Mellerstain and the Haitlies thereof. ] 27 



John Haitlie of Mellerstain, as we have seen, succeeded 

 his father, George, before 1523. In a charter to Elizabeth 

 Hume in liferent, and John Hume, natural son of Alexander 

 Lord Hume, in fee, of part of the lands of Mellerstain, 

 confirmed in 1537, it is mentioned that that portion was 

 alienated by John Haitlye of Mellestanes, under reversion of 

 460 merks. In L539-40 Marion Halibiaton, with consent of 

 Lord George Home and Alexander Home, their son, have 

 letters to warn John Haitlie, alleged possessor of Mellerstain, 

 "to appear in the Kirk of Haddington to receive ^ part of 

 £116 IScots., for ilie redemption of the third part of Meller- 

 stain, alienated by the late Walter Lord Haliburton {circa 

 1409) to the late James Whitiu, in terms of a reversion, and 

 to require John Haitlie to remove from and overgive the 

 said third part." The position of John Haitlie in the matter 

 is not apparent, except that he was in possession, and that 

 he remained so. 



In 1542-43 George Haitlie, his son and apparent heir, had 

 a charter of the dominicals, town, and lauds of Melostains, 

 and the mills; also of the Ea.st half of the town and lauds 

 of Fawnis — John's liferent and the terce of Jonet Ker, his 

 spouse, being reserved. In 1546 Isobel Home, daughter of 

 Sir John Home of Gowdenknouis, had from the Queen a 

 gift of the marriage of Alexander Haitlie, brother to George 

 Haitlie, fear ot Aiellerstane, or whomsoever should succeed 

 to Mellerstane. 



In 1544 John and his brother, Thomas, along with the 

 Kers of Cessford, llirseli, and Ferneyhirst, Walter Haliburton 

 and others took part in "predatory and warlike action" 

 against the Governor of Scotland, in consort with the Earl 

 of Lennox and his accomplices, at Leith. In January 1544-45 

 John, along with his servants and accomplices, made a raid 

 on Drygrange, at the confluence of the Tweed and Leader, 

 belonging to William Lynlythgow, and took forcible 

 possession of the lands, tower, houses, and chapel thereof. 

 In May 1546 William Lynlythgow brought an action against 

 John for restitution and compensation for damage done. 

 The lords, in a decreet of 7th June, continuing the case on 

 account of the nonappearance of the defender, "ordains the 

 said J hone Haitlie of Mellostaine to be warnit be oppen 

 proclamation at the niercat croce of Lauder of this continuation, 



