)[2] In 1573, James Balfour received in fee a charter for the lands at Costertoun in the lordship of Musselburgh from Robert Pitcairn, commendator of Dunfermline Abbey.
His younger brother William Balfour, who also settled in Ireland, was the ancestor of the Townley-Balfour family of Townley Hall, County Louth.
Under duress, Anne confessed to her infidelities and a lengthy and very public lawsuit ensued that threatened to bankrupt her father, Lord Blayney (something that Balfour had fully intended).
The causes that induced her to accuse herself in a matter of unchastity, to her own and her parents' dishonour' puzzled the king, who then instructed the two peers to settle the 'unnatural' dispute without bringing further shame to all concerned.Lord Balfour complained to the King about his dispute with the Blayneys, claiming they were receiving preferential treatment, which led to a feud with James Spottiswood, the Bishop of Clogher.
The feud came to a head in 1626 when Lord Balfour's son-in-law Sir John Wemyss was murdered by the bishop's men.
In June 1634 sold his estate for a little over £3,000 to Sir William Balfour, keeper of the Tower of London, who was probably his cousin.