Robert Cochrane
Encyclopedia
Robert Cochrane was an architect
or mason
who lived in the reign of King James III of Scotland
. There exists a good deal of controversy about him, and some broader issues about the reign of James III. These issues concern the theme of a king taking advice from low-born favourites rather than from established noble councillors.
The traditional view is that James was a cultured man in the context of his time, but otherwise had some serious character flaws, a weak king and a dilettante who surrounded himself with a group of low-born favourites who had various talents. Cochrane was the most important of these favourites, to some extent he governed the country during the 1470s, and James may have made him Earl of Mar
after the death of the previous earl
, the king's younger brother. Cochrane's downfall came during an invasion by an English army led by the king's younger brother, the Duke of Albany
, and the Duke of Gloucester, the future King Richard III of England
. A cabal of aristocrats, led by Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus
, decided that they must "bell the cat
". They hanged Cochrane and the other favourites at Lauder
Bridge.
In the late 20th century much of this came to be questioned. Some historians have been more sympathetic to James III, seeing him as a cultured man in the rugby club atmosphere of the Scottish nobility at that time, and defended him against some criticisms. However it has also been suggested that James was a homosexual, and these "favourites of low birth" were his homosexual partners.
The leading Scottish historian Norman Macdougall
has come out with a revisionist biography of James III. In it he argues that, far from being a weak king, he was actually something of a tyrant, and dismissed the "favourites of low birth" as the invention of chroniclers in the next century who did not know what they were on about. He argues that all we can say for sure is that James had some dealings with an architect or mason and the rest is later invention. Macdougall found two records of a Thomas Cochrane; one reference suggests that Cochran was an usher of the king's chamber door, and the other that a Thomas Cochrane had forfeited the lands of Cousland near Dalkeith
. Cochrane of Cousland, Macdougall concludes, may have been the usher and met his end at Lauder Bridge. Macdougall also follows the development of the story in later writers and points particularly to William Drummond of Hawthornden
's History of the 5 Jameses for setting the final elaboration of the story. Macdougall argues that Hawthornden increased the status of Cochrane as artist and architect in order to rescue the king's reputation.
This view is not universally accepted by historians. This pattern of events, a royal favourite being assassinated by jealous nobles, did occur a few times in late mediaeval or early modern Europe.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
or mason
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
who lived in the reign of King James III of Scotland
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
. There exists a good deal of controversy about him, and some broader issues about the reign of James III. These issues concern the theme of a king taking advice from low-born favourites rather than from established noble councillors.
The traditional view is that James was a cultured man in the context of his time, but otherwise had some serious character flaws, a weak king and a dilettante who surrounded himself with a group of low-born favourites who had various talents. Cochrane was the most important of these favourites, to some extent he governed the country during the 1470s, and James may have made him Earl of Mar
Earl of Mar
The Mormaer or Earl of Mar is a title that has been created seven times, all in the Peerage of Scotland. The first creation of the earldom was originally the provincial ruler of the province of Mar in north-eastern Scotland...
after the death of the previous earl
John Stewart, Earl of Mar (d. 1479)
John Stewart, Earl of Mar and Garioch was the youngest son of James II of Scotland and Mary of Guelders.James II bestowed the titles of Earl of Mar and Earl of Garioch on his son sometime between 1458 and 1459. In 1479, John was accused of treason and imprisoned at Craigmillar Castle...
, the king's younger brother. Cochrane's downfall came during an invasion by an English army led by the king's younger brother, the Duke of Albany
Alexander Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany
Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany was the second son of King James II of Scotland, and his Queen consort Mary of Gueldres, daughter of Arnold, Duke of Gelderland.-Biography:...
, and the Duke of Gloucester, the future King Richard III of England
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
. A cabal of aristocrats, led by Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus , was a late medieval Scottish magnate. He became known as "Bell the Cat"...
, decided that they must "bell the cat
Bell the cat
Belling the Cat is a fable also known under the titles The Bell and the Cat and The Mice in Council. Although often attributed to Aesop, it was not recorded before the Middle Ages and has been confused with the quite different fable of Classical origin titled The Cat and the Mice. In the...
". They hanged Cochrane and the other favourites at Lauder
Lauder
The Royal Burgh of Lauder is a town in the Scottish Borders 27 miles south east of Edinburgh. It is also a royal burgh in the county of Berwickshire. It lies on the edge of the Lammermuir Hills, on the Southern Upland Way.-Medieval history:...
Bridge.
In the late 20th century much of this came to be questioned. Some historians have been more sympathetic to James III, seeing him as a cultured man in the rugby club atmosphere of the Scottish nobility at that time, and defended him against some criticisms. However it has also been suggested that James was a homosexual, and these "favourites of low birth" were his homosexual partners.
The leading Scottish historian Norman Macdougall
Norman Macdougall
Norman Macdougall is a Scottish historian who is known for writing about Scottish crown politics. He was a senior lecturer in Scottish history at the University of St Andrews....
has come out with a revisionist biography of James III. In it he argues that, far from being a weak king, he was actually something of a tyrant, and dismissed the "favourites of low birth" as the invention of chroniclers in the next century who did not know what they were on about. He argues that all we can say for sure is that James had some dealings with an architect or mason and the rest is later invention. Macdougall found two records of a Thomas Cochrane; one reference suggests that Cochran was an usher of the king's chamber door, and the other that a Thomas Cochrane had forfeited the lands of Cousland near Dalkeith
Dalkeith
Dalkeith is a town in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the River North Esk. It was granted a burgh of barony in 1401 and a burgh of regality in 1540...
. Cochrane of Cousland, Macdougall concludes, may have been the usher and met his end at Lauder Bridge. Macdougall also follows the development of the story in later writers and points particularly to William Drummond of Hawthornden
William Drummond of Hawthornden
William Drummond , called "of Hawthornden", was a Scottish poet.-Life:Drummond was born at Hawthornden Castle, Midlothian. His father, John Drummond, was the first laird of Hawthornden; and his mother was Susannah Fowler, sister of William Fowler, poet and courtier...
's History of the 5 Jameses for setting the final elaboration of the story. Macdougall argues that Hawthornden increased the status of Cochrane as artist and architect in order to rescue the king's reputation.
This view is not universally accepted by historians. This pattern of events, a royal favourite being assassinated by jealous nobles, did occur a few times in late mediaeval or early modern Europe.