Maitland, the name of a Scottish family, celebrated in both the literary and political history of their country. The first who acquired distinction was SIR RICHARD MAITLAND of Lethington, son of William Maitland of Lethington and Thirstane, who fell at Flodden, and of Martha, daughter of George, Lord Seton. He was born in 1496, studied at St Andrews and in France, and on his return to Scotland was successively employed by James V., the Regent Arran, and Mary of Lorraine. About 1551-52 he received the honour of knighthood, became a lord of the Court of Session in 1551 (before which, however, he had the misfortune to lose his sight), and Lord Privy Seal in 1562. He died 20th March 1586, at the age of ninety. Maitland was one of the best men of his time. In an age of violence, fanaticism, and perfidy, he was honourably conspicuous by his moderation, integrity, and anxiety for the establishment of law and order. He merits consideration not only as an eminent and upright lawyer, but as a poet, a poetical antiquary, and a historian. All his own verses were written after his sixtieth year, and show what things he had most deeply at heart. For the most part they consist of lamentations for the distracted state of his native country, the feuds of the nobles, the discontents of the common people, complaints 'aganis the lang proces in the courts of justice,' and the depredations 'of the border robbers.' Knox, in his History of the Reformation, says of him that he was 'ever civile, albeit not persuaded in religion.' A complete edition of Maitland's original poems was first published in 1830 by the Maitland Club (see BOOK-CLUB). Sir Richard's collection of early Scottish poetry was a work undertaken, if not completed, before his blindness attacked him. It consists of two MS. vols., the first containing 176, and the second 96 pieces; they are now preserved in the Peppysian Library, Magdalen College, Cambridge. Maitland's principal historical performance is the Historie and Cronicle of the Hous and Surename of Seytoun, &c. See Brunton and Haig, Senators of the College of Justice (1832).
WILLIAM MAITLAND, best known in Scottish history as Secretary Lethington or Leddington, was the eldest son of Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington. The exact date of his birth is unknown, but it must have been between 1525 and 1530. He probably studied at St Andrews, though his name does not occur in any list of the graduates of that university, and he seems also to have spent some time in study on the Continent. Knox, who was not friendly to him, describes him as 'a man of good learning, and of sharp wit and reasoning.' At the outset of his public career he took the side of the party of reform in religion; but all through life he was the politician first and the reformer afterwards. In 1558 he became secretary of state to Mary of Lorraine, the Queen-Regent, and in the following year joined the Lords of the Congregation, who were in arms against her. His ability soon gave him a prominent place in the councils of his new allies. In August 1560 he acted as speaker in the Convention of Estates, and the same year was sent to the English court to represent the interests of the Protestants. On the arrival of Mary in her kingdom in August 1561, Maitland associated himself with the queen's brother, afterwards the Regent Moray, in opposing what they deemed the extreme proposals of Knox. To Mary he at first made himself one of her most useful servants, and more than once represented her at the court of Elizabeth, where he proved himself a match even for the latter's astute minister Sir William Cecil. His importance in Scottish affairs is proved by the prominent place he holds in Knox's History of the Reformation, some of whose most interesting pages are devoted to his discussions with Lethington. By his connivance at the murder of Rizzio (1566) he made Mary his enemy, though he again became her adviser on the return of Moray after his temporary exile. At first, also, Maitland favoured the schemes of Bothwell, and was privy to the murder of Darnley, yet in the rising that took place on Bothwell's marriage with Mary he ostensibly acted with the insurgents. Nevertheless, after the defeat of the queen at Langside and her consequent flight to England, while seeming to act as a friend to the new government, he secretly favoured the exiled queen. He was one of the commissioners who accompanied Moray to present to Elizabeth their indictment against Mary (1568), but all the while he was plotting against his colleagues. On their return to Scotland the formation of a party in favour of Mary was mainly the work of Maitland. In spite of all his endeavours, however, this party was unable to hold its own against the government, supported as it was by English money and arms. Shut up in the castle of Edinburgh, Maitland and Kirkaldy of Grange held out till 1573, when they were forced to surrender. Maitland, broken in health, died in prison in Leith a few days later, 'some,' says James Melville, 'supposing he took a drink and died, as the auld Romans were wont to do.' From his accomplishments and political adroitness, Maitland was one of the most notable figures of his time in Scotland; but it was his fatal defect as a statesman that, while all parties admired his ability, he gained the confidence of none. Knox regarded him as no sincere supporter of the principles of the Reformation, and Mary, on the other hand, both hated and suspected him. The rumour regarding the mode of his death may have been without foundation; but the rumour itself is a significant commentary on the character and principles of the man. See Buchanan's Chamæleon, Skelton's Maitland of Lethington (2 vols. 1887-88). For John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale, see LAUDERDALE.