General Notes

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

Siward, Earl of Northumbria, was a Dane by birth and probably came toEngland with Canute. In 1054 he invaded Scotland in the interests ofMalcolm Canmore and he completely routed Macbeth in battle. Shakespeareintroduces him and his son into "Macbeth." Siward, a man of unusualstrength and size, is said to have arisen from his bed at the approach ofdeath and to have died dressed in all his armor.