George II, Earl of March
Encyclopedia
George de Dunbar, 11th Earl of Dunbar & March Lord of Annandale and the Isle of Man
, (c. 1370 – after 1457) was the last of his family to hold these titles.
, Berwickshire
, and was engaged in various public transactions during his father's lifetime. In 1390 he obtained from King Robert II
a grant of his ward-relief and marriage for the Earldom of March and lordship of Annandale; and he acted as a Commissioner for liberating from English captivity Murdoch, son of the Regent Albany, on December 7, 1411, and in 1415. "George de Dounbar, son and heir of the Earl of the Marches of Scotland" had a further Safe-conduct, with numerous other nobles to travel to England between 1416-1419.
were named as part of the illustrious embassy sent to negotiate the liberation of King James I of Scotland
who had long been a captive in England.
On March 28, 1424, the Earl of March was one of the Conservators of the seven-year truce with England, and had the honour of meeting James I and his consort
at Durham
upon their return to Scotland. He was also present at their Coronation in Scone
on May 24, 1424, when he was knight
ed.
However the following year the earls of Dunbar and Douglas, with the Duke of Albany, and twenty other feudal barons, were suddenly arrested and confined by order of parliament after accusations of corruption in Scottish affairs during James's absence. Albany and his sons, with his father-in-law the Earl of Lennox
were beheaded, but the Earl of Dunbar and most of the other barons were set at liberty, their guilt being less apparent.
In 1427 the earls of Dunbar and Douglas
obtained, in London, a truce from King Henry VI of England
for two years, which Sir Robert Umfraville, governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed
had refused.
George, Earl of March was next employed in negotiating more temporary truces with England in June 1429 and the following January; and officiated as sponsor for King James II of Scotland
at Holyroodhouse in October 1430.
and the usual jealosies of the Crown and opponents in Scotland were aroused, and a plan was hatched to forfeit the Dunbars, the earl being arrested upon his return and confined in Edinburgh Castle
, while the Earl of Angus
, Chancellor Crichton
, and Sir Adam Hepburn of Hailes, were despatched with Letters to the Keeper of Dunbar Castle
who immediately surrendered it to the King's authority, Hepburn being left as Constable of the important fortress.
In a parliament which assembled at Perth
on January 10, 1435, George, Earl of March, Lord of Dunbar, etc., was accused, not for any treason committed by himself, but for holding his earldoms and estates which were claimed to have been forfeited by his father. the following day "in vain did he plead," says Sir Robert Douglas, "that his father had been pardoned and restored by Albany", and it was answered "that a forfeiture incurred for treason could not be pardoned by a Regent".
The forfeited Earl retired into obscurity in England. A Safe-conduct warrant was signed for "George, Earl of Dunbar, with twenty-four horsemen" at Westminster
on October 31, 1435. However it appears he may have been still alive in 1457 when he is mentioned (still as "Earl of March") in a charter to his son, Patrick de Dunbar, of the lands and barony of Kilconquhar, in Fife
, held of the Archbishop of St. Andrews as superior.
His eldest son, Patrick, of Kilconquhar, Fife, Master of The March, married Elisabeth Sinclair.
Another son, George, entered the church. On February 12, 1433, he was described as "son of the Earl of March, noble on both sides", when he Supplicated the Pope to provide him to the canonry and prebendary of Linton, in the collegiate church of Dunbar at £70 per annum.
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
, (c. 1370 – after 1457) was the last of his family to hold these titles.
Early life
He was aged about fifty when he succeeded his father, George de Dunbar, 10th Earl of March and Dunbar, (1340–1420). "George de Dunbarre son of the Earl of March" had a Safe-conduct to pass through England with twenty horsemen to go "beyond the seas" and return, dated March 19, 1399. In August 1405 he was Lieutenant of the castle of CockburnspathCockburnspath
Cockburnspath is a village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. It lies near the North Sea coast between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh. It is at the eastern extremity of the Southern Upland Way, a long-distance footpath from the west to east coast of Scotland, and it is also the terminus...
, Berwickshire
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
, and was engaged in various public transactions during his father's lifetime. In 1390 he obtained from King Robert II
Robert II of Scotland
Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...
a grant of his ward-relief and marriage for the Earldom of March and lordship of Annandale; and he acted as a Commissioner for liberating from English captivity Murdoch, son of the Regent Albany, on December 7, 1411, and in 1415. "George de Dounbar, son and heir of the Earl of the Marches of Scotland" had a further Safe-conduct, with numerous other nobles to travel to England between 1416-1419.
