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TRADITION OF THE HAYS—EARLY NOTICE OF THE HAYS—WILLIAM
HAY OF ERROLL—SIR GILBERT HAY.
IT may not be amiss to touch briefly on an early
tradition associated with the Hays, which is to the following effect:-
In the reign of Kenneth III., about the end of the
tenth century, the Danes, with a large fleet, anchored near "Red Head" in
Angus. Shortly after, they sailed for the mouth of the South Esk, where
they landed their army. They seized and plundered the nearest town on the
coast, dismantled the castle, slew the inhabitants without distinction of
age or sex, and devastated Angus to the Firth of Tay. Tidings of this
having reached the King, who was staying at Stirling, he immediately
mustered the men in the locality, and proceeded to watch the movements of
the enemy and prevent pillage by them. He pitched his camp at the
confluence of the Tay and the Earn. Intelligence came to the King, that
the enemy had marched along the Tay, and was besieging Perth. The King was
aroused at the imminent danger, and at once marched on Perth. On coming in
sight of the Danes, the Scots formed in order of battle in the plain, and
advanced against the enemy. The Danes were strongly posted upon a hill
opposite, where it was difficult to attack them; but the Scots were forced
to attack. A severe battle ensued at the foot of the heights, in which
many on both sides fell; but at last both wings of the Scots line gave way
and fled, and the battle seemed to be lost.
But a countryman of the name of Hay, with his two sons,
happened to be ploughing in a neighbouring field, over which a number of
the Scottish fugitives were running. The farmer and his sons, being men of
daring minds and great personal strength, and influenced by a warm love of
their native land—the father seized the yoke and the sons whatever
implements came readiest to their hands, and placed themselves in a narrow
path through which many of the fugitives were running, and endeavoured by
reproaches and threats to stop them. When this failed, they struck down
those nearest, exclaiming that they would be Danes to the runaways. Thus
the more timid were stopped, while the braver men, who had been carried
away by the disorderly crowd of their followers, joined with them, and
shouted that assistance was at hand. Then the whole body of the men turned
upon the enemy, and pressed the foremost of the Danes back upon their
companions in a confused mass. At this moment the Scottish camp followers
raised a shout, as if a fresh army was approaching, which greatly animated
the Scots and raised their spirits to the highest pitch of enthusiasm; and
they pressed upon the Danes with the utmost fury, and in a short time
utterly routed them. This is that victory which was won near the village
of Luncarty, "which was celebrated with the greatest rejoicing during many
days, and the fame of which will extend to the latest posterity."
After the battle, Hay was the object of universal
applause. Many noblemen attested that wherever he and his sons attacked,
there the Scottish ranks were restored, and those of the enemy overthrown.
Hay, when introduced to the King, spoke modestly of his service; and when
offered robes for himself and his sons, to render their entrance into
Perth more glorious, he declined the honour, and
only shook off the dust from the garments which he wore every day, and
retained the yoke which he used in the battle. Thus he entered the city,
preceded by an advance guard and followed by a numerous train appointed by
the King. The attention of all who had assembled to see this unusual
spectacle was turned upon him, and only he appeared to carry the triumph
of the day. The first question mooted was as to what honours and rewards
should be given to Hay and his sons. "An estate was bestowed upon them,
one of the most fertile in Scotland, which his posterity—now increased to
many families —enjoy even to this day." So much for the tradition
associated with the battle of Luncarty.
The Hays appear in the records of Scotland in the
twelfth century, during the reign of William the Lion. The King granted to
William de Hay a charter of the lands of the barony of Erroll, which are
situated in the parish of Erroll, Perthshire, and consists of a portion of
the well-known Carse of Gowrie. Erroll lies near the centre of the Carse
of Gowrie, along the banks of the Tay, about seven miles from Perth, and
nine from Dundee. The King also granted to him some land in the burgh of
Forfar.
William de Hay married a daughter of Randolph, Lord of
Liddlesdale, by whom he had issue. His second son, Robert, became the
ancestor of the Earl of Tweeddale. William was succeeded by his son, David
de Hay of Erroll.
He married Helen, a daughter of the Earl of Strathearn,
and had issue. William the Lion by charter confirmed all the lands of the
barony of Erroll to David de Hay, son of William de Hay, with all the
rights and privileges of a free barony. Alexander II. also granted a
charter to David, confirming to him the lands of the barony of Erroll.
David was succeeded by his son, Gilbert de Hay of
Erroll. William, Earl of Mar, granted to him all the lands of Dronlaw,
which was confirmed by a charter of Alexander III. in 1251. Gilbert was
succeeded by Nicholas Hay, Lord of ErrolL In 1294 King John granted a
charter confirming to him the barony of Erroll, and other lands of
considerable extent, to be held in free ward. Donald, Earl of Mar, granted
a charter to Nicholas de Hay, of all the lands of Dronlaw, which Earl
William had before given to his predecessor.
In the closing years of the thirteenth century,
Scotland was in a very critical state. The opportunity of the Hays of
Erroll to take an active part in the affairs of the nation was
approaching. Nicholas de Hay died about the year 1302, and was succeeded
by his son, Sir Gilbert Hay of Erroll. In the spring of 1306, Sir Gilbert
and his brother, Hugh, joined Robert Bruce, and were amongst the small
party who then formed the forlorn hope of the Scottish nation.
Sir Gilbert Hay of Erroll was one of the bravest and
most faithful of all King Robert’s followers. He was the King’s steadfast
and inseparable companion in arms throughout all his wanderings and severe
privations, cheerfully travelling with Bruce over mountains, moors, and
forests by night and day. As mentioned in a preceding chapter, he was
wounded and had his horse killed under him in the severe encounter with
the Lord of Lorne at the head of the Tay. He was engaged along with the
King in many a desperate struggle, and had many narrow escapes. He was
present and fought heroically on the memorable field of Bannockburn.
When the hour of victory at last came Robert Bruce was
exceedingly grateful. He rarely failed to remember and reward those who
had faithfully adhered to him, when his back was at the wall, Accordingly,
Sir Gilbert Hay was well worthy of any distinction and reward which Bruce
had at his disposal. The King, therefore, appointed him Hereditary Lord
High Constable of Scotland shortly after the battle of Bannockburn.
The office of Lord High Constable dates from the reign
of Alexander I., and it became hereditary in the family of De Morvill. It
was by inheritance through the De Morvill line, and the old Lords of
Galloway, De Quinci, Earl of Winchester, that the office of Lord High
Constable became vested in John Comyn, Earl of Buchan. After the
forfeiture of Comyn, Bruce granted the office of Constable to David de
Strathbogie, Earl of Athole, but this noble soon joined the English, and
he was forfeited. Thus King Robert had the office of Constable again at
his disposal.
The charter by King Robert, conferring the office of
Constable on Sir Gilbert Hay, is dated the 12th of Nov., 1314, at
Cambuskenneth. Amongst the witnesses to the charter were Bernard, Abbot of
Arbroath, who was then High Chancellor of Scotland; Thomas Randolph, Earl
of Moray; Sir Robert Keith, Great Marischal of Scotland; James Douglas,
and others. The charter, in brief, conveyed to Sir Gilbert and his heirs
all the privileges and liberties, the duties and functions which
constitutionally pertained to the office. These will be explained in the
next section. |
