Robert Lauder (d. 1576)

Robert Lauder of The Bass, (born before 1504 - died June 1576) was an important noble in Haddingtonshire, Berwickshire, and Fife. Stodart remarks that "to 1600 the barons of the Bass sat in almost every parliament". He was a firm supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots whom he accompanied to Carberry Hill on June 14, 1567, and fought for at the battle of Langside.

Family and estates

The son of Sir Robert Lauder of The Bass, Knt., (died between July 1517 - Feb 1518) by his spouse Elizabeth Lawson, who invested him in fee in Edrington, county Berwick, whilst still a child. Following his father's death "The Exchequer Rolls" record Robert being invested in his paternal estates which included The Bass, the lands of Edrington with tower, mill, fishings and all pertinents extending to 15 husbandlands (390 acres);the town and territory of Simprin and the lands of Ladypart (near Lauder) with pertinents, Mersington with Mill, all in Berwickshire; the lands of Stenton, Duchry, Johnscleuch, Pencaitland, Newhall, Popill, Whitelaw, Wester Spott &c., Beil with its tower, mill &c., all in Haddingtonshire. "The Binns Papers" record him taking possession of Auldcathie in Linlithgowshire, and the Laing charters also record him in possession of "Ummoquhye" (Ummarchie) in the barony of Kirriemuir in Forfarshire.

On January 4, 1528/9 the Commendator of Scone Abbey granted him a hereditary feu of the lands and manor of Lochend, near Dunbar. Robert Lauder of The Bass had a feu from the Prior & Convent of Dundee of the lands of "Kilduntane, Sheriffdom of Fife" and "ye lands of Cyr, lyand within ye Barony of Seygden and Sheriffdom of Perth", (indenture transcribed in full on pages 179/180 of "The Grange of St.Giles").

In the National Archives of Scotland (RH1/2/730) is a Warrant by King James V for the gift, under the Privy Seal of Scotland, to Robert Lauder of the Bass of "the maills and duties of landis in the sheriffdoms of Edinburgh and Berwick", dated July 17, 1532.

In a further charter of 1538 under the Great Seal of Scotland, (number 1823), Robert Lauder of The Bass was confirmed in the lands of Ethibetoun in East Brechin, Forfarshire. The same year the King confirmed to Robert Lauder of The Bass, his heirs and assignees, the lands of Horshopcleuch in the barony of Lammermuir, Berwickshire, which had been forfeited by Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus.

In 1542 a confirmation was made by Cardinal David Beaton of the grant of the lands, bailliary, and barony of Tyninghame, made earlier by James Beaton, Archbishop of Saint Andrews on July 9, 1535, to Robert Lauder of The Bass and the heirs male of his body.

William Cockburn of Newhall confirmed by Great Seal charter Robert Lauder of Bass, his heirs and assignees, in the annualrents of the "42 husbandlands (1092 acres) of Newhall, Ballingrug, Howden, Heimurecroce, Woodhead, and Woodfute in Haddingtonshire. Signed at Beil, April 14, 1543.

In "The Knights of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland" in the chapter entitled "Selected Documents" (number 50) there is a notorial instrument dealing with temple-lands at Hedderwick, North Berwick, and Tyninghame "which pertain to Robert Lauder, Lord of the Bass" and dated Edinburgh June 23, 1547. Further, in chapter "1539-1540 - Lists", the Laird of Bass paid a rental on "the temple of Balgony" near North Berwick. These temple-lands had originally been in the possession of the Knights Templar.

Builds hospital

Robert built and was patron of the famous Lauder's Hospital of the Poor Brothers at North Berwick circa 1540.

Military activities

Pitcairn records on April 7, 1529, a "remission to Robert Lauder of The Bass and eleven others for treasonably intercommuning, resetting and assisting Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus (who had been forfeited), George Douglas, his brother, and Archibald, their uncle" whom Lauder had given refuge to in his castle of Edrington.

Sir James Balfour states in his "Annals" (vol.1) that in 1548 "Robert Lauder of Basse, with the French garisone of Dunbar castle, takes the Englische prowisione going from Berwick to Hadingtone; killes many shouldiours, and takes the [English] Governor of Hadingtone, named [Sir James] Wilford, who had come to aid them, prissoner."

Dalrymple, in his translation of Bishop Leslie's 'History', states that The Bass was described in 1548 as one of the "strengthis of Scotland".

At St.Andrews, on May 1, 1562, "a Letter" was made out to Robert Lauder of The Bass, elder, giving him a licence for all the days of his life to be exempt from military service, providing always that his eldest son and heir apparent, with his household and folks etc., would serve in his stead.

Despite this, and his age, he came out in support of Mary, Queen of Scots and accompanied her, James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, and their 2000-strong army to confront the confederate Lords at Carberry Hill, leaving Dunbar on June 14, 1567.

