General Notes

Bernard de Baliol, a military commander of reputation who participated in the victory achieved over the Scots in 1138 at Northallerton, known in history as the "Battle of the Standard," but was afterwards taken prisoner at Lincoln with King Stephen. Upon the incursion of the Scots in the 20th Henry II, Bernard de Baliol again took up arms and, joining Robert de Stutevill, proceeded to the relief of Alnwick Castle and, having surprised the besiegers, seized the king of Scots with his own hand and sent him prisoner to the castle of Richmond. In the course of this forced march to Alnwick when, in consequence of a dense fog, a halt was recommended, Baliol exclaimed, "Let those stay that will, I am resolved to go forward, although none follow me, rather than dishonour myself by tarrying here." This feudal chief is supposed to have been the founder of the fortress upon the banks of the Tees, called "Barnard Castle." He was a munificent benefactor to the church, having, among other grants, bestowed lands upon the abbey of St. Mary, at York, and upon the monks at Riebault, for the health of his own soul and that of his wife, Agnes de Pincheni. He was s. by his son, Eustace de Baliol. [Sir Bernard Burke, Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages, Burke's Peerage, Ltd., London, 1883, p. 21, Baliol, Barons Baliol]