General Notes

The Bull's head crest commemorates the Bulmers. Robert Fitz-Maldred married Isabel Nevill, daughter of Geoffrey Nevill and his wife Emma, daughter of Bertram de Bulmer. Isabel inherited from her mother the Bulmer Lordship of Brancepeth near Durham, and henceforth Brancepeth Castle became the other seat of the house, and Geoffrey, son of Isabel Nevill andRobert Fitz-Maldred, adopted the surname Neville or the Norman Neuville. This noble, ancient and illustrious family "which was to medieval England what the Douglass was to Scotland" for antiquity, great and numerous honors, flourishing branches and mighty power, scarcely any family can vie with the splendour possessed in former ages by the Nevills. Of course, the lines connect with Royalty, but they in themselves are great enough to be proud to claim descent through.

Siward, Earl of Northumbria, was a Dane by birth and probably came to Englandwith Canute. In 1054 he invaded Scotland in the interests of Malcolm Canmore and he completely routed Macbeth in battle. Shakespeare introduces him and his son into "Macbeth." Siward, a man of unusual strength and size, is said to have arisen from his bed at the approach of death and to have died dressed in all hisarmor.