General Notes

Eustace succeeded in 1184.  During the reigh of Richard I, comparative peace prevailed on th e Borders, but on the accession of John in 1199, William the Lion took advantabe of the Engli sh King's unpopularity to lay claim to the English countries of Northumberland and Cumberland .  Eustace de Vescy had married William the Lion's illegitimate daughter and John commissione d him to assure the Scotish King, that he would satisfy his claims.  As this promis was not r edeemed, William, after having rendered homage to Joh at Lincoln, again demanded the restitut ion of the two counties, and in the meanwhile, visited the Border, and stayed at Alnwick Cast le on Febryary 12th, 1201.  The question at issue remained unsettled, although in 1209 larg a rmies were assembled by both Kings, and on this occasion John again visited Alnwick Castle o n Apr 24th, 1209.  At length on August 7th, a treaty was concluded which put an end to the ho stilities, and Alexander, the Scottish King's eldest son, paid homage to John at Alnwick.  I n 1212 the revolt of the barons against John broke out, Eustace was the ring leader.  Eustac e was forced to flee to Scltoand, and in 1213 John gave orders for Alnwick Castle to be destr oyed, but subsequently seems to have cancelled them, for they were certainly not carried out .  Soon afterwards a reconciliation took place, and Eustace's posessions, which had been conf iscated, were restored to him.  Earlky in 1213 John had again visited Alnwick, probably wit h the object of replacing the northern nobles.  In 1215 Eustace joined the great confederatio n of the barons against John, and he was one of the 25 barons appointed to enforce the observ ance of the Magna Carta.  In that same year Alexander, King of Scotland, invaded Northumberla nd.  He was joined by the Northern barons, of whom Eustace was one.  John marched north towar ds the end of the year and burnt Alnwick, as well as several other places.  After an incursio n into Scotland he retired and the barons, despairing of success without foreign aid, offere d their allegiance to Philip, King of France.  The landing of a French force encouraged Alexa nder again to invade England, and Eustace and other Northern barons joined him.  While besieg ing Barnard Castle in 1216, Eustace was killed.