Island as the seat of the adventure, mentioning "the Bastard Ogle and John Manners" as the assailants, and stating that many of the Frenchmen were slain, and nearly 400 taken and put to ransom. It is hard to understand why these French troops did not avail themselves of the shelter of Bamborough Castle, then in Henry's hands, if their wreck really took place off that fortress.^l

Note l. A new, but I doubt if a very certain, light is cast on this passage by an assertion in Brief Notes, p. 156, that Margaret after taking Alnwick was besieged in Bamborough. The writer adds a curious variation of the Holy Island story partly unintelligible to me, owing to the false Latin. I give it verbatim: "In the same year, in the month of November, King Henry, Queen Margaret, the Duke of Somerset, the Duke of Exeter, and many others who had been expelled and driven out of England, recruited many foreigners—Frenchmen, Scots, and others— to invade English territory against King Edward IV. And the said Queen Margaret seized the castle of Alnwick, and was besieged in Bamburgh Castle [Map]. And when 200 Englishmen had entered a small island in those parts (to use it as a place of refuge if needed), without their knowing, 400 French soldiers arrived to surround and capture them, and suddenly attacked the English. But 200 or more of the French were captured or killed, and the others fled, as it is said."

Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. July 1462. Thys year Quene Margarete (age 32) com owt of Frauns with lij [52] schyppys, with Freynysche men and some Engelysche men in the schyppys. And they londyd in Northe Humberlonde, it was vij dayes be-fore Alle Halwyn tyde. And there sche toke the castelle of Anwyke [Map] and put it full of Fraynyschemen. And then she retornyd in to Schotlonde by water. And there rosse suche a tempaste uppon her that she for soke her schippe, and a schapyd with the bote of þe schyppe. And the schyppe was drownyd with moche of her stuffe and iij [3] grete schippys moo. And iiij c and vj [406] Fraynysche men were take in the chyrche of Hooly Ylond [Map]. Thenn Kyng Edward (age 20) hyrde telle of thys, and made him redy towarde the Northe with many lordys, gentellys, and comyns with hym. And there he layde a sege to Anwyke Castelle [Map], and to the castelle of Bamborowe [Map], and to Dunsterborowe [Map]. Bamborowe [Map] and Dunsterborowe [Map] was kept by Syr Raffe Persy (age 37) and Syr Harry Bewforde (age 26), late Duke of Somersett, and the castelle of Anwyke [Map] with the Lord Hungerforde (age 31). And Bamborowe [Map] and Dunsterborowe [Map] were yoldyn be Syr Raffe Percy and Syr Harry Beuford, late Duke of Somersett, to the Kyngys wylle, whythe the condyscyons that the said Raffe Percy schulde have the kepynge of the ij castellys, Bamborowe [Map] and Dunstarborowe [Map]. The said Syr Raffe Percy and Syr Harry Beuforde, late Duke of Somersett, were sworne to be trewe and faythefulle as trewe lege men unto owre King and sovereign lord Edwarde the iiij^the. And they com to Derham [Map], and there they were sworne byfore owre King. And the King gaffe them his levery and grete rewardys.

Chronicle of William of Worcester [1415-1482]. In the month of October [1462], Queen Margaret came from France with [....] ships and two thousand armed men, and she anchored near Bamburgh [Map] in Northumberland. She had with her in her company Peter de Brézé, Lord Manpeny . They pitched camp near [….] where she believed the whole country would rise up with them. However, seeing the Queen's power so weak, they did not rise up. Therefore, the Queen's army besieged Alnwick Castle, which, due to a shortage of provisions, surrendered to her. Its custody was entrusted to the son of Peter Bassett, Lord Hungerford, Robert Whittingham, and many others. The custody of Bamburgh Castle [Map] was entrusted to the Duke of Somerset, the Earl of Pembroke, and Ralph Percy. Meanwhile, King Henry, along with the Queen, Brézé, and others, fearing the arrival of King Edward, went to Scotland.

