Thomas (Randolph) First Earl of Moray (bef. 1278 - 1332)

Born before 1278 in Stranith, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 20 Jul 1332 after age 54 in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland

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Biography

Thomas (Randolph) First Earl of Moray is Notable.

Family and Early Years

Thomas Randolph, the first Earl of Moray (of this creation), was the son of Thomas Randolph, Lord of Stranith (Nithsdale), Sheriff of Roxburgh (1266-1269), and Chamberlain of Scotland (1269-1278).^[1][2] His date of birth is unknown but is estimated to have been no later than 1278, as his name appears (alongside his father's) on a document dated 26 December 1292 witnessing John Baliol's oath of fealty to Edward I.^[1] His mother is generally acknowledged to have been a sister of Robert Bruce, although there is some disagreement as to her exact identity [see research notes].

Thomas was present at his uncle's coronation at Scone 27 March 1306, and was probably knighted on that occasion, as he was described as a "newly made knight" at the Battle of Methven several months later.^[1]

Loss at Battle of Methven

When Bruces's army and the English forces under the command of the Earl of Pembroke met near Perth in June, 1306, Pembroke agreed to accept Bruce's challenge and meet in battle the following day. Instead, however, he led a surprise attack that night on the Scottish troops who were camped at Methven, descending on the camp after the Scots had all disarmed.^[3] In the ensuing battle it was estimated that thousands of Bruce's men were killed. Bruce and a small group of his closest supporters, barely able to escape, at last managed to retreat westward toward Crieff.^[3] Thomas Randolph was taken prisoner, and the only thing that saved his life was the fact that he agreed to swear fealty to Edward I before Pembroke had received orders from the king that all the Scottish prisoners taken were to be tried and executed.^[4]

Randolph remained in English custody for about a year, first in the custody of Sir Adam Gordon at Inverkip and later in the custody of the earl of Lincoln.^[1][4] In September 1307 he participated in scouting parties organized by Pembroke to find James Douglas and Robert Bruce,^[4] on one occasion coming so close to capturing Bruce that Randolph actually was able to seize the king's banner.^[2] The following year, however, Randolph was taken by surprise and captured in a house near Peebleshire by James Douglas, and was brought before his uncle.^[2][4] There are various stories recounting how Thomas derided his uncle for using 'guerilla tactics' rather than conventional battle strategies,^[5][2] but the ultimate outcome of this reunion was that Thomas Randolph was accepted back into Bruce's intimate circle of advisors, and became one of his most trusted lieutenants.^[5]

In 1312, Randolph was created earl of Moray.^[6][7] It was the first new earldom in nearly a century, reviving a title extinct since 1130, and encompassing a huge amount of land going from the western sea to the Moray Firth and south all the way to the border of Perthshire.^[4] It was a much larger earldom , in fact, than the king granted to his own brother and heir, and a sign of the great esteem in which he held "his dearest nephew."^[4] The earldom was granted to Randolph 'in regality,' allowing him enormous jurisdictional powers and preventing royal officers from interfering in any legal cases within the earldom except in cases of treason or homicide.^[5] At about the same time, Randolph was also given the title of "Lord of the Isle of Man."^[8]

Further Military Engagements

The Earl of Moray participated in many military campaigns during the Scottish war for independence, frequently alongside of his good friend and rival Sir James Douglas.^[2] One of his earlier and more famous exploits was to capture Edinburgh Castle early in 1314.^[4] The castle had been under English control for eighteen years, and in March 1314, the Scots had beseiged it for six weeks hoping to no avail to starve the garrison into submission. One of Moray's soldiers who had once been garrisoned in the castle had discovered a way to sneak out at night to visit a girl he was courting in town. Using this information, Moray and about thirty of his men were able to reach the top of the castle rock unobserved and, using rope ladders, scale the walls.^[2][4] The castle was taken by the Scots, and immediately demolished so it could not be used again strategically by the English.^[2] In June of the same year, Moray distinguished himself by commanding one of the king's four main divisions at the Battle of Bannockburn and was instrumental in helping to achieve one of Scotland's greatest victories, sending Edward II fleeing back to England.^[2][4]

About 1315 Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray granted a charter to Sir Adam Gordon, knight, and his son, of the lands of Stitchell, Berwickshire, witnessed by "Roberto de Lawedre".^[9]

