Columba de Dunbar
Encyclopedia
Columba de Dunbar was Bishop of Moray
from 1422 until his death at Spynie Palace
near Elgin
sometime before 7 November 1435.
Columba was "of Royal race", the youngest "lawful son of George de Dunbar, 10th Earl of March" and his spouse Christian née Seton.
His father, who supported the so-called English Party in Scotland, later changed his allegiance and went over to King Henry IV of England
. Along with his elder brothers, Columba moved to England
in 1400. On 28 June 1401 Columba collected £100 given by King Henry to his father the Earl "for his special favour" and on 3 October 1401 Columba collected a further sum of £25/9s/7d for him. "Cristiana countess of Dunbarre" was also awarded $40/19s/3d "for her charges and expenses coming from the North" &c., and Columba collected this at the same time.
On 26 February 1403 (1402/3), while studying at Oxford
, "Columba son of George de Dunbarre earl of March of Scotland" was granted "the Deanery of the free chapel of St. Mary Magdalene of Bridgnorth
". This was thought to be a reward for the help provided by his father to King Henry in the battle of Homildon Hill in 1402.
Columba returned to Scotland
in 1409 and by 1412 he was Dean of Dunbar collegiate church
when he witnessed the foundation charter of St Andrews University. In addition, he was the Deacon of the chapel of Ruthven, St. Andrews. On 1 May 1419, by Papal Dispensation, he was given the additional rectory of the parish church of Locherworth or Borthwick
(£30 per annum), from which he was promoted to the post of Archdeacon of Lothian
. He Supplicated the Pope to be able to retain his former combined annual incomes which were in excess of £100 in addition to £120 for the Archdeaconry. Not only were these allowed but he continued to petition for other positions to be "annexed" to his Archdeaconry for further large sums. His request to retain the Deanery of Dunbar for another year, in April 1422, was contested.
His appointment as Archdeacon was contested by another priest, Edward de Lawedre, who believed the appointment had been promised to him. The litigation continued until Columba's promotion to the See of Moray.
Columba became Bishop of Moray on 3 April 1422 but no record of his consecration exists. On 1 December 1433, a Safe-conduct was issued by the young King Henry VI
for Columba and his entourage of 30 servants "to pass through England on his way to the Roman Court" (Keith says as envoy of King James I of Scotland).
He died before November 1435 and is thought, according to Keith, to have been buried in the aisle of St Thomas the Martyr (Becket) in Elgin Cathedral
.
Bishop of Moray
The Bishop of Moray or Bishop of Elgin was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Moray in northern Scotland, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics...
from 1422 until his death at Spynie Palace
Spynie Palace
Spynie Palace, also known as Spynie Castle, was the fortified seat of the Bishops of Moray for about 500 years. The founding of the palace dates back to the late 12th Century. It is situated about 500m from the location of the first officially settled Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Moray, in...
near Elgin
Elgin, Moray
Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
sometime before 7 November 1435.
Columba was "of Royal race", the youngest "lawful son of George de Dunbar, 10th Earl of March" and his spouse Christian née Seton.
His father, who supported the so-called English Party in Scotland, later changed his allegiance and went over to King Henry IV of England
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
. Along with his elder brothers, Columba moved to England
England
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...
in 1400. On 28 June 1401 Columba collected £100 given by King Henry to his father the Earl "for his special favour" and on 3 October 1401 Columba collected a further sum of £25/9s/7d for him. "Cristiana countess of Dunbarre" was also awarded $40/19s/3d "for her charges and expenses coming from the North" &c., and Columba collected this at the same time.
On 26 February 1403 (1402/3), while studying at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, "Columba son of George de Dunbarre earl of March of Scotland" was granted "the Deanery of the free chapel of St. Mary Magdalene of Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left...
". This was thought to be a reward for the help provided by his father to King Henry in the battle of Homildon Hill in 1402.
Columba returned to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1409 and by 1412 he was Dean of Dunbar collegiate church
Collegiate church
In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons; a non-monastic, or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, which may be presided over by a dean or provost...
when he witnessed the foundation charter of St Andrews University. In addition, he was the Deacon of the chapel of Ruthven, St. Andrews. On 1 May 1419, by Papal Dispensation, he was given the additional rectory of the parish church of Locherworth or Borthwick
Borthwick
Borthwick is a small hamlet in Midlothian, Scotland. To the west of the village is the fifteenth-century Borthwick Castle. Other places nearby include Temple, Midlothian, Newbattle, Newbattle Abbey, Heriot, Scottish Borders.-External links:******...
(£30 per annum), from which he was promoted to the post of Archdeacon of Lothian
Lothian
Lothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills....
. He Supplicated the Pope to be able to retain his former combined annual incomes which were in excess of £100 in addition to £120 for the Archdeaconry. Not only were these allowed but he continued to petition for other positions to be "annexed" to his Archdeaconry for further large sums. His request to retain the Deanery of Dunbar for another year, in April 1422, was contested.
His appointment as Archdeacon was contested by another priest, Edward de Lawedre, who believed the appointment had been promised to him. The litigation continued until Columba's promotion to the See of Moray.
Columba became Bishop of Moray on 3 April 1422 but no record of his consecration exists. On 1 December 1433, a Safe-conduct was issued by the young King Henry VI
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 Columba and his entourage of 30 servants "to pass through England on his way to the Roman Court" (Keith says as envoy of King James I of Scotland).
He died before November 1435 and is thought, according to Keith, to have been buried in the aisle of St Thomas the Martyr (Becket) in Elgin Cathedral
Elgin Cathedral
Elgin Cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, sometimes referred to as The Lantern of the North is a historic ruin in Elgin, Moray, north-east Scotland. It was established in 1224 on an area of ground granted by Alexander II that was close to the River Lossie and outside of the burgh of...
.