The End of the Line

As the fifteenth century approaches, the weakness of Robert III allows his ambitious brother, Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife, to dominate Scotland as regent. George de Dunbar, the tenth Earl of March—known as the Cospatrick—must protect one of the realm’s greatest lordships while navigating a court sliding towards faction and civil conflict. Diplomatic service takes him to England, where he forms a durable friendship with Henry of Bolingbroke, the future Henry IV.

Queen Annabella later asks Cospatrick to use that English connection to prevent violence within Scotland, but dealing with the Auld Enemy exposes him to accusations of divided loyalty. A broken royal marriage agreement, the manoeuvres of the Douglases and Albany’s hunger for power steadily isolate the Dunbars. The consequences fall upon Cospatrick’s son George, Master of Dunbar, who inherits not only the family’s titles and strategic Border lands but the suspicion attached to his father’s English alliance. Tranter traces the political decisions that bring a formidable dynasty to the end of its line as earls of Dunbar and March.