Mense Octobris regina Margareta venit de Francia cum [….] navibus et duobus millibus armatorum, applicuitque prope Bawnbnrgbe in Northumberland, habuitque in societate sua Petrum de Brassie, dominum de Manpeny, fixeruntque campum prope [….] ubi credidit totam patriam cum illis insurgere, qui videntes potentiam reginæ tarn exilem non surrexerunt. Exercitus ergo reginæ obsedit castrum Alnewycum, qui penuria victualium illud reginæ reddiderunt. Cujus custodiam commiserunt filio Petri Basse, domino de Hungreforde, Roberto Whytingham, et multis aliis. Commissaque est castri Bamburiensis custodia duci Somersetiæ, comiti Penbrochiæ et Radulpho Percy. Rex Henricus vero cum regina, Brasse et aliis, metu regis Edwardi supervenientis, adiverunt Scotiam.

Three Fifteenth Century Chronicles. November 1462. In the same year, in the month of November, King Henry, Queen Margaret, the Duke of Somerset, the Duke of Exeter, and many others who had been expelled and driven out of England, recruited many foreigners—Frenchmen, Scots, and others— to invade English territory against King Edward IV. And the said Queen Margaret seized the castle of Alnwick, and was besieged in Bamburgh Castle [Map]. And when 200 Englishmen had entered a small island in those parts (to use it as a place of refuge if needed), without their knowing, 400 French soldiers arrived to surround and capture them, and suddenly attacked the English. But 200 or more of the French were captured or killed, and the others fled, as it is said.

Eodem anno in mense Novembris Rex Henricus, Regina Margareta, dux de Somershed et dux Excestrie, et plures alii ab Anglia expulsi et fugati, conduxerunt plures alienigenas, Galileos, Scotos et alios, ad ingrediendum partes Anglicanas contra Regem Edwardum iiij^tum; et Regina Margareta predicta cepit castrum de Anwyk et obsessa erat in castro de Banburw. Et cum CC Anglici intrassent quandam parvam insulam in illis partibus ad succurrendum se si necesse fuisset, ipsis nescientibus, advenerunt CCCC de Francigenis ad eos includendos et capiendos, et subito in Anglicos irruerunt; sed capti et interfecti erant ex Francigenis CC et plures, et alii fugierunt ut dicitur.

Chronicle of William of Worcester [1415-1482]. King Edward, indeed, on the 3rd of November [1462], left London for the north, accompanied by armed men sent from all the towns to assist him. The castles of Bamburgh [Map], Alnwick, and Dunstanburgh [Map] were besieged in the month of December, and on Christmas Eve, the said castles of Bamburgh [Map] and Dunstanburgh [Map] were surrendered to the King under agreements, with the lives and limbs of the defenders spared, and with Richard Percy coming into the service of King Edward and being given custody of the said castles.

Rex vero Edwardus iij. die Novembris Londonia egreditur versus partes boriales, cui ex omnibus villis certæ gentes armatæ mittuntur cum eo in adjutorium. Obsessaque sunt castra Bamburgh, Alnewyke, et Dustanburghe mense Decembris, et vigilia Natalis Domini reddita sunt regi dicta castra Banburgh et Dunstanburgh sub appunctumentis, salvis vita et membris, et quod Ricardus Percy veniret in legentiam regis Edwardi haberetque custodiam castrorum prædictorum.

                    Three Fifteenth Century Chronicles. [December 1462] The Wednesday by fore Cristmasse, Anno Domini M.CCCC.LXIJ.
                
                    In Bamburgh Castle [Map] are the Duke of Somerset, the Earl of Pembroke, Lord Roos, and Ralph Percy, with 300 men.
                
                    At the siege of them were present the Earl of Worcester, the Earl of Arundel, Lord Ogle, and Lord Montague, with 10,000 men.
                
                    In Castello1 de Banburw [Map] sunt dux de Somerset, comes de Penbrok, dominus de Roos et Radulfus Percy, cum CCC hominibus.
                
                    At the seege of Hem [them] sunt comes de Wycetcr, comes de Arundel, dominus de Ogyl et dominus de Muntegcw cum x Ml.
                
                    Note 1. The whole of this part about the sieges in Northumberland is bracketed in the margin, and the words " Non scribuntur " written opposite.

Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 12th December 1462. But within schorte tyme aftyr the said Syr Raffe Percy (age 37) by fals colysyon and treson he lete the Fraynysche men take the castelle of Bamborowe [Map] fro him nolens volo [Note. voluntarily]. As for the castelle of Anwyke [Map] alle the men of werre that were of worschip brake out of the castelle by fors and warre and rescuyd Syr Perys de Brasylle (age 52) on xij day by [v] the morne, and they that were with yn the castelle gaffe hit uppe by a-poyntement, &c.

Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. Around July 1464. Alle so the same somer my Lord of Warwycke (age 35) and his brether the Lord Mountegewe (age 33), that was made Erle of Northehumberlond by the King, they ij layde a sege unto the castelle of Anwyke [Map] a gate it by a-poyntement. And in the same wyse and forme they gate the castelle of Dunsterborowe [Map] by the same mene. And thenne they layd sege to the castelle of Bamborowe [Map], and layde grete ordynans and gonnys [Note. guns] there too. And manly they gate it by fors, and toke there yn that fals traytur Syr Raffe Gray (age 32), and brought him unto the King to the castelle of Pomfrete [Map]. And fro thens he was ladde to Dankester [Map], and there his hedde was smete of and sent to London, and it was sette a-pon Londyn Bryge [Map].

                    Chronicle of William of Worcester [1415-1482]. [July 1464] Ralph Gray fled from Hexham before the commencement of the battle to Bamburgh Castle [Map], and after the battle of Hexham, many on King Henry's side fled to the same castle. 
                
                    Not long after, the Earl of Warwick besieged the castle with great bombards. And there, during the bombardment of a certain wall of the castle, Ralph Gray also fell, and they believed him to be dead. However, the besieged surrendered the castle to the Earl of Warwick under terms, namely, all were to be at the mercy of King Edward except for the said Ralph, whose fate was to be determined by the King. The same Ralph was brought before King Edward at Doncaster, and there, in the month of July, he was beheaded on a scaffold.
                
                    Radulfus Gray fugit de Hexham ante helium inceptum ad castrum Bamburghe, et post bellum de Hexham multi ex parte regis Henrici fugerunt in eodem castro. 
                
                    Et non longe postea comes Warrwici cum maximis bumbardis obsedit idem castrum. Et ibi in casu quoque cujusdam parietis castri, excussione bumbardi, cecidit dictus Radulfus Gray, quern credebant mortuum. Obsessi vero reddiderunt castrum dicto comiti Warrwici sub appunctamento, viz., omnes ad misericordiam regis Edwardo excepto dicto Radulfo, qui foret ad regis voluntatem, adduciturque idem Radulfus ad præsentiam regis Edwardi apud Dancastre, ibidemque mense Julii in quadam scafolda decollatur.

In 1489 Thomas Darcy 1st Baron Darcy Templehurst (age 22) was appointed Constable of Bamburgh Castle.

Tudor Tracts Chapter 4. Tuesday the 30th of August [1547]. This day, his Grace, having journeyed in the morning a ten mile, dined at Bamborough Castle [Map]; whereof one Sir John Horsley Knight is Captain. The plot of this castle standeth so naturally strong, that hardly can anywhere, in my opinion, be found the like. Inaccessible on all sides, as well for the great height of the crag whereon it standeth; as also for the outward form of the stone whereof the crag is, which, not much amiss perchance, I may liken to the shape of long bavens [a brush faggot bound with only one withe] standing on end with their sharper and smaller ends upward. Thus is it fenced round about: and hath hereto, on the east side, the sea, at flood, coming up to the hard walls. This castle is very ancient, and was called in Arthur's day, as I have heard, Joyous Gard.

Hither came my Lord Clinton (age 35) from shipboard to my Lord.

In the afternoon, his Grace rode to Berwick, fourteen miles further; and there received with the Captains, garrisons, and with the officers of the town, lay in the Castle [Map], with Sir Nicholas Strellby Knight, the Captain there.

A Brief Latin Chronicle. When these things were done, Lord Montagu was made Earl of Northumberland. At that time, the castles of Bamburgh [Map] and Dunstanburgh [Map], along with the others, were captured and brought into the possession of King Edward; and Lord Ralph Grey, along with the others found there, received the sentence of death. His head adorned London Bridge, set atop a spike like a lance.

Quibus peractis, dominus de Mowntagw factus est Comes de Northumberland. Capta sunt tunc castra de Bamburgh et Dunstanburgh cum ceteris et redacta in possessionem Regis Edwardi; et dominus Radulphus Greye cum ceteris illic inventis capitalem accepit sentenciam, capite ejus pontem Londoniarum adornante in vertice quasi lancee.

Ralph Grey of Chillingham was appointed Governor of Bamburgh Castle.

Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, Alnwick Region, North-East England, British Isles [Map]