Tynemouth Priory and Castle

The northern province had little rest from marching armies, sieges, and battles.

In the Easter of 1095, Robert, Earl of Northumberland, treated with contempt the king's summons to attend the court at Winchester, whereon the king took an early opportunity of attacking him, seized his principal servants and officers, took Tynemouth Castle, and after vainly besieging Bamborough, built a castle, Malvieson, or Evil Neighbour, over against it and leaving therein a strong garrison departed after the king's departure the earl sallied out one night riding towards tynemouth when a part of the garrison of malbihason pursued after him carry him off wounded and slew or captured his attendants On this, Rufus ordered his captains to carry Northumberland to Banborough Castle and summon it to surrender, threatening to put out the Earl's eyes if the castle continued to hold out.

The scheme was successful.

The Countess, a young and beautiful woman, recently married to Northumberland, at once surrendered when the unhappy Earl was condemned to a lifelong imprisonment.