Background
He was served heir to his father, Sir William Maitland of Lethington, East Lothian, and Thirlestane, Berwickshire, on 15 October 1515, his father being one of the casualties at the Battle of Flodden.
He was served heir to his father, Sir William Maitland of Lethington, East Lothian, and Thirlestane, Berwickshire, on 15 October 1515, his father being one of the casualties at the Battle of Flodden.
In his later years he was blind, and occupied himself by writing a history of The House and Surname of Seaton, and by writing poems, e.g., On the New Year, On the Queene"s Maryage, et cetera He held various offices, chiefly legal, but appears to have kept as far as possible out of the fierce political struggles of his time, and to have been a genially satirical humorist. William Maitland of Lethington, Secretary of State to Mary, Queen of Scots, and Sir John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, Lord Chancellor of Scotland.
Thomas Maitland.
Isabella Maitland, who married Sir James Heriot of Traboun and Elizabeth, who married William Douglas of Whittinghame. Two of Maitland"s manuscript works survive, both are compilations of the Scots literature of his era. They preserve many of the works of the great makars and a large number of anonymous pieces.
The manuscripts also record many of Maitland"s own compositions. are held by the Pepys Library.