The Earl of Erroll | |
|---|---|
 Arms of the Earl of Erroll | |
| 11thLord High Constable of Scotland | |
| In office 1541–1573 | |
| Preceded by | William Hay |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Hay |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1508 |
| Died | 30 January 1573 |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Robertson Helen Bryson |
| Children | 11, includingAndrew |
| Relatives | William Hay, 3rd Earl of Erroll (grandfather) |
George Hay, 7th Earl of ErrollPC (c. 1508 – 30 January 1573) was a Scottish nobleman and politician.
Hay was the grandson ofWilliam Hay, 3rd Earl of Erroll; George's father Thomas was killed alongside his older brother,William Hay, 4th Earl of Erroll, at theBattle of Flodden in 1513.[1][2]
After his cousinWilliam Hay, 6th Earl of Erroll died in 1541 leaving only a young daughter, George succeeded to the earldom and with it the family title ofLord High Constable of Scotland. The sixth earl, who inherited the earldom as a toddler, died under the age of 21; by the time George inherited the titles, the barony had been in the possession of the crown for 19 years, four months.
ThePeerage of Scotland allows titles to descend along the female lines; Jean Hay, the young daughter of the sixth earl of Erroll, could have inherited the earldom as Countess of Erroll. Instead, the crown negotiated for George to inherit, with the condition that he pay 4,000merks to Helen, Dowager Countess of Erroll and to marry one of his sons to Jean Hay "at the King's pleasure."[2]
Following the death ofJames V of Scotland in December 1542 leaving six-day-oldMary, Queen of Scots as his successor, Erroll was one of the nobles who signed an agreement to support her motherMary of Guise taking theRegency. They argued unsuccessfully that theEarl of Arran ought to be disqualified because his father's divorce and second marriage were invalid, making him illegitimate. Arran resigned the Regency toMary of Guise in 1554.
He had a disagreement with his wife, Margaret Robertson, in 1554. Mary of Guise counseled reconciliation. Margaret Robertson wrote to Mary of Guise from Perth, that he had not restored her living and she might have to come and live at court in her service as a gentlewoman. Erroll claimed she had supported "broken men", landless rebels who stole his goods, but Margaret wrote it ought to be well known that she desired no harm or loss to him or their children. She sent her eldest son, Andrew, Master of Atholl to explain her case more fully.[3]
He was a member of thePrivy Council ofMary, Queen of Scots in 1561. He sided with the Hamiltons in the interest of the captive Queen Mary in 1569, but did not forfeit his titles in his support of the queen.[4]
In April 1567, Erroll was a signatory toAinslie's Tavern Band agreeing to the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots to theEarl of Bothwell.[5]
He died in 1573.
In 1528, Hay married Margaret Robertson, daughter of Alexander Robertson of Struan, 5th chief ofClan Donnachaidh, and granddaughter ofJohn Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl and by her had nine children:[6]
In 1561, the earl married Helen Bryson, daughter of Walter Bryson of Pitcullen, and had two more children:
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Lord High Constable of Scotland 1541–1573 | Succeeded by |
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
| Preceded by | Earl of Erroll 1541–1573 | Succeeded by |