The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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Earl Erroll is in Earl.
On 17th March 1452 William Hay 1st Earl Erroll [aged 29] was created 1st Earl Erroll. Beatrice Douglas Countess Erroll by marriage Countess Erroll.
On 15th November 1461 Nicholas Hay 2nd Earl Erroll [aged 25] and Elizabeth Gordon Countess Erroll were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. She the daughter of Alexander Gordon 