34 REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1903 



to exist in a manuscript of his, preserved in Merton College 

 Library, Oxford. Some doubt has always been entertained 

 regarding the authenticity of this record ; and on this occasion 

 expression was given to it by Rev. Dr Sprott, North Berwick, 

 who, in true patriotic fashion, laid claim to "the subtle doctor" 

 as a native of Duns, in Berwickshire. It will not be easy, 

 therafore, for those holding this opinion to accept the conclusion 

 arrived at by Mr Bateson, when he says: — "The birth-place 

 of the great Schoolman will probably never be ascertained 

 with certainty ; but it may be urged in favour of Dunstan, 

 that Duns Scotus was a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, 

 to which the living of Embleton belonged, and to which a 

 native of Embleton parish would naturally proceed." Such 

 artless methods may have commended themselves in earlier 

 days ; but in view of the familiar latter-day experience 

 of a prophet being " not without honour, save in his own 

 country," and of the commonly received tradition that 

 " Duns dings a'," we fear the argument may not find 

 universal acceptance ! 



In his interesting sketch of the Castle and its environs. 



Captain Norman briefly recalled its connection 

 Dunstan- with Simon de Montford, Earl of Leicester, who 

 burgh purchased it early in the 13th century; with 



Castle. Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, by whom orders 



were given, on 7th May 1313, for the quarry- 

 ing of stone for its construction ; and with John o' Gaunt, 

 afterwards Earl of Lancaster, who, by his marriage with 

 Blanche, younger daughter of Henry, Duke of Lancaster, 

 became possessed of Dunstanburgh, and in 1368 began to 

 make extensive alterations and additions to it, tracing its 

 fortunes and those of the Red Rose faction in Northumberland 

 on the following lines. 



"The other castles of Northumberland," says 

 Historical Bateson in his history of that county, "are 

 Notes. principally famous for the part they and their 



lords played in Border warfare, but this castle 

 is connected only with the internal history of England." 

 It was owned by two great popular leaders of the thirteenth 

 and fourteenth centuries, Simon de Montford and Thomas of 

 J^auoas^er, ^1^4 \^ fovtUQes were closely interwoven with those 



