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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1679, 4 May 1904, Page 5

The Duke of Northumberland is himself a Percy only by remote female descent. The Percys themselves came originally into „ possession of Alnwick Casllle in a way more curious than creditable. The last de Vesc Lord of Alnwick, who died in 1297, left castle and barony to Bishop Antony de Bek of Durham in trust for his only son. The prelate quarrelled with his infant ward (who afterwards fell at Bannockburn), punished him by ” depriving him of lus inheritance, and 1 ' calmly sold Alnwick outright, in the .year 1309 to Henry Percy. His descendants doubtless consider that six centuries of possession have sufficiently'confirmed their right to enjoy their heritage in peace.