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KEEP THE YOKE
Clan Crest © Art Pewter Silver Ltd,
East Kilbride, Scotland |
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| The Hay family is known to descend from Norman princes who followed William the Conqueror to England in 1066. Sir Gilbert Hay secured the fortunes of the Hay Clan when he became a faithful comrade-in-arms of Robert the Bruce and helped to secure the crown for the King. He fought for the cause of Joan of Arc and attended the coronation of Charles VII.
William Hay was granted the Barony of Errol in 1172, while his younger brother was the ancestor of the Earls of Tweeddale. Sir Thomas Hay, the 7th Baron of Errol, married into royalty when he married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert II .
As a close supporter of Robert the Bruce during the earlier years, when success was by no means assured, Sir Gilbert Hay was rewarded with land at Slains in Aberdeenshire. He was also apppointed Lord High Constable of Scotland in 1309. The title became hereditary and, since the family still has this title,they have precedence in Scotland over all but the royal family.
Another Sir Gilbert was killed at Flodden in 1513, along with King James IV and many other Scottish noblemen.
The Hays did not embrace the Reformation, as they were supporters of the catholic, Mary, Queen of Scots. The Hays supported both Jacobite rebellions in 1715 and 1745. The 18th Earl was Lord High Constable of Scotland during the state visit by King George IV to Scotland in 1822. The cost of the entertainment nearly bankrupted the Hays.
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