Robert Lauder of The Bass - Legal Transactions

Legal Transactions

On 10 July 1498, an action was raised by Sir Robert Lauder of Bass, Knight, as assignee to the deceased David Dunbar of Bele, heir of the deceased Alexander Dunbar of Biel, against Mungo Home, son and heir of the deceased John Home of Whiterig, Berwickshire, and Margaret Hume his mother, for postponing and delaying to resign the 12 merk lands of the west end of Mersington, Berwickshire, with pertinents, "land on the west half of the burne" and keeping the charters and muniments thereof. The defenders did not appear. The Lords discern them to conform to the reversion produced, and assign the 15 January next to the pursuer to prove the value of damages and violated profits and duties.

Acta Dominorum Concilii records a dispute in July 1501 between Jonet, prioress of the Convent of Haddington, (represented by David Balfour of Caraldstone) and Robert Lauder of the Bass, knight, regarding the lands and chapellany of Garvald, East Lothian, and also damage made to Sir Robert Lauder's house at Whitecastle (or Nunraw) near Haddington. At the second hearing Robert was present in person. The case was sent to Patrick Hepburn, 1st Earl of Bothwell, for his consideration and adjourned until 15 October 1501.

The King confirmed a charter signed on The Bass on 12 July 1502 of Gavin Dunbar of Wester Spott to Robert Lawdir of Bass, knight, his heirs and assignees, of the lands of Wester Spott, Gryndanehede and The Newkis, with all the buildings thereon, in Haddingtonshire, reserving the usual liferents for the granter. Witnesses included Alexander Sydserf of that Ilk, Henry Congiltoun of that Ilk, and Kentigern Hepburn of Lufnes . (Great Seal, 1502, number 2659).

Subsequent to that, on 3 January 1503/1504, Gavin Dunbar of Wester Spott renounced his liferent interest in those properties, the renunciation 'done in the burgh of Edinburgh, in the tenement of Mr.Richard Lawson of Hierriggs, in his close thereof.' Letters of Procuratory were signed at Beil on 6 August 1504, by Sir Robert Lawder of the Bass, knight, addressed to the King James IV informing him that he (Robert) had appointed Richard Lawson of Hieriggs, Lord Justice Clerk, James Henderson and Richard Bothwell, John Homyll and David Anderson, as procurators, for resigning his lands of Wester Spott, Gryndenhede, and 'le Snyke,' with pertinents, into the hands of the King as superior.

Patrick Scougal of that Ilk had a tack of a quarter of the lands of Auldhame, near North Berwick, from George Home of Spott, with an agreement that it would later be feued to him. Agreed and signed at Beil on 26 September 1504, with Sir Robert Lawedir of The Bass one of the witnesses.

Sir Robert Lauder of the Bass, knight, is recorded as an owner of land in King Street, Edinburgh: in the National Archives of Scotland (GD32/21/3) is a Letter of Reversion by Mr John of Murray, burgess of Edinburgh to William of Todrig, burgess of Edinburgh, of an annual rent of 40s Scots out of the houses and land called "the paintit chalmer" with the pertinents lying in the said burgh on the north side of King Street of the same between the lands of Sir William Lindesay, kt, on the east part and the land of the Archbishop of Glasgow on the west part and the land of William Halkerstoune on the south part and the land of Sir Robert Lauder of the Bass, Knt., on the north part, Edinburgh, dated 16 April 1505.