Ambassador
On August 19, 1423 "George, Earl of March" and his brother Sir Patrick de Dunbar of BeilStenton
Stenton is a parish and village in East Lothian, Scotland. It is bounded on the north by parts of the parishes of Prestonkirk and Dunbar, on the east by Spott and on the west by Whittingehame. The name is said to be of Saxon derivation. In earlier times, when names were often written phonetically,...
were named as part of the illustrious embassy sent to negotiate the liberation of King James I of Scotland
James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
who had long been a captive in England.
On March 28, 1424, the Earl of March was one of the Conservators of the seven-year truce with England, and had the honour of meeting James I and his consort
Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland
Joan Beaufort was the Queen Consort of Scotland from 1424 to 1437 as the spouse of King James I of Scotland. During part of the minority of her son James II , she served as the Regent of Scotland....
at Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
upon their return to Scotland. He was also present at their Coronation in Scone
Scone, Scotland
Scone is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The medieval village of Scone, which grew up around the monastery and royal residence, was abandoned in the early 19th century when the residents were removed and a new palace was built on the site by the Earl of Mansfield...
on May 24, 1424, when he was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed.
However the following year the earls of Dunbar and Douglas, with the Duke of Albany, and twenty other feudal barons, were suddenly arrested and confined by order of parliament after accusations of corruption in Scottish affairs during James's absence. Albany and his sons, with his father-in-law the Earl of Lennox
Donnchadh, Earl of Lennox
Donnchadh of Lennox was the Mormaer of Lennox, 1385-1425. He was a son of Baltar mac Amlaimh and Margaret, daughter of Domhnall, Earl of Lennox....
were beheaded, but the Earl of Dunbar and most of the other barons were set at liberty, their guilt being less apparent.
In 1427 the earls of Dunbar and Douglas
Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas
Archibald Douglas was a Scottish nobleman and General, son of Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas and Margaret Stewart, eldest daughter of Robert III...
obtained, in London, a truce from King Henry VI of England
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
for two years, which Sir Robert Umfraville, governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
had refused.
George, Earl of March was next employed in negotiating more temporary truces with England in June 1429 and the following January; and officiated as sponsor for King James II of Scotland
James II of Scotland
James II reigned as King of Scots from 1437 to his death.He was the son of James I, King of Scots, and Joan Beaufort...
at Holyroodhouse in October 1430.
Conspiracy and downfall
In 1434 Dunbar and his son Patrick were twice in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the usual jealosies of the Crown and opponents in Scotland were aroused, and a plan was hatched to forfeit the Dunbars, the earl being arrested upon his return and confined in Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
, while the Earl of Angus
William Douglas, 2nd Earl of Angus
William Douglas, 2nd Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman and soldier. The son of George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus and Princess Mary of Scotland, he was a grandson of King Robert III....
, Chancellor Crichton
William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton
William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton of Sanquhar was an important political figure in Scotland.He held various positions within the court of James I. At the death of James I, William Crichton was Sheriff of Edinburgh, Keeper of Edinburgh Castle, and Master of the King’s household...
, and Sir Adam Hepburn of Hailes, were despatched with Letters to the Keeper of Dunbar Castle
Dunbar Castle
Dunbar Castle is the remnants of one of the most mighty fortresses in Scotland, situated over the harbour of the town of Dunbar, in East Lothian.-Early history:...
who immediately surrendered it to the King's authority, Hepburn being left as Constable of the important fortress.
In a parliament which assembled at Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
on January 10, 1435, George, Earl of March, Lord of Dunbar, etc., was accused, not for any treason committed by himself, but for holding his earldoms and estates which were claimed to have been forfeited by his father. the following day "in vain did he plead," says Sir Robert Douglas, "that his father had been pardoned and restored by Albany", and it was answered "that a forfeiture incurred for treason could not be pardoned by a Regent".
The forfeited Earl retired into obscurity in England. A Safe-conduct warrant was signed for "George, Earl of Dunbar, with twenty-four horsemen" at Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
on October 31, 1435. However it appears he may have been still alive in 1457 when he is mentioned (still as "Earl of March") in a charter to his son, Patrick de Dunbar, of the lands and barony of Kilconquhar, in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, held of the Archbishop of St. Andrews as superior.
Marriages
The Earl is said to have married twice: (1) c. 1390, Beatrix (family unknown), by whom he had his "eldest son", the aforementioned Patrick, and in 1421, a dispensation was granted for him to marry as his second wife, Hawise (or Alicia), daughter of Sir William de Hay, Knt., of Locherworth, Peebleshire. The two wives were said to be closely related to each other, and he to them both.His eldest son, Patrick, of Kilconquhar, Fife, Master of The March, married Elisabeth Sinclair.
Another son, George, entered the church. On February 12, 1433, he was described as "son of the Earl of March, noble on both sides", when he Supplicated the Pope to provide him to the canonry and prebendary of Linton, in the collegiate church of Dunbar at £70 per annum.