In May, 1315 he accompanied the king's brother, Edward Bruce, to Ireland where Bruce was to be crowned king of that country.^[10]Unfortunately the political situation in Ireland was extremely volatile at the time, and Moray was obliged to return several times to Scotland for reinforcements. He eventually arrived back in Ireland not only with more men but with King Robert himself, who was determined to come to his brother's aid.^[4] Moray and the Bruce both remained in Ireland until May, 1317.^[10]

A charter of King Robert I Brus, dated at Scone on the 1st June 1317, granted to Robert Skene of lands of Skene and lake/loch thereof in the sheriffdom of Aberdeen. Witnesses were: Bernard, Abbot of Aberbrothoc, Chancellor, Thomas Randulphe, Earl of Moray, Lord of Annandale and of Man, King's nephew, Walter, Steward of Scotland, James, Lord Douglas, Sir Alexander Fraser, Knt., Sir David Barclay, Knt., and Sir Robert de Laweder, Knt.^[11]

The Earl of Moray, Robert de Lawedre, Alexander de Seton, James, Lord Douglas, knights, and Walter, Steward of Scotland, witnessed an Inquisition or Service at Roxburgh in relation to the Lordship of Sprouston on 31st January 1321 by King Robert 1st settling it on the King's son, Robert. Signed at Berwick-upon-Tweed.^[12]

Diplomatic Efforts

Moray's reknown as a military commander was equaled only by his diplomatic achievements on behalf of Scotland's king. On 6 April 1320, his was the second name to be signed to the Declaration of Arbroath, a letter sent from the barons and the people of Scotland to Pope John XXII asking the Pope to support the independence of the Scottish people.^[10][7] In January, 1324, Moray himself met with the Pope in Avignon and successfully persuaded him to recognize Robert I as the King of Scotland.^[10][4] In 1325 Moray was sent as an ambassador to France, a mission which culminated in the Treaty of Corbeil, a French-Scottish alliance which promised that each party would help the other against England (both offensively and defensively) and which lasted for the rest of the fourteenth century.^[4]

Later Years

Not much has been recorded of Moray's activities when he returned from France to Scotland although he is known to have actively participated, along with James Douglas, in the famous battle of Stanhope Park.^[13][2] When King Robert's health began to fail, Moray spent many days with him at Cardross as his chief companion and counsellor, where they both pursued a mutual interest in shipbuilding. ^[13][2] He also seems to have assumed the guardianship of the king's young son, David, earl of Carrick.^[13]

On the 16th March 1328 a Charter of Patrick, Earl of Dunbar granted the monks of Coldingham the village and church of Edrom, the village of Nisbet, and the chapel of Earlston. Witnesses included the Bishops of St Andrews, Glasgow, and Moray, Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray & Lord of Annandale and Man, King's nephew, the Lord of Douglas, Gilbert de Hay, Constable, Sir Robert de Lawedre, Justiciar, Robert de Keith, Marshal, and Alexander de Seton.^[14]

When the King died on 7 June 1329, Moray became Regent of Scotland according to an act of parliament which had been passed in 1318.^[13][7]

"Roberto de Lawedre, militibus, Justiciario Lowdonie" [Justiciary of the Lothians] was a witness in a charter granted by Randolph, Earl of Moray, to John, Earl of Angus, of Morthyntoun [Mordington] in 1331.^[15]

"The King [Edward III] empowers John Darcy and William de Denum to go to Newcastle-upon-Tyne to treat with Sir Robert de Loweder, knight, and Ranulph de More [Moray] who have been sent by the Guardian of Scotland to the King, but are detained there by the dangerous illness of Sir Robert. Dated 26th October 1332.^[16]

Marriage and Children

Thomas Randolph, earl of Moray, married Isabella Stewart, the daughter of John Stewart and Margaret Bonkyl, although the date of their marriage is unknown.^[13][4] They had two sons and two daughters:

1. Thomas Randolph, 2nd earl of Moray^[13]
2. John Randolph, 3rd earl of Moray^[13]
3. Agnes Randolph Dunbar, "Black Agnes"^[17]
4. Isabel Randolph Dunbar^[17]

