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218 SCOTTISH ANNALS
1141
JOHN OF HEXHAM, IN S. OF D., VOL. II,
p. 309.
King David, therefore, seeing that many things combined
for the advancement of his niece the empress, set out after
homage of the barons, oppressed those who opposed him, and was anathematized
by the papal legate and by the church of York "
; but when he heard
of his condemnation, William cared little or nothing about it " (C.P., 146.)
Herbert, abbot of Roxburgh, tried to supplant him, hoping for David's
support, but failed (C.P., 146-147.)
Cumin induced a Cistercian monk to forge papal letters directed to him
"
and to king David. By such trickery he had no difficulty in deceiving
the king, who ordered the letter to be copied everywhere in his kingdom ; and
he gave the monk a palfrey, and honouring him with other gifts sent him
back to William " (C.P., 147.) But Richard, abbot of Melrose, " captured
the monk himself, the pseudo-legate ; and made him confess all his plot,
and how he had been instructed and incited by the acts and promises of
William " (C.P., 148.)
The papal legate demanded the attendance of the prior of Durham ;
and Cumin tried to prevent his escape. Failing in this attempt he began to
practise cruelties upon the monks, shutting out messengers, servants and
food (C.P., 148.) Messengers returned from Rome commanding
a canonical
election. The day was fixed ; but Cumin invested all the roads, and
tried to forbid the election.
William of St. Barbara was elected (C.P., 149.)
" And the pope placed
William Cumin under his anathema, and the archdeaconate which he held
in the church of Worcester was given to another, with no hope of demanding
it again " (J. of H., 314.) Cf. the letters of Gilbert Foliot, in Migne, 190,
767-768, 760-761, 814. (Cumin had been made archdeacon of Worcester
about 1130 A.D. ; Hardy's Le Neve, Fasti, iii, 73.)
Cumin forbade the consecration of the bishop-elect (C.P., 150,) and
when it had taken place, in June, 1143, abused the brethren, especially the
priests who respected his excommunication. He compelled continuance of
ecclesiastic rites.
He could not extort homage from Roger de Conyers, to whom the bishop
betook himself. They advanced against Cumin, but were driven back by
force. The bishop's supporters took refuge in the church of St. Giles (C.P.,
151 ; J. of H., 314,) but Cumin's men broke in upon them. The bishop
returned to de Conyers, and was harassed from the rear (C.P., 152.)
Cumin now began to practise the cruelties of the time. He expelled
hostile monks, and, according to the continuator of S. of D., plundered,
harried and burned the neighbourhood, and indulged in the ingenious tortures
practised by the barons of the period (C.P., 153-154.) The barons contrived
a truce, which Cumin disregarded, plundering the lands of de Balliol
(C.P., 155.) Early in 1144 peace was agreed to, Cumin remaining in the
castle till the pope should be consulted.
Nevertheless some hostilities occurred. The bishop secured the aid of
prince Henry, earl of Northumbria, but Cumin evaded him (C.P., 157.)
According to J. of H., 314, " earl Henry, son of the king of Scotland, and
Alan, earl of Richmond, bribed by William Cumin's moneys, had often
deluded the bishop with empty courtesies."
In August, 1144, Cumin was overcome ; later, his castellans gave up to
prince Henry the castle of Thornby, which Henry refused to make over to
the bishop (C.P., 159.)
King David met Cumin at Newcastle ; Cumin had offered to render to
him the castle of Durham, but returned without any agreement (C.P., 159.)
The bishop entered Durham on the 18th of October, 1144, and Cumin