SCARAMOUCH, properly a buffoon, used later colloquially for a ne'er-do-well. The name was that of a stock character in 17th century Italian farce, Scaramuccia (i.e., literally "skir mish"), who, attired usually in a black Spanish dress, burlesquing a "don," was beaten by Harlequin for his boasting and cowardice. SCARBOROUGH, a municipal borough in the North Riding of Yorkshire, England, 231 m. N. of London and 42 m. N.E.
of York by the L.N.E. railway. Pop. (193 I) 41,791. It is situated on the N.E. coast of Yorkshire, where a hammer-like peninsula of high land projects eastwards, separating the North and South Bays. The modern town fringes both bays and extends a con siderable distance inland. The peninsula is crowned by a 12th century castle, but such a natural stronghold was occupied earlier.
The remains of a Roman signalling station were excavated here in 1925, and during the excavations, relics of a bronze age vil lage were discovered. The site had long been abandoned when the Romans came and erected there one of a series of signalling stations to aid in the defence of Britain against Saxon raiders. It was built about 370-395, not as an object of defence but as a watch tower.
After the Roman occupation, the site lay waste until about 1,000 when a chapel was built within the partly ruined walls of the Roman tower, and this was probably destroyed when Harold Hardrada of Norway sacked and burnt the town in 1066. The Roman remains were cleared when the castle was first built in stone in 1148-68 to replace an earlier Norman structure, probably of wood. The present ruins include a lofty Norman keep, and the dyke or moat on the landward side, which was simply a ditch, making the approach on this side more difficult. A wall with towers also protects the castle in this direction. Near the landward side of the dyke is the church of St. Mary, occupying the site of a Cistercian monastery of 1198. It is transitional Norman and Early English with later additions.
It was a "walled city" in 1181, when granted its first charter, which gave the burgesses all liberties in the same way as the citizens of York. The strength of the castle was greatly increased by Henry II., and a new chapel was completed on the site of the old one in 1189. Henry III., in 1253, granted that a court of pleas should be held at Scarborough by the justices who went to hold common pleas at York; he also gave the corporation a gild merchant and granted a yearly fair, which was originally held on, the sands. During his reign the Barbican, Causeway, and present gateways of the castle were built and the whole was made an impregnable fortress. The Scots came to Scarborough in 1318, and took and burned the town, but the castle proved too strong for them. The town was taken away from the burgesses
by Edward II., but was restored to them by Edward III. in 1327, and a charter of 1356 confirms the privileges of the borough.
By the charter of 1485, Richard III. appointed that the town should be governed by a mayor, a sheriff, and twelve aldermen and that, together with the mayor of Whallesgrave, it should be a county of itself. On the death of Richard III., however, it took no effect and the corporation retained its old mode of government ; a mayor was not appointed until 1684. When Henry VIII. passed the Act for the Suppression of the monasteries, the people of Yorkshire unsuccessfully besieged Scarborough castle, which was held for the king. It was repaired during the reign of Eliza beth. During the Civil War, the Royalists held the town and castle, which were besieged by the Parliamentary forces in 1644. The town was taken in 1645 and after twelve months the castle fell to the Parliamentarians. It underwent another siege in 1648 after Scarborough revolted to the king, and after three months it surrendered and the castle was ordered to be demolished. This was done by blowing down the north-western front with gun powder in 165o. During the rebellion of 1745, the castle was partly repaired.
The development of Scarborough as a watering place dates from 1620, when two mineral springs were discovered. They are now contained in the garden of the Spa house near the shore of the South Bay, but are relatively unimportant. West of Scarborough lie the high moors intersected by narrow well wooded valleys and to the south lies the Vale of Pickering. Scar borough is thus a tourist centre as well as a seaside resort, and annual sports festivals provide an additional attraction. The harbour, enclosed by piers and divided into two basins, lies on the south side of the castle peninsula. It is dry at low tide, but it accessible at spring tides to vessels of 13 ft. draught, and is largely used by fishing boats. There is also a floating dock for the repair of ships, and a scheme to meet the growing demand for the improvement of the harbour, was begun in 1927. Accom modation has also been made for "fishing-girts." The fishing industry is now less important than at one time. Jet was for merly an important manufacture. The main sea-coast road from Whitby via Scarborough to Bridlington has been improved and the New Valley Bridge built.
Scarborough was shelled by German cruisers in 1914, when the castle was damaged, the coast guard station was struck and the barracks were destroyed. It was also visited by enemy sub marines in 1917.
Two members were returned to parliament from 1295-1885, when the number was reduced to one. It now forms part of the Scarborough and Whitby Parliamentary division. (M. K. M.)