William Hay, 5th Lord Hay of Yester

Lairds and gentlemen: A study of the landed families of the Eastern Anglo-Scottish Borders c.1540-1603 Vol 2 pp 55-8 & 118-9

JOHN, fifth Lord Yester, was deprived by James V. of his sheriff-ship in consequence of his brother, Hay of Smithfield, having allowed a Border freebooter to escape out of prison; but he appealed to the Council against this arbitrary act of the King, and was restored in his office. Though Lord Yester had supported the Reformation, and was one of the nobles who subscribed the ‘Book of Discipline,’ 27th January, 1561, he espoused the cause of Queen Mary, was present with her forces at Carberry Hill in 1567, and fought on her side at the battle of Langside in 1568.

He was one of the noblemen who, in 1570, signed a letter to the English queen, Elizabeth, in behalf of Queen Mary, whom Elizabeth had held for three years in captivity.

He died in 1576, leaving two sons and four daughters by his wife, a daughter of Sir John Kerr of Ferniehirst. The Kers of Ferniehirst were noted even among the Border clans for their fierce and sanguinary spirit. Sir John was ‘art and part’ in the murder of Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch, in the High Street of Edinburgh. The account which De Beaugue gives in his ‘Memoirs’ of the cruel treatment of the English garrison, when Sir John, with the assistance of the French troops under D’ Esse, retook his castle of Ferniehirst in 1549, is shocking in the extreme.

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William [Hay], 5th Lord Hay of Yester, PC born 1538

mar. c. Sep 1560 Margaret Ker, 1st dau. of Sir John Ker of Ferniehirst by his wife Catherine Kerr, dau. of Sir Andrew Kerr of Cessford

children:

1. Hon William Hay, later 6th Lord Hay of Yester

2. Hon James Hay, later 7th Lord Hay of Yester

1. Hon Margaret Hay, mar. 1582 James [Borthwick], 7th Lord Borthwick, and had issue

2. Hon Catherine Hay, mar. after 15 Feb 1587/8 Robert Swinton of Swinton, and had issue

3. Hon Jean Hay, mar. Sir James Hay of Barra

4. Hon Elizabeth Hay, mar. William Ker of Broomland

5. Hon Grizel Hay, mar 7 Jun 1576 (annulled 1585) Robert Home, Yr. of Heuch

6. Hon Beatrix Hay, mar. bef. 23 Mar 1640 William Congilton, Yr. of Congilton

died bef. 19 Aug 1586

note: Sheriff of Peebles 1555/6; Provost of Peebles 1562; Privy Councillor [S] c. 1565; a supporter of Queen Mary and fought on her side at the Battle of Langside 1568; a Commissioner for Musters 1575; declared a rebel 1578; part of the conspiracy to seize the King ("the Raid of Ruthven") 1582

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