In a folio volume with the title “Miscellanies,” the last piece in
the volume, Abbotsford.
Birrel’s Diary has this entry under date of January 3, 1603: “The 3 of
Januar Johne Hai[t]lie of Millstanes slaine at the Salt Tron be Williame
Home hes guidfather. This William of Ball[int]a wes of the hous of
Cowdenknowis.” P. 57. In a proclamation of the Privy Council against
reset of criminals, 20th January, 1603, the list of cases begins with
“the reset of the persons who lately most shamefully and barbarously
slew the Laird of Mellestanes.” Register, VI, 525 f. There is nothing to
show that these persons were ever brought to justice, and the efforts
made by the public authorities to stop hostilities between the families
concerned were, as usual, not readily successful. April 28, 1608, the
parties to the “feud between James Haitlie, now of Mellirstanes [son of
John], and Mr James Home of Eccles, on account of the slaughter of John
Haitlie of Mellirstanes,” are ordered to appear before the Council on
the 12th of May following, to be reconciled and to chop hands together.
Register, VIII, 81 f.
An entry of the 4th of December, 1599, censures Sir George Home, sheriff
of Berwick, for not proceeding against “William Home, younger, called of
Coldenknowis and now of Ballinta, who slew within the said shire Mr
Alexander Dicksoun,” and was denounced therefor 29th December, 1596.
This William we may presume to have been the undegenerate son of the
William whom Birrel calls Mellerstain’s “guidfather.” Register, VI, 57.
The lady of st. 1 was Marion Lumsden (otherwise Mariot, Margaret), “Lady
Mellirstanes,” “relicta Joannis Haitlie de Mellerstanes.” Register P.
C., VIII, 101; 366, Register of the Great Seal, VI, 722. Mellerstain
stands on a rising ground near the right bank of the Eden, 1^2.
Cowdenknows in 3^1 may have been Sir John Home of Cowdenknows, named as
one of the curators of James Haitlie (a minor in 1607). Earlstoun is not
determinate. Bemerside is an alternative reading for Earlstoun. The
laird of Bemerside at the date of the slaughter was the turbulent James
Haig. The lady in st. 4 is looking in several directions for the arrival
of her husband’s body. (I have not found Fieldiesha and Yirdandstane.)
The Salt Tron is a locality of much note in the history of Edinburgh:
see Wilson’s Memorials, p. 249.
This fragment appears to have come into Sir Walter Scott’s hands through
Mr W. Yellowlees, who filled out two of the defective stanzas, and
appended some remarks under the date of 29th October, 1828.[129]
* * * * *
1
. . . . . . .
As they came in by the Eden side,
They heard a lady lamenting sair,
Bewailing the time she was a bride.
2
. . . . . . .
A stately youth of blude and lane,
. . . . . . .
John Hately, the laird of Mellerstain.
3
‘Cowdenknows, had ye nae lack?
And Earlstoun, had ye nae shame?
Ye took him away beside my back,
But ye never saw to bring him hame.’
4
And she has lookit to Fieldiesha,
So has she through Yirdandstane;
She lookit to Earlstoun, and she saw the Fans,
But he’s coming hame by West Gordon.
5
And she staggerd and she stood,
6
’ . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . wude;
How can I keep in my wits,
When I look on my husband’s blood?’
7
‘Had we been men as we are women,
And been at his back when he was slain,
It should a been tauld for mony a lang year,
The slaughter o the laird of Mellerstain.’
* * * * *