Mariotta Haliburton

Mariotta Haliburton, Lady Home (circa 1500-circa 1563) was a 16th-century Scottish noblewoman. She varied the spelling of her forename between Mariotta, Marion, and Mary. She is remembered for her defence and negotiation of the surrender of Hume Castle after the Battle of Pinkie when the castle was surrounded by an English army. Afterwards she continued to struggle for the rights of her people at the village of Hume in the Scottish Borders, writing both to the English commander and the Scottish leader.

Mariotta was the daughter of Patrick Haliburton of Dirleton Castle and Christine Wawane. She and her sisters Janet and Margaret were Patrick's heirs when he died in 1515. She married George, Lord Home before 7 April 1529. Their children included;

Mariotta's eldest sister, Janet, married William Ruthven, 2nd Lord Ruthven. Margaret married George Ker of Faldonside. On 22 June 1535, James V of Scotland confirmed Mariotta and George's ownership of lands forfeited by Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home in return for their good service against the English enemy.

As the war of the Rough Wooing escalated, Regent Arran sent soldiers and guns to help defend their Castle at Hume. The English defeated the Scottish army at Pinkie near Musselburgh on Saturday 10 September 1547. Alexander Home was taken prisoner, and George was injured, and while he lay sick in Edinburgh, the English army arrived at Hume on 20 September. Mariotta herself negotiated the surrender of Hume Castle with the Earl of Somerset. Her instructions were brought to the castle by Somerset Herald and her sons Andrew and John agreed to surrender. The 78 Scottish soldiers within were allowed to leave, and Andrew handed the keys to the new English captain, Sir Edward Dudley.

...
Wikipedia