The youthful Alexander II, who ascended to the Scottish throne in 1214

at the age of sixteen, was delighted to welcome to his court a young man

of royal blood, heir to the ancient - and all but rival - line of the

Cospatricks, Earls of Dunbar. Rather than begrudge Alexander his crown,

Patrick, Master of Dunbar, was to serve his monarch well and become his

true and closest friend.

And Alexander needed such a friend in those turbulent times, with the

ever-present threat of King John of England lurking; not to mention the

warlike Norsemen under King Hakon; the Lords of the Isles in revolt, and

the Isle of Man and Ireland also causing trouble.

This steadfast royal friendship was to withstand both treachery and

danger, rivalry and heartache during a highly significant period in

Scottish history.