Regardless of that disaster, he continued his support of the Queen. On July 5, 1568, at Edinburgh, Gasper Home was granted an escheat of the goods of Robert Lawder of The Bass, including his cattle and other goods on the steading and lands of Eddringtoun and the dues of the mill thereof, in the sheriffdom of Berwick, the said Robert being convicted as a fugitive for taking part with Archibald, Earl of Argyll, Claud Hamilton, and others in the battle of Langside in support of Mary, Queen of Scots. On September 22, 1568, at Edinburgh, a Precept of Remission was granted to Robert Lawder of Bass, Sir Robert Lauder of Popill, his son and heir apparent, John and Patrick Lauder, his sons, William Aslowane, servitor of the said laird ('servitoris dicti domini'), Charles Lauder, servitor of the said Robert in The Bass, and Archibald Lauder, also servitor of the said Sir Robert, for taking part with others at Langside, and for the treasonable keeping of the castle and fortalice of The Bass against the King (sic) and his authority after the said Robert had been commanded to deliver it.

Loan to Mary, Queen of Scots

The Privy Council Registers record that "the late Robert Lawder of The Bass" had loaned two thousand pounds to Queen Mary and Darnley. This had not been repaid, and Sir Robert's curator and executor [and son-in-law] David Preston of Craigmillar was now suing Sir John Stewart of Traquair as one of those who had guaranteed the loan. The argument was that "the said laird of Craigmillar and Elizabeth Hay, Lady Bass, relict and executrix of the said Robert" expected Sir John Stewart to pay up. They won this round. However it returned, on appeal, to the Privy Council on 3rd and 19 October, 1579, and again on September 27, 1580. The matter was never settled and by 1581 Elizabeth Hay, Lady Bass, had died and no-one pursued it further.

Death

The Testament testamentar (first Will) registration in the Edinburgh Commissariot on April 19, 1577, stated that "an honourable man, Robert Lauder of Bass, died in June 1576".

Marriages

Robert Lauder of The Bass married first Margaret (d. before 1558), daughter of Sir Oliver Sinclair of Roslin, Knt., by his spouse Margaret, daughter of William Borthwick, 2nd Lord Borthwick. He married secondly, Elizabeth (died before March 1581), a natural daughter of John Hay, 4th Lord of Yester, by whom he had a daughter Elizabeth, who married in August 1558, David Preston of Preston and Craigmillar Castle (d. March 1593).

By his first wife, Margaret Sinclair, he had twelve children.

* Sir Robert Lauder of Popill, Knt., M.P. (d. April 1575, v.p.)
* John Lauder, Captain of The Bass, (d. before November 1575, v.p.)
* James Lauder of The Bass, Dean of Restalrig, (murdered Oct 4, 1580, s.p.)
* Sir George Lauder of The Bass, (d. June 27, 1611)
* Patrick Lauder of Garvald (d. before March 28, 1588)
* Arthur Lauder of Scoonie, Fife (d. before July 1609)
* William Lauder of Edrington, Berwickshire, (d. before October 15, 1614)
* Henry Lauder (alive June 1575)
* Alexander Lauder, Parson of Glasgow, &c. (d. before October 3, 1571)
* Katherine (d.1604) married (1) Sir John Swinton, 19th of that Ilk (d. December 1579); (2) David Home of St.Leonards, & Dye, (k.1584); (3) in 1600, George Home of Broxmouth, East Lothian.
* Mariotta (d. after January 1594), married in 1569 Thomas Otterburn of Reidhall, East Lothian (d. between 1609-July 1620).
* Margaret (d. before April 1591), married March 1573, Edward Aitkin, Advocate (d. after July 1593).

Robert Lauder of The Bass also had two natural children:
* William Lauder, Captain of The Bass, (legitimised January 1566; murdered in a feud Sept.1572).
* Charles Lauder, Captain of The Bass, (d. before April 16, 1572, v.p.,s.p.).

References

* "The Register of The Privy Council of Scotland", vol.III, Edinburgh 1880, p.118/119.
* "Scottish Arms", by R R Stodart, Edinburgh, 1881, vol.2, p.174.
* "Historical References to the Scottish Family of Lauder", edited by James Young, Glasgow, 1884.
* "Memorials of the Earls of Haddington", by Sir William Fraser, Edinburgh 1889, vol.II, p.258
* "The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland", edited by A.E.J.G.Mackay, M.A.,LL.D., volume XIV, 1513-1522, Edinburgh, 1893, pages 619-620.
* "The Grange of Saint Giles", by J. Stewart-Smith, Edinburgh, 1898.
* "Calendar of the Laing Charters 854 - 1837", edited by Rev.John Anderson, Edinburgh, 1899, number 317, p.80/1.
* "The Binns Papers 1320-1864", Scottish Record Society, 1936, no.545/2.
* "The Great Seal of Scotland", no. 727, January 4, 1528/9; no. 2895, April 16, 1543.
* "Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland", vol.5, 1556-1567, edited by James Beveridge, M.A., and Gordon Donaldson, D.Litt., Edinburgh, 1957, number 1026, p.265.
* "Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland", vol.6, 1567 - 1574, edited by Gordon Donaldson, D.Litt., Edinburgh, 1963, numbers 355 (p.76) and 502/3 (p.102).

* "The North Berwick Story", by Walter M.Ferrier, North Berwick, 1981.
* "The Knights of St.John of Jerusalem in Scotland", edited by Ian Cowan, London, 1983, p.133.