east-lothian-1924/05-032

Transcription

INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS IN EAST LOTHIAN.

one of the divisions of southern Scotland transferred by Edward Balliol to the
domain of his English patron, and the financial record of the English adminis-
tration in 1335-7 shows the much greater part of the district either in that King's
hands through forfeiture or disposed of by him. The forfeited owners include the
Earl of Dunbar, the Earl of Fife in North Berwick manor (cf. No. 106) Robert de
Lauder, William de Keith, Stewart of Thornton, the Bickertons of Luffness and
" Balnacrieff " (cf. No. 5) Alan de Winton of Winton, Reginald More in
the Barony of Drem, Maxwell of Wester Pencaitland and Malcolm de Ramsay
in land there, Simon Fleming of Stoneypath (cf. No. 214), Randolph Noble
in Garmilton-Noble (cf. No. 11) and Thomas Libaud in Garmilton-Dunning
(cf. p. xxi), Patrick de Gourlay in Beneston, John de Newton in Newton
(cf. No. 252), Godfrey Broun in Coalstoun, John de Broxmouth in
Broxmouth, Laurence de Preston in land in the barony of Tranent, Maurice
de Moravia in lands in Ballencrieff and some others ; while the barony of
Dirleton, Innerwick and the domain of the Bishops of Dunkeld in Aberlady
(cf. No. 2) had been granted by Balliol or Edward to some of their conspic-
uous agents. The ebb-tide of English failure, however, swept out the latter
class and brought back the former to their old places.
Because of their record as regards England, Kennedy in his Flyting with
the poet William Dunbar, who was descended from the Dunbars of Beneston,
rails at the Castle of Dunbar as " that awld spelunk (cave) of tressoun," but
disregards the more plausible occasion for such a reproach, when in 1400
the tenth Earl of Dunbar, affronted by the withdrawal of the Duke of Rothesay
from marriage with his daughter, retired to England and assumed English
allegiance. Dunbar Castle (No. 36) he left in the custody of his nephew,
Robert Maitland, but Maitland handed it over to Archibald Douglas, son and
heir of Earl Archibald. Failing to have his castle returned, March, summoning
to him his sons and friends, took an active part in the attacks of Henry IV.
upon Scotland, devoting his attentions particularly to the lands on the east
border. The English had not yet accustomed themselves to inroads as far
as East Lothian, but March showed the way and many both of peasantry
and rich men about Haddington, with much spoil, were haled off with impunity
to England. On February 3, 1401 March with Henry Percy "Hotspur " and
a big following made a surprise visit to the ' vill of Popil ' (Papple) whence
the burned and spoiled as far as East Linton, made two attacks upon Hailes
castle, burnt the townships (combustis villis) of Hailes, Traprain and Markle
and made their camp at East Linton and Preston. But Archibald, Master
of Douglas, hurrying from Edinburgh castle, raised the countryside (patria)
" at the sound of horn and trumpet," and by sunset was at the hill of
" Pentrak," whereupon the invaders abandoned everything and in disorder
made off to Berwick via Cockburnspath. ¹
Nevertheless the sympathies of the people of the earldom were with their
own Earl ² despite his activity in making mischief for his country. But
a combination of the Lothian gentlemen, suggested and supported by young
Archibald Douglas, now Earl, in Dunbar Castle, retaliated with raids upon
England, in which each of the leading lairds should take command in turn

1 Scotich. Lib. xv. cap. x.
2 Ibid. cap xiii.

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