Mellerstain and the Haitlies thereof. 131 



get letters of remission for their predatory and warlike action 

 against the Governor of Scotland in 1544, and for art and 

 part in the slaying of Sir Walter Scot of Branxholm, ''in 

 the silence of night in October 1552, he being then guardian 

 of the Middle Marches." 



About 1560 a feud began between the Haitlies and the 

 Brunfields, in the course of which Steven Brunfield, younger, 

 of Greenlawden, w«s killed. It may possibly have arisen 

 out of a charter by John Haitlie of Mellerstain, confirmed 

 by Queen Mar}' in lo6'2, in implement of a contract between 

 him and his son, Heury, fear thereof, on the one part, and 

 Steven BrunfieLl, sou and apparent heir of Steven Brunfield 

 of Greenlawden, on the other part, of the lands of Blasinbraid 

 and Brumehill. In 1564 Alexander Haitlie, eldest son to the 

 Gudeman of Lambden, and John, his brother, were, by an 

 assize, acquitted of the slaughter of Stevin Burnfield, younger, 

 of Greenladen. In 1565 Adam Burnfield of Hardacres and 

 other Burnfields assure Alexander Haitlie in Lambden, John 

 Haitlie in Brumehill, Laurence Haitlie in Haliburton, and 

 Leonard Haitlie, brother, bairns, etc., and Patrick Haitley in 

 Clerkleys and his son, to be unhurt and unmolested. 



In the same year William Haitlie, son of John Haitlie of 

 Mellestain, complained to the Privy Council that a grey 

 horse, won from a servant of the master of Glencairn, was 

 wrongously withheld from him. In 1567 John and others 

 are charged to compear before the Council to advise as to 

 ordering of justice and maintaining quietness within the East 

 March. On 20th December of the same year, Henry Haitlie, 

 younger, of Mellostains, Alexander Haitlie, natural son of 

 John Haitlie of Mellostains, and John Haitlie, lawful son of 

 the said John, were, along with James, Earl of Bothwell, 

 and others, summoned for treason for the murder of Darnley, 

 and for intercepting Queen Mary between Linlithgow and 

 Edinburgh. On 10th December preceding, John was ordered 

 to put himself in ward in Edinburgh for having " contemp- 

 nandlie dissobeyit" the charge to appear before the Privy 

 Council, and failing, to be put t(j the horn. In 1 569 Mark Home 

 and William Home, sons to Sir John Home of Coldeuknowis, 

 were tried for taking part in the slaughter of Alexander Haitley. 



In January 1572-73 Henry Haitley, son and ap[)arent heir 

 of John Haitley of Mellestains, appears at Edinburgh and 



