Robert Lauder of The Bass (born before 1504 – died June 1576) was an important

noble A noble is a member of the nobility. Noble may also refer to: Places Antarctica * Noble Glacier, King George Island * Noble Nunatak, Marie Byrd Land * Noble Peak, Wiencke Island * Noble Rocks, Graham Land Australia * Noble Island, Gr ...

Haddingtonshire East Lothian (; sco, East Lowden; gd, Lodainn an Ear) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, as well as a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area. The county was called Haddingtonshire until 1921. In 1975, the histo ...

, the Merse, 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 Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legitimate child of James V of S ...

whom he accompanied to Carberry Hill on 14 June 1567, and fought for at the

battle of Langside The Battle of Langside was fought on 13 May 1568 between forces loyal to Mary, Queen of Scots, and forces acting in the name of her infant son James VI. Mary’s short period of personal rule ended in 1567 in recrimination, intrigue, and disast ...

Family and estates

He was the son of Sir Robert Lauder of the Bass (died between July 1517 – February 1518/9) by his spouse Elizabeth Lawson, who invested him in fee in

Edrington Edrington is a medieval estate occupying the lower part of Mordington parish in Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, Scotland, west of Berwick-upon-Tweed. From probably the 14th century, if not earlier, a castle occupied the steep hill above the ...

, county Berwick, whilst still a child. Following his father's death , on 29 April 1519, Robert was invested in his paternal estates which included

The Bass The Bass Rock, or simply the Bass (), ( gd, Creag nam Bathais or gd, Am Bas) is an island in the outer part of the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland. Approximately offshore, and north-east of North Berwick, it is a steep-sided volcan ...

, 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 The former Royal Burgh of Lauder (, gd, Labhdar) is a town in the Scottish Borders in the historic county of Berwickshire. On the Southern Upland Way, the burgh lies southeast of Edinburgh, on the western edge of the Lammermuir Hills. Etymo ...

) with pertinents, Mersington with Mill, all in

Berwickshire Berwickshire ( gd, Siorrachd Bhearaig) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area in south-eastern Scotland, on the English border. Berwickshire County Council existed from 1890 until 1975, when the area became part of t ...

; the lands of

Stenton Stenton ( sco, Staneton) is a parish and village in East Lothian, Scotland. It is bounded on the north by parts of the parishes of Prestonkirk and Dunbar, on the east by Spott and on the west by Whittingehame. The name is said to be of Saxon de ...

, Duchry, Johnscleuch, Pencaitland, Newhall, Popill, Whitelaw, Wester Spott &c., Beil with its tower, mill &c., all in East Lothian. He took possession of Auldcathie in West Lothian, and Ummarchie in the barony of

Kirriemuir Kirriemuir, sometimes called Kirrie or the ''Wee Red Toon'' ( gd, An Ceathramh Mòr; IPA: nˈkʰʲɛɾəvmoːɾ, is a burgh in Angus, Scotland. It reaches back to earliest recorded times, when it is thought to have been a major ecclesiastical ...

Angus Angus may refer to: Media * ''Angus'' (film), a 1995 film * ''Angus Og'' (comics), in the ''Daily Record'' Places Australia * Angus, New South Wales Canada * Angus, Ontario, a community in Essa, Ontario * East Angus, Quebec Scotland * An ...

. On 4 January 1528/9 the Commendator of

Scone Abbey Scone Abbey (originally Scone Priory) was a house of Augustinian canons located in Scone, Perthshire (Gowrie), Scotland. Dates given for the establishment of Scone Priory have ranged from 1114 A.D. to 1122 A.D. However, historians have long be ...

granted him a hereditary feu of the lands and manor of Lochend, near

Dunbar Dunbar () is a town on the North Sea coast in East Lothian in the south-east of Scotland, approximately east of Edinburgh and from the English border north of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Dunbar is a former royal burgh, and gave its name to an ecc ...

. Robert Lauder had a feu from the Prior & Convent of Dundee of the lands of "Kilduntane", Sheriffdom of Fife and the lands of "Cyr, lyand within ye Barony of Seygden" and Sheriffdom of

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...

. King James V gave him, under the Privy Seal of Scotland, the maills and duties of landis in the sheriffdoms of Edinburgh and Berwick, dated 17 July 1532. In a further charter of 1538 under the

Great Seal of Scotland The Great Seal of Scotland ( gd, Seala Mòr na h-Alba) is a principal national symbol of Scotland that allows the monarch to authorise official documents without having to sign each document individually. Wax is melted in a metal mould or matrix ...

, Robert Lauder was confirmed in the lands of Ethibetoun in East

Brechin Brechin (; gd, Breichin) is a city and former Royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Traditionally Brechin was described as a city because of its cathedral and its status as the seat of a pre-Reformation Roman Catholic diocese (which continues today ...

, Forfarshire. The same year the King confirmed to him the lands of Horshopcleuch in the barony of Lammermuir, Berwickshire, which had been forfeited by

Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus (c. 148922 January 1557) was a Scottish nobleman active during the reigns of James V and Mary, Queen of Scots. He was the son of George, Master of Angus, who was killed at the Battle of Flodden, and suc ...

