Alexander Lauder of Blyth Sir Alexander Lauder of Blyth , Knt . ( died 9 September 1513 ) was Provost of Edinburgh almost continually from 1500 to 1513 . He was Commissioner to the Scottish Parliament , 1504 – 06 , and an Auditor of the Exchequer in Scotland . He appears to have been on terms of intimacy with the King , James IV , with whom he played cards and to whom he occasionally lent money . " He led the men of Edinburgh to join the King ' s host " at the battle of Flodden , and fell there . Family . He was the second son of at least four of Sir Alexander Lauder of Haltoun , Knt . , who died at Haltoun House , Ratho , Midlothian in July 1507 . The " Exchequer Rolls " mention this Alexander Lauder , Burgess of Edinburgh , with his elder brother Sir George Lauder of Whitslaid , as ' senescallos ' , or stewards , of Kirkcudbrightshire , ' in their part ' . Burgess & Provost of Edinburgh . On 7 January 1498 / 9 , Alexander Lauder , Burgess of Edinburgh , was one of the witnesses to an Instrument of Resignation by Patrick Hepburn , 1st Earl of Bothwell . Others included Robert , Archbishop of Glasgow , George Hepburn , Provost of Lincluden , William Borthwick , Rector of Whitsome , and Adam Hepburn , burgess of Edinburgh . Described as son of Sir Alexander Lauder of Hatton [ sic ] , he was granted , as Alexander Lauder , Burgess of Edinburgh , a Letter under The Privy Seal of Scotland on 18 January 1500 , of " the custumyre of Edinburgh " including wool , skins , hides , cloth " and all maner of merchandis " , for his lifetime . Whitson states that this Sir Alexander Lauder was Provost from April 1500 till October , or possibly Michaelmas , 1501 . He again held that office from Michaelmas 1502 till 1504 , and from 1505 to 1513 . He is noted also as holding concurrently the office of Justice - Depute with the provostship in 1508 and 1512 , if not consecutively . George Touris of Inverleith was appointed caretaker Provost on 19 August 1513 , when Lauder left for Flodden . Landed proprietor . He acquired considerable lands . In 1506 he had a charter under the " Great Seal of Scotland " confirming to him certain lands of Norton in the barony of Ratho , the lands of Brownisfield in the Burgh Muir of Edinburgh , and the lands of Redheuchis in the barony of Colinton . " The Privy Seal " records on 19 September 1508 , at Edinburgh , " A Lettre [ was ] maid to Alexander Lauder , provost of Edinburgh , his ayris and assignais : That forsamekly as all and hail the landis of Thirlstane Manys , Ernyscluch , Egrop , Wyndpark , the Heuch , Blyth , Tullois and Simprin , liand in the lordschip of Lauderdale within the schirefdome of Beruik , " which had pertained to William Maitland of Lethington , which by the Lords of Council ' s decree had returned to the King ' s hands and his father ' s in non - entry for the space of over thirty years past , in default of entry fees etc being paid ; and for the good and thankful service done to His Highness by Alexander Lauder and for other reasonable considerations moving His Grace , he gives , grants and assigns to the said Alexander , his heirs and assignees , all males , all the above lands and fermes , profits etc . etc . , to be held of His Highness by charter in due form etc . , whereafter he assumed the territorial designation " of Blyth " . Knight & Justice - depute . Alexander Lauder of Blyth , Provost of Edinburgh , was knight ed before 11 October 1510 , when he was described as such , and on which date he endowed a chaplainry in the church of St . Giles . He is on record as an Auditor of the Exchequer in Scotland in 1512 . Pitcairn notes that " Alexander Lauder of Blyth , knight , Provost of Edinburgh and ' Justiciarius deputatis ' " signed a verdict at a murder trial on 31 September 1512 . Marriage & death . He married before December 1506 Janet ( d . between 1533 - Oct . 1534 ) , daughter and heiress of John Paterson , Burgess of Edinburgh . The death of Sir Alexander Lauder , Provost of Edinburgh , " slain at Flodden " is recorded in " The Exchequer Rolls " . As he was a Custumar of Edinburgh , his " relict " Janet Paterson , was , with Margaret Crichton , relict of the other Custumar George Halkerston , allowed the honour of signing off the city ' s returns to the Exchequer for 1513 - 1514 .