Notes |
- John Hay was born the son and heir of John Hay, third Lord Hay of Yester, and his first wife, Elizabeth Douglas, daughter of George, Master of Angus, and sister to Archibald (Douglas), sixth Earl of Angus. He was born c. 1510.
He was of age in 1533, likely just, when he had a charter under the Great Seal to John Hay, son and heir-apparent of John, Lord Hay of Yester, and to Margaret Livingston, his wife, of the lands of Lyne and Wester Hoprew, co. Peebles, following a resignation by his father, 18 October 1533.
In 1543 he succeeded to the title as Lord Hay of Yester.
Either he or his father made jointly with the Bailies, Council, and community of Peebles a grant of a collegiate church in the parish church of St. Andrew, in Peebles, which was confirmed by Queen Mary 8 June 1543. He was witness to an instrument at Glasgow 5 April 1544. Lisle reports to Suffolk, 7 February 1543 that Lord Yester is of the Governor's party.
He was at the Battle of Ancrum Moor, 27 Feb 1545.
He was present at the Council at Edinburgh relating to the disposal of the prisoners taken there, March 1545; was admitted a Privy Councillor before 25 June 1545; attended the Conventions at Stirling 26 June 1545, and at Edinburgh 18 March 1546, and sat in Parliament 30 July 1546.
He signed the treaty with France against England 26 June 1545.
On 10 Sep 1547, he was at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh where he was captured. Lord Hay of Yester, Sheriff of Peebles, sister's son to Douglas, is mentioned as being a prisoner at Berwick 20 October 1547, and 16 November following Lord Grey of Wilton writes to the Protector Somerset that "Sir George Douglas desires his kinsman, Lord Hay of Yester", be "losened" home on sureties. Somerset, however, directed that he was to be sent to the keeping of Sir Roger Lascelles in Yorkshire, and Grey of Wilton reported that he should "immediately be sent", 17 January 1548.
His house of Yester was captured the Friday before 27 February 1548, and put in charge of Sir George Douglas with 100 horse, and was held by Captain Bagshot 15 March that year. It was apparently recaptured, as Lord Grey reports, 28 April 1548, the "House of Yester kept by Spaniards, which I have not seen, but mean to before I depart", and, 21 May, it was ordered "to be razed if not soon fortified".
On the conclusion of the Peace with England, April 1560, he returned to Scotland, and was a party to the Band in favour of the Duke of Chatelherault on the latter's resigning the Regency, signed 12 April 1554.
He was Warden of the Middle Marches before 1554.
He is generally said to have died in 1557, but this is a mistake. He was elected Provost of Peebles, and presided at the Council meeting 30 September 1555, and died shortly afterwards, and certainly before 30 January 1556, when he is referred to as "umquhile Johne, Lord Hay of Yester".
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