Agnes Dunbar
Encyclopedia
Agnes Randolph, Countess of Dunbar and March (c. 1312–1369), known as Black Agnes for her dark hair and eyes, and sallow complexion, was the wife of Patrick, 9th Earl of Dunbar and March. She is buried in the vault near Mordington
House.
The daughter of Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, nephew and companion-in-arms of Robert the Bruce
, and Moray's wife, Isabel Stewart, Agnes became renowned for her heroic defence of Dunbar Castle
against an English attack by the William Montagu, 1st Earl of Salisbury, which began on 13 January 1338.
, with English backing, attempted to seize the Scottish crown from David II
. Patrick Dunbar was fighting in the far-off Scottish army when English forces besieged his home, the great castle of Dunbar
in East Lothian
. Patrick’s wife, the Lady Agnes, was left alone with only a retinue of servants and a few guards to meet the English siege, but she refused to surrender the fortress, by one account declaring that
Women occasionally commanded besieged mediaeval
garrisons, for if the lord of a castle were away his wife might be left in charge; but Agnes’s is one of the few sieges which has been widely remembered. Though considered one of the ablest commanders of his day, Salisbury was obliged to lift his fruitless siege of Dunbar castle after nearly five months without success.
Salisbury began the siege with a bombardment by catapult
s, sending huge rocks and lead shot against the ramparts of Dunbar. Lady Agnes responded by having her maid
s dress in their Sunday best; she then led them to the outer walls, where with their handkerchiefs they nonchalantly and slightingly dusted away the damage from the bombardment. She would also taunt the English from her walls and berate her garrison to make them fight harder.
Montague next assaulted the castle with his battering ram. Agnes dropped over the walls a huge boulder captured from an earlier English attack, smashing the assault machinery.
According to one story, at one point during the siege, the English captured Agnes’s brother John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray
, and paraded him in front of the castle with a rope round his neck, threatening to hang him if she did not surrender. She told them to go ahead, as she would then inherit the Earldom of Moray
. John survived this brinkmanship. However, this story may be a later invention, as she was not heir to the earldom.
On June 10, 1338, William Montague ordered his army to withdraw, leaving Lady Agnes in sole possession of her castle. She is remembered in a ballad which attributes these words to Montague:
. However, the earldom actually reverted to the crown, although it was later granted to her nephew.
It seems that there were no surviving children of the marriage between Agnes and the Earl. Their estates were left to children of the marriage between the Earl's cousin John de Dunbar of Derchester and Birkynside and his wife, Isobel Randolph, Agnes's younger sister.
The three nephews were:
She also had a niece, Agnes Dunbar
, who became mistress of King David II.
Mordington
Mordington is an agricultural parish in the extreme south-east of Berwickshire in the Scottish Borders region. It is five miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed and borders Northumberland to the east, and south , Foulden to the west, and Lamberton to the north. The parish is bisected by the A6105 Berwick to...
House.
The daughter of Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, nephew and companion-in-arms of Robert the Bruce
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
, and Moray's wife, Isabel Stewart, Agnes became renowned for her heroic defence 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:...
against an English attack by the William Montagu, 1st Earl of Salisbury, which began on 13 January 1338.
The Siege of Dunbar
This attack took place during the conflict which arose when Edward BalliolEdward Balliol
Edward Balliol was a claimant to the Scottish throne . With English help, he briefly ruled the country from 1332 to 1336.-Life:...
, with English backing, attempted to seize the Scottish crown from David II
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
. Patrick Dunbar was fighting in the far-off Scottish army when English forces besieged his home, the great castle of Dunbar
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:...
in East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
. Patrick’s wife, the Lady Agnes, was left alone with only a retinue of servants and a few guards to meet the English siege, but she refused to surrender the fortress, by one account declaring that
- "Of Scotland's King I haud my house, I pay him meat and fee, And I will keep my gude auld house, while my house will keep me."
Women occasionally commanded besieged mediaeval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
garrisons, for if the lord of a castle were away his wife might be left in charge; but Agnes’s is one of the few sieges which has been widely remembered. Though considered one of the ablest commanders of his day, Salisbury was obliged to lift his fruitless siege of Dunbar castle after nearly five months without success.
Salisbury began the siege with a bombardment by catapult
Catapult
A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during...
s, sending huge rocks and lead shot against the ramparts of Dunbar. Lady Agnes responded by having her maid
Maid
A maidservant or in current usage housemaid or maid is a female employed in domestic service.-Description:Once part of an elaborate hierarchy in great houses, today a single maid may be the only domestic worker that upper and even middle-income households can afford, as was historically the case...
s dress in their Sunday best; she then led them to the outer walls, where with their handkerchiefs they nonchalantly and slightingly dusted away the damage from the bombardment. She would also taunt the English from her walls and berate her garrison to make them fight harder.
Montague next assaulted the castle with his battering ram. Agnes dropped over the walls a huge boulder captured from an earlier English attack, smashing the assault machinery.
According to one story, at one point during the siege, the English captured Agnes’s brother John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray
John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray
John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray was an important figure in the reign of David II of Scotland, and was for a time joint Regent of Scotland.-Family:...
, and paraded him in front of the castle with a rope round his neck, threatening to hang him if she did not surrender. She told them to go ahead, as she would then inherit the Earldom of Moray
Earl of Moray
The title Earl of Moray has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland.Prior to the formal establishment of the peerage, Earl of Moray, numerous individuals ruled the kingdom of Moray or Mormaer of Moray until 1130 when the kingdom was destroyed by David I of Scotland.-History of the...
. John survived this brinkmanship. However, this story may be a later invention, as she was not heir to the earldom.
On June 10, 1338, William Montague ordered his army to withdraw, leaving Lady Agnes in sole possession of her castle. She is remembered in a ballad which attributes these words to Montague:
- "Cam I early, cam I late, I found Agnes at the gate."
Family
Some accounts describe her as Countess of Moray, on the assumption that she inherited the earldom when her brother John was killed at the Battle of Neville's CrossBattle of Neville's Cross
The Battle of Neville's Cross took place to the west of Durham, England on 17 October 1346.-Background:In 1346, England was embroiled in the Hundred Years' War with France. In order to divert his enemy Philip VI of France appealed to David II of Scotland to attack the English from the north in...
. However, the earldom actually reverted to the crown, although it was later granted to her nephew.
It seems that there were no surviving children of the marriage between Agnes and the Earl. Their estates were left to children of the marriage between the Earl's cousin John de Dunbar of Derchester and Birkynside and his wife, Isobel Randolph, Agnes's younger sister.
The three nephews were:
- George, Earl of Dunbar and March
- John Dunbar, Earl of MorayJohn Dunbar, Earl of MorayJohn Dunbar, Earl of Moray was a Scottish nobleman.He was nephew of the previous Earl of Moray, John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray. However he did not inherit it the earldom automatically...
- Sir Patrick de Dunbar, of BeilStentonStenton 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,...
.
She also had a niece, Agnes Dunbar
Agnes Dunbar (mistress)
Agnes Dunbar was a mistress of King David II of Scotland .She was the niece of Agnes Randolph, Countess of Dunbar and March....
, who became mistress of King David II.