. In 1542 a confirmation was made by Cardinal

David Beaton David Beaton (also Beton or Bethune; 29 May 1546) was Archbishop of St Andrews and the last Scottish cardinal prior to the Reformation. Career Cardinal Beaton was the sixth and youngest son of eleven children of John Beaton (Bethune) of Bal ...

of the grant of the lands, bailiary, and barony of

Tyninghame Tyninghame is a small settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, about two miles north-east of East Linton. Together with the nearby settlement of Whitekirk, it gives its name to the parish of Whitekirk and Tyninghame. Tyninghame Tyninghame is ...

, made earlier by

James Beaton James Beaton (or Bethune) (1473–1539) was a Roman Catholic Scottish church leader, the uncle of David Cardinal Beaton and the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland. Life James Beaton was the sixth and youngest son of John Beaton of Balfour ...

, Archbishop of Saint Andrews on 9 July 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, 14 April 1543. A notarial instrument dealing with temple-lands at Hedderwick,

North Berwick North Berwick (; gd, Bearaig a Tuath) is a seaside town and former royal burgh in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately east-northeast of Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable ...

, and

"which pertain to Robert Lauder, Lord of the Bass" is dated Edinburgh 23 June 1547. 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

On 7 April 1529 James V gave a remission to Robert Lauder of The Bass and eleven others for treasonably intercommuning, resetting and assisting

(who had been forfeited), George Douglas, his brother, and Archibald, their uncle" whom Lauder had given refuge to in his castle of

. According to Sir James Balfour's ''Annales'', in 1548; "Robert Lauder of Basse, with the French garisone of

, takes the Englische prowisione going from Berwick to Hadingtone; killes many shouldiours, and takes the nglishGovernor of Hadingtone, named Sir James Wilford, who had come to aid them, prissoner." John Lesley in his ''History of Scotland'' describes

in 1548 as one of the "strengthis of Scotland".Cody, ed., ''John Lesley's History of Scotland'', vol. 2 (Scottish Text Society, 1895). At St. Andrews, on 1 May 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

and accompanied her,

James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell James Hepburn, 1st Duke of Orkney and 4th Earl of Bothwell ( – 14 April 1578), better known simply as Lord Bothwell, was a prominent Scottish nobleman. He was known for his marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots, as her third and final husband ...

, and their 2000-strong army from Dunbar Castle to confront the confederate Lords at Carberry Hill on 14 June 1567. On 5 July 1568, at Edinburgh, Gasper Home was granted an escheat of the goods of Robert Lauder 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

in support of Mary, Queen of Scots. On 22 September 1568, at Edinburgh, a Precept of Remission was granted to Robert Lauder 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 nd son-in-lawDavid 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 3 and 19 October 1579, and again on 27 September 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 19 April 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 Sir Oliver Sinclair of Pitcairnis (died 1576?) was a favourite courtier of James V of Scotland. A contemporary story tells that James V gave him the battle standard and command at the Battle of Solway Moss. Another story tells how at the end of h ...

of Roslin, Knt., by his spouse Margaret, daughter of

William Borthwick, 2nd Lord Borthwick William Borthwick, 2nd Lord Borthwick (died between 6 October 1483 and 7 February 1484) was a Scottish landowner and ambassador to England. He was a son of William Borthwick, 1st Lord Borthwick. Borthwick served as ambassador to England in 1459 ...

. He married secondly, Elizabeth (died before March 1581), a natural daughter of

John Hay, 4th Lord of Yester John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

, 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

, (d. before November 1575, v.p.) * James Lauder of The Bass, Dean of

Restalrig Restalrig () is a small residential suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland (historically, an estate and independent parish). It is located east of the city centre, west of Craigentinny and to the east of Lochend, both of which it overlaps. Restalri ...

, (murdered 4 October 1580, s.p.) * Sir George Lauder of The Bass, (d. 27 June 1611) * Patrick Lauder of Garvald (d. before 28 March 1588) * Arthur Lauder of Scoonie, Fife (d. before July 1609) * William Lauder of

, Berwickshire, (d. before 15 October 1614) * Henry Lauder (alive June 1575) * Alexander Lauder, Parson of Glasgow, &c. (d. before 3 October 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 September 1572). * Charles Lauder, Captain of The Bass, (d. before 16 April 1572, v.p.,s.p.).

Footnotes

References

* ''The Register of The

Privy Council of Scotland The Privy Council of Scotland ( — 1 May 1708) was a body that advised the Scottish monarch. In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of m ...

'', 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 The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland (Latin:) are records of the Scottish Exchequer dating from 1326 to 1708. The accounts were the responsibility of the Comptroller of Scotland. The National Records of Scotland , type = Non-ministerial government d ...

'', 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

'', no. 727, 4 January 1528/9; no. 2895, 16 April 1543. * ''Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland'', vol.5, 1556–1567, edited by James Beveridge, M.A., and

Gordon Donaldson Gordon Donaldson, (13 April 1913 – 16 March 1993) was a Scottish historian. Life He was born in a tenement at 140 McDonald RoadEdinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory, 1912 off Leith Walk in northern Edinburgh on 13 April 1913 the so ...

, 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

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. {{DEFAULTSORT:Lauder, Robert, of The Bass 1576 deaths Scottish soldiers People from East Lothian Members of the pre-1707 Parliament of Scotland Year of birth uncertain Mary, Queen of Scots 16th-century Scottish politicians