Death

The earl of Moray was only to serve as Regent of Scotland for three years. In 1332, marching south to defend Scotland from one more threatened English invasion, he grew very ill and was transported to Musselburgh, where he died on 20 July 1332.^[13] The cause of his death has been variously attributed to gall stones, poisoning, and liver cancer.^[4] He was buried very near his uncle, King Robert, at Dumferline Abbey.^[4] In 1351 his widow, Isabella, founded and endowed with lands purchased by herself, a chaplainry for the soul of her late husband, Thomas Randolph, earl of Moray.^[13]

Research Notes

Disputed Mother

• Isobel Bruce is frequently mentioned as Sir Thomas Randolph's wife and the mother of King Robert Bruce's faithful lieutenant Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray; the person of this profile. This relationship is contended by Sir James Balfour Paul in The Scots Peerage.^[18] There is enough contemporary evidence to support Thomas Randolph being Bruce's nephew, but the specific identity of Thomas's mother has not yet been conclusively established. Sir John Sinclair, who in 1795 published a Statistical Account of Scotland Drawn Up From the Communications of the Ministers of the Different Parishes, has asserted that Eufeme, the second daughter of Lord Robert Bruce and Martha, countess of Carrick and widow of Thomas Mackintagart, married Sir Thomas Randolph, sheriff of Roxburgh and great chamberlain of Scotland.^[19] Further research needs to be done to determine whether Eufeme Bruce actually was Thomas Randolph's wife and the mother of the Thomas Randolph of this profile.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Paul, James Balfour. Scots Peerage. Edinburgh: D. Douglas, 1904, p. 291 available online.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9} Dictionary of National Biography, entry for Randolph, Thomas (d. 1332) available online.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Battle of Methven
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14} Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online, entry for Randolph, Thomas, first earl of Moray (d. 1332), pub. 23 Sep 2004 available here by subscription.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Watson, Dr Callum. Knight of the Two Ls blog, 20 Jul 2018 available online.
6. ↑ Stodart, R.R. Scottish Arms: Being a Collection of Armorial Bearings, A.D. 1370-1676.Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1881, vol. 2, p. 18 available online.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Cokayne, George Edward. Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom. London: G. Bell and Sons, 1887, vol. 5, p. 359 available online.
8. ↑ Paul, James Balfour. Scots Peerage. Edinburgh: D. Douglas, 1904, p. 292 available online.
9. ↑ Miscellany of The Scottish History Society, vol 5, Edinburgh 1933, "Miscellaneous Charters 1315-1401" pps: 6,50/51.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3} Paul, James Balfour. Scots Peerage. Edinburgh: D. Douglas, 1904, p. 293 available online.
11. ↑ National Records of Scotland, GD220/6/126.
12. ↑ Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown 1214-1681 edited by Francis J. Grant, W.S., Rothesay Herald, Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 1910, p.7, number 30.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8} Paul, James Balfour. Scots Peerage. Edinburgh: D. Douglas, 1904, p. 294 available online.
14. ↑ Durham Miscellaneous Charters, number 635.
15. ↑ The Douglas Book by Sir William Fraser, vol.3, Edinburgh, 1885, charter, No.16, p.14.
16. ↑ Calender of Documents relating to Scotland, 1307 - 1357 by Joseph Bain, F.S.A.Scot., Edinburgh, 1887, vol.iii, number 1063, p.193.
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Paul, James Balfour. Scots Peerage. Edinburgh: D. Douglas, 1904, pp. 294-295 available online.
18. ↑ Paul, James Balfour. Scots Peerage. Edinburgh: D. Douglas, 1904, pp. 290-291 available online.
19. ↑ Sinclair, Sir John. The Statistical Account of Scotland: Drawn Up from the Communications of the Ministers of the Different Parishes. Glasgow: Dunlop and Wilson, 1795, pp. 639-640 available online.

See Also

• Douglas, Sir Robert (1694-1770). Peerage of Scotland, containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom.... Edinburgh: R. Fleming, 1764. Entry for Randolph, earl of Murray, pp. 498-499 available online.

• National Records of Scotland. The Declaration of Arbroath. available here.

• Strathclyde Genealogy. Randolph, Thomas, 1st earl of Moray (d. 1332) available online.

• Watson, Dr. Callum. Their Treason Undid them: Crossing the Boundary Between Scottish and English in Barbour's Bruce. available online.

• Wikipedia: Thomas_Randolph,_1st_Earl_of_Moray

• Wikidata: Item Q1685918