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The Washington family is of an ancient English stock, the genealogy ofwhich has been traced up to the century immediately succeeding theConquest. At that time it was in possession of landed estates and manorialprivileges in the county of Durham, such as were enjoyed only by those, ortheir descendants, who had come over from Normandy with the Conqueror, orfought under his standard. When William the Conqueror laid waste the wholecountry north of the Humber, in punishment of the insurrection of theNorthumbrians, he apportioned the estates among his followers, and advancedNormans and other foreigners to the principal ecclesiastical dignities. Oneof the most wealthy and important sees was that of Durham. Hither had beentransported the bones of St. Cuthbert from their original shrine atLindisfarne, when it was ravaged by the Danes. That saint, says Camden, wasesteemed by princes and gentry a titular saint against the Scots.[Footnote: Camden, Brit. iv., 349.] His shrine, therefore, had been held inpeculiar reverence by the Saxons, and the see of Durham endowed withextraordinary privileges.
William continued and increased those privileges. He needed a powerfuladherent on this frontier to keep the restless Northumbrians in order, andcheck Scottish invasion; and no doubt considered an enlightenedecclesiastic, appointed by the crown, a safer depositary of such power thanan hereditary noble.
Having placed a noble and learned native of Loraine in the diocese,therefore, he erected it into a palatinate, over which the bishop, as CountPalatine, had temporal, as well as spiritual jurisdiction. He built astrong castle for his protection, and to serve as a barrier against theNorthern foe. He made him lord high-admiral of the sea and waters adjoininghis palatinate,—lord warden of the marches, and conservator of the leaguebetween England and Scotland. Thenceforth, we are told, the prelates ofDurham owned no earthly superior within their diocese, but continued forcenturies to exercise every right attached to an independent sovereign.[Footnote: Annals of Roger de Hovedon. Hutchinson's Durham, vol. ii.Collectanea Curiosa, vol. ii., p. 83.]
The bishop, as Count Palatine, lived in almost royal state and splendor. Hehad his lay chancellor, chamberlains, secretaries, steward, treasurer,master of the horse, and a host of minor officers. Still he was underfeudal obligations. All landed property in those warlike times, impliedmilitary service. Bishops and abbots, equally with great barons who heldestates immediately of the crown, were obliged, when required, to furnishthe king with armed men in proportion to their domains; but they had theirfeudatories under them to aid them in this service.
The princely prelate of Durham had his barons and knights, who held estatesof him on feudal tenure, and were bound to serve him in peace and war. Theysat occasionally in his councils, gave martial splendor to his court, andwere obliged to have horse and weapon ready for service, for they lived ina belligerent neighborhood, disturbed occasionally by civil war, and oftenby Scottish foray. When the banner of St. Cuthbert, the royal standard ofthe province, was displayed, no armed feudatory of the bishop could re