Robert de Lawedre of Bass (abt. 1375 - bef. 1451)

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Descendants

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Robert de Lawedre of Bass was a member of Scottish Nobility. Join: Scotland Project Discuss: Scotland

Biography

Third but eldest surviving son, and heir to his elder brother William Lauder, Bishop of Glasgow, Chancellor of Scotland, as well as their father. See the Donation Charter of Robert de Lawedre to Glasgow Cathedral dated 1st August, 1414, which this Robert witnessed as his father's third son.^[1]

Before succeeding to The Bass etc., the eldest son held Edrington Castle and estate in Berwickshire and was designated thus.^[2] Young has him as Sir Robert Lawedre of Edrington, and designated son of "our lovite of the Bass". Young correctly gives him as a brother of William, Bishop of Glasgow.^[3]

He is doubtless the Robert de Lawedre who, along with [his brother] James de Lawedre, and Thomas de Lawedre, Canon of Dunbar, who witnessed the confirmation by William de Lawedre, Bishop of Glasgow, of the Papal Dispensation by Pope Benedict XIII dated 11 Dec 1413, for the marriage of William de Douglas, Earl of Angus,and Margaret, daughter of Sir William de la Hay, the elder, Knt., who were related in the fourth degree of consanguinity. Dated and signed at Yester castle, Haddingtonshire, 6th January 1414/15.^[4]

"Robertus de Lawedre de Edryngtoune de Scotia, miles" (knight) is mentioned along with "Venerabilis pater Wills epus Glasguen' cancellar' Scotie and Patricius de Dunbar de Bele de Scotia, mils, under date 12th May 1423 in the Rotuli Scotiae; and again on 3rd December of that same year.^[5]

Roberti de Lawedre de Edrington, militum took part in a General Council of the Regent, Murdoc, Duke of Albany, at Inverkeithing on 19th August 1423,^[6] at which he was appointed (same day) as envoy for the ransom of James 1st.^[7]

Sir Robert de Lawedre of Edrington is recorded as being an ambassador to treat with the English for the liberation of the captured James I on 3rd December 1423. There is further, mention of "Venerabilis pre. Willmus. epus Glasguensis; Patricius de Dunbar de Bele; Robertus de Lawedre de Edryngton (Commissarii assignantur ad tractandum cum commissariis Scotiae)." ^[8]

In 1425 Sir Robert de Lawedre of The Bass was made Justiciar of Scotland south of the Forth, (according to Nisbet, Sir Robert Lawedre de Edrington, Dominus de la Bass was Justiciarius Laudoniae [Lothian] in the reign of James 1st) with his brother James de Lawedre as Justice-clerk. Sir Robert was also an Auditor of Exchequer. In The Great Seal he is witness to over 20 charters in 1425-6 alone. In four he is still designated as Sir Robert Lawedre of Edrington, Knt., Justicarius, but in all the others he is designated as Sir Robert de Lawedre of the Bass, Knt, Justicarius. The earliest mention as a Justiciary appears to be 24th June 1425, where he is designated 'of The Bass' although this appears to be the date of his father's death. ^[9]

The seal of "Sir Robert Lawedre of the Bass, Lord-Justice [sic] of Scotland, etc., was appended to an instrument dated 16th July 1425" and which was described as: Couche; a griffin salient [sic], within the royal tressure. Crest, on a front-faced helmet, a goat or ram's head. Supporters, two lions rampant." ^[10]

Between 1425 and 1433 "Sir Robert Lauder of The Bass" was Governor of Edinburgh Castle. His name appears as such on the board of governors of that place today displayed in The Great Hall of the castle.

Sir Robert was confirmed in his inheritance on 14th December 1425 when "The King confirms to Robert de Lawedre of Edringtoun, knight, Justiciario Scotia, the lands of le Craig, Balgone, THE BASS, Edringtoun, Simprin, easter Pencaitland, Newhall, etc"., for him and his legitimate heirs. This confirms that It was in this year that Sir Robert succeeded to the headship of the family as here we see him becoming "of Bass".^{[11] [12][13]}

On 19th March, 1427, Sir Robert Lawedre of Edrington, Knight, Justiciar within the Kingdom of Scotland, witnessed a charter confirming the rights and boundaries of the burgh of Haddington's part of Gladsmuir in Haddingtonshire.^[14]

The final deliberations regarding the marriage of Sir Alexander Home of that Ilk (later 1st Lord Home) to Marion (Mariotte) Lauder (granddaughter of Sir Robert Lauder of The Bass, d.1425) were sealed by Robert, Bishop of Caithness at Edinburgh on the 1st April 1428. The Bishop procured the use of the seal of George Lauder, Bishop of Argyll, his own not being available, before witnesses led by Sir Robert Lauder, Knt., Lord of Edrington [and The Bass].^[15]

These are instances where he is still given "of Edrington", his former designation, instead of "of The Bass". This is quite common and causes degrees of confusion.

There are a great many mentions of this Sir Robert de Lawedre (spellings are beginning to vary by this century) in the archives. It is clear he was a knight, whereas his son and successor, Robert, was not.

Sir Robert died before Michaelmass 1451.^[16] Reid (1885, p.60) also mentions this.

His wife is unknown. He had at least four known children.

He also had an illegitimate child, Thomas de Lawedre, Bishop of Dunkeld, &c. (1396-1481), who was legitimated in February 1473.^[17]

About 1460 the Arms of Lauder of The Bass were recorded as "Gules, a griffin segreant within a Royal Tressure argent".^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ Registrum Glasguense, vol.2, p.304. National Records of Scotland.
2. ↑ Stewart-Smith, J., The Grange of St.Giles, Edinburgh, 1898.
3. ↑ Young, James, editor, Notes on Historical References to the Scottish Family of Lauder, Glasgow, 1884, p.49.
4. ↑ Harveym C. H., MacLeod, John, editors, Calendar of Writs preserved at Yester House 1166-1625, Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 1930 no.50, p.42.
5. ↑ Young, 1884, p.49.
6. ↑ The Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, vol.I, 1124-1423, London, 1844, p.227.
7. ↑ Young, 1884.
8. ↑ Rotuli Scotiae
9. ↑ Reid, 1885, p.59.
10. ↑ Laing, Henry, Ancient Scottish Seals, Edinburgh, 1866.
11. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.29.
12. ↑ Early Notices of the Bass Rock and its Owners by John J. Reid, BA., FSA Scot., in "Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland", 14th December, 1885, p.59-60.
13. ↑ Nisbet, Alexander, Systems of Heraldry, Edinburgh, 1722, vol.i. p.344.
14. ↑ Wallace-James, J. G., Charters and Writs concerning the Royal Burgh of Haddington, 1318 - 1543, Haddington, n/d. (Copy in the City Library, Edinburgh).
15. ↑ MSS of The Duke of Athole, K.T., and of The Earl of Home, Historical Manuscripts Commission, Twelfth Report, Appendix, Part VIII, London, 1891, p.123.
16. ↑ The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, Edinburgh, vol. v, p.488, under 'Rotuli Scaccarii'.
17. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, vol.ii, No.1107.
18. ↑ Campbell, Colin , The Scots Roll - A Study of a 15th Century Roll of Arms, The Heraldry Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1995, p.30, ISBN: 0-9525258-0-1.