Sir Edmund de Mauley Knight and Lord of the Manor Seton 1306

Edmund de Mauley was born in 1281 and was the youngest son of a great Yorkshire family who owned Bainton and Neswick for over 200 years. He served in the Scottish campaign of 1301 and became a very close friend of the future King Edward II serving later as a steward. Although in minor orders, he was one of young nobles at the court of the King.

For his services during campaigns with and for King Edward II he was awarded a grant of the Manor of Seton in 1306. (Seaton Ross was known as Seton in 1306 ).

He died at the battle of Bannockburn on the 24th June 1314, when the Scots, under Robert the Bruce defeated the English. Accompanied by the Earl of Gloucester, Sir John Comyn and Sir Pagan de Typtoft, Sir Edmund was in the leading division of men who charged their horses across the wide, steep sided water filled ditch called Bannockburn. They encountered such fierce opposition that they were killed with many of their men. Many others who turned and tried to cross the burn, were drowned or crushed to death. It is said that you could walk across the burn on the backs of the dead bodies after the battle.

In the south aisle of the nave of the church at Bainton in East Yorkshire, is an elaborate wall tomb of about 1336 containing the contemporary figure of a knight. This wall tomb was set up 20 years after his death as a memorial to Sir Edmund de Mauley who fell at the battle of Bannockburn.

The illustrations show the Edmund de Mauley tomb effigy in Bainton church and his shield which bears the coat of arms “On a bend sable three wyverns argent” .

Seaton Ross church is dedicated to St. Edmund. The reason for this dedication may be due to the desire of the Lord of the Manor of Seton in the early 14th century Sir Edmund de Mauley wishing to honour his name ‘saint’.

Malcolm Young

sharing Seaton Ross's history