Patrick of Dunbar

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: Abt 1186
• Alternate death: Aft 14 Apr 1248, Marseilles, France
• Alternate death: Between May 1248 and Dec 1248, Marseilles, France

Notes:

Earl of Dunbar. Died en route to Palestine.

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography says that "He and a number of other Scots died at the (successful) siege of Damietta in Egypt in 1248", but this appears to be an error. Volume III of The Scots Peerage (citation details below) says, on page 256, "[H]e never reached Palestine, as his death at Marseilles is recorded by the chronicler of Lanercost." And while the first portion of the chronicle of Lanercost appears to be online only in its original Latin, I can certainly make out in its 1248 section that "Patricius de Dunbar" "ex hac luce migravit" ("departed this life") in "Marfiliam."

From The Scots Peerage:

"The same writer [presumably the Lanercost chronicler] tells also two stories which give us a very favorable view of the Earl's character. One is that the Earl had issued invitations for a feast, but many more guests arrived than preparation had been made for. When his steward informed him of the lack of provision thus caused, the Earl ordered the kitchen be set on fire, risking rather the loss of his house than the tarnishing of his reputation for hospitality. The other story, for which the narrator vouches, concerns his forgiving and lenient conduct to a robber whom he had rescued from the gallows and placed in a position of trust, but who tried to murder his master. The Earl, however, made light of it, and gave the rascal money to escape."

Patrick married Euphame de Brus before 1213. Euphame (daughter of William de Brus and Christian) died about 1267. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Roger fitz John. Roger (son of John fitz Robert and Ada de Balliol) was born after 1219 in of Warkworth, Northumberland, England; died before 22 Jun 1249 in Normandy, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Earl of Dunbar.

"He was one of the English faction in 1255, in which year he rescued Alexander III from the power of the Comyn family, and was nom., in Sep. 1255, Regent and Guardian of the King and Queen. He held a command against the Norwegians, at Largs, in 1263; was a signatory to the treaty, 6 July 1266, for the cession of the Hebrides and the Isle of Man to Scotland; as also to the marriage contract of Margaret of Scotland with Eric of Norway, 25 July 1281; and again in Feb. 1283/4, to the succession of the 'Maid of Norway' to the throne of Scotland." [Complete Peerage, citation details below]

From The History of Dunbar, from the Earliest Records to the Present Time by James Miller (Dunbar, Scotland: James Downie, 1859):

Thomas Lermont of Ersildun (Earlston), the celebrated bard and prophet, (commonly called The Rhymer), visited Dunbar in 1285, and foretold to the Earl the sudden death of Alexander III, who was killed by a fall from his horse on the sands of Kinghorn.

[...O]n the night preceding the King's death, Thomas having arrived at the castle of Dunbar, was interrogated by the Earl, in the jocular manner he wont to assume with the prophet, if to-morrow should produce any remarkable event, to which the bard, while "coming events cast their shadows before," replied, in the mystical language of prophecy: "Alas for to-morrow, a day of calamity and misery! Before the twelfth hour shall be heard a blast so vehement, that it shall exceed those of every former period. A blast which will strike the nations with amazement, -- shall reduce those who hear it to a state of insensibility, -- shall humble what is proud, and what is fierce shall level with the ground! The sorest wind and tempest that ever was heard of in Scotland." After this prediction, which was left to be fulfilled either by accident or the weather, Thomas retired.

Next day, the Earl and his companions having continued in watch till the ninth hour, without discovering any unusual appearance in the elements, began to doubt the prescient powers of the soothsayer, to whom it was imagined, the "sunset of life had given mystical lore," and having ordered him into their presence upbraided him as an impostor, and hastened to enjoy their wonted repast; but his lordship had scarcely placed himself at table, and the hand of the dial pointed to the hour of noon, when an express, covered with foam, appeared at the castle-gate, demanding an audience. On being interrogated, he exclaimed: "I do indeed bring news; but of a lamentable kind, to be deplored by the whole realm of Scotland, Alas! our renowned king, has ended his fair life at Kinghorn." "This," cried the prophet, gathering himself up in the spirit of conscious veracity," this is the scathful wind and dreadful tempest, which shall blow such a calamity and trouble to the whole state of the whole realm of Scotland."

The messenger paused, while the Earl and his companions, rousing themselves as from a dream, beat their breasts in the agony of despair, and acknowledged that the prediction of the Rhymer had been too fatally verified.

Patrick married Cecily fitz John before 1242. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 1247, Clavering, Essex, England
• Alternate death: Bef 20 Apr 1310, Horsford, Norfolk, England

Notes:

"He distinguished himself in the war with Scotland, 1294-8, and was taken prisoner at the Battle of Stirling 11 Sept. 1297. He was summoned to Parliament from 2 Nov. 1295 to 26 October 1309, by writs directed Roberto filio Rogeri, whereby he is held to have become Lord Fitz Roger." [Royal Ancestry]

Robert married Margaret la Zouche in 1265. Margaret (daughter of Alan la Zouche and Ellen de Quincy) was born in 1251 in Winchester, Hampshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Earl of Dunbar. Earl of March.

"He was one of the competitors for the Crown of Scotland, lodging his petition 3 Aug. 1291, at Berwick, in right of his great-grandmother, the Countess Ada, [illegit.] da. of King William as abovenamed. This claim he soon withdrew, swearing fealty to Edward I on 25 Mar. 1296, and taking the English side when hostilities began that year. In 1298 he was the King's Lieutenant for Scotland, and in 1300 was with his son Patrick at the siege of Carlaverock." [Complete Peerage, citation details below]

Patrick married Marjory Comyn before 1283. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was summoned to Parliament from 16 Jul 1299 to 20 Nov 1311 by writs directed Johanni de Clavering. He fought with distinction in the Scottish wars and was taken prisoner at Bannockburn.

John married Hawise de Tibetot after 11 Sep 1277. Hawise (daughter of Robert de Tibetot and Eve de Chaworth) died on 18 Feb 1345. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Euphemia married Ranulph de Neville before 12 Mar 1281. Ranulph (son of Robert de Neville and Mary Fitz Ranulph) was born on 18 Oct 1262 in of Raby, Durham, England; died after 18 Apr 1331; was buried in Coverham Abbey, Yorkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]