Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home (died 1516) was a Scottish soldier and nobleman,

Chamberlain of Scotland Holders of the office of Lord Chamberlain of Scotland are known from about 1124. It was ranked by King Malcolm as the third great Officer of State, called ''Camerarius Domini Regis'', and had a salary of £200 per annum allotted to him. He ancien ...

and Warden of the Eastern March. He fought at the

Battle of Flodden The Battle of Flodden, Flodden Field, or occasionally Branxton or Brainston Moor was fought on 9 September 1513 during the War of the League of Cambrai between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland and resulted in an English victory ...

where his forces defeated the English right wing before the Scottish army was destroyed. After the battle, he resisted the regency of

John Stewart, Duke of Albany John Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany (8 July 1482 – 2 June 1536) was the regent of the Kingdom of Scotland and the count of Auvergne and Lauraguais in France. Early life John was a son of Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany, son of King James I ...

and was captured and executed for rebellion.

Life

Home was the son of Alexander Home, 2nd Lord Home, by Nicholace Ker, a daughter of George Ker of

Samuelston Samuelston (Scots language, Scots: ''Sammelstoun'') is a small town just outside of Haddington, East Lothian. It has a population of 957. George Ker, laird of Samuelston, supervised building work at the church of Ladykirk, Scottish Borders, Lady ...

. His father was Great Chamberlain to

James IV of Scotland James IV (17 March 1473 – 9 September 1513) was List of Scottish monarchs, King of Scotland from 11 June 1488 until his death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. He inherited the throne at the age of fifteen on the death of his father, James I ...

from 7 October 1488. Alexander succeeded his father as Lord Home, Chamberlain and Warden of the Eastern and Middle Marches in 1506, and was confirmed in these honours by royal charter in February 1510. In 1507 he bought the lands and burgh of Gordon from the Earl of Huntly. In August 1513 Home led 3000 Border horsemen on a raid into

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. En route back to Scotland laden with booty, his force was ambushed by William Bulmer of Brancepeth Castle at Milfield, and was routed, losing 1000 men and his standard. Home himself escaped but his brother George Home was captured. A month later, on 9 September, Home's horsemen were part of the Scottish force that fought at the

. Home and the Earl of Huntly's contingent formed the vanguard of the Scottish army. Despite the outcome of that day, Home's men defeated the right wing of the English army led by Edmund Howard. Home escaped the slaughter, though leaving many of his kinsmen on the field. He attempted unsuccessfully to recapture the taken Scottish artillery some days later.

Doun wi' Lord Hume

After the death of

at Flodden, Lord Home did not accept the rule of Regent Albany. Although he had supported the appointment of Albany as governor, a legend says that when they first met at

Dumbarton Castle Dumbarton Castle (, ; ) has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Scotland. It sits on a volcanic plug of basalt known as Dumbarton Rock which is high and overlooks the Scottish town of Dumbarton. History Dumbarton Rock was forme ...

, the Regent joked about Lord Home's small stature, quoting ''minuit praesentia famam'' meaning 'the appearance doesn't live up to report.' Their relationship deteriorated, and Home wrote to Lord Dacre in England in August 1515 saying that Albany wished him exiled from Scotland and

Margaret Tudor Margaret Tudor (28 November 1489 – 18 October 1541) was List of Scottish royal consorts, Queen of Scotland from 1503 until 1513 by marriage to King James IV. She then served as regent of Scotland during her son's minority, and fought to exte ...

agreed. He hoped for English help. Albany captured Hume Castle in September and ordered Home to meet him at Dunglass. There, Lord Home was arrested and taken to

Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock (Edinburgh), Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age. There has been a royal castle on the rock since the reign of Malcol ...

. His jailer was his brother-in-law, the Earl of Arran. Home persuaded Arran to escape with him and they joined another rebel, the

Earl of Angus The Mormaer or Earl of Angus was the ruler of the medieval Scottish Provinces of Scotland, province of Angus, Scotland, Angus. The title, in the Peerage of Scotland, is held by the Duke of Hamilton, and is used as a courtesy title for the eldes ...

, on the borders. In Glasgow they captured ammunition sent by

Francis I of France Francis I (; ; 12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547) was King of France from 1515 until his death in 1547. He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He succeeded his first cousin once removed and father-in-law Louis&nbs ...

and threw it down a well. Home attacked

Dunbar Castle Dunbar Castle was one of the strongest fortresses in Scotland, situated in a prominent position overlooking the Dunbar Harbour, harbour of the town of Dunbar, in East Lothian. Several fortifications were built successively on the site, near th ...

, then captured the Chief Herald, the Lyon King of Arms at

Coldstream Coldstream () is a town and civil parishes in Scotland, civil parish in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. A former burgh, Coldstream was where the Coldstream Guards, a regiment in the British Army, originated. Description Coldstream li ...

and held him ransom for his mother who was a prisoner of Albany's lieutenant Antoine d'Arces. After offering a pardon, Albany invited Home and his brother William to Holyroodhouse. They were arrested and William was imprisoned on the island fortress of Inchgarvie. Lord Home was accused of the murder of James IV at Flodden, then of failing to prevent English re-fortification at Norham Castle. Finally he and William were charged with rebellion against Albany and beheaded, and their heads displayed on the gable of Edinburgh Tolbooth.

Marriage and issue

Lord Home married Lady Agnes Stewart, daughter of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Buchan and Margaret Murray. She was the widow of Adam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of Bothwell and owner of Crichton Castle. They had a daughter: *Janet Home, who married John Hamilton of Samuelston (aka Clydesdale John), illegitimate son of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran by his mistress, Beatrix Drummond. Home also fathered several illegitimate children: *John Home *Alison Home *Isabel Home Lord Home was eventually succeeded, following the reversal of his forfeiture, by his brother, George Home, 4th Lord Home.Balfour Paul, vol iv, pp 456-458

References

Sources

James Balfour Paul, Balfour Paul, Sir J., ''Scots Peerage'' IX vols. Edinburgh 1904. {{DEFAULTSORT:Home, Alexander 1516 deaths Nobility from the Scottish Borders Court of James IV of Scotland Lord high chamberlains of Scotland 16th-century executions by Scotland Year of birth unknown Executed Scottish nobility People executed by the Kingdom of Scotland by decapitation Scottish politicians convicted of crimes Lords of Parliament (pre-1707) 15th-century Scottish nobility 16th-century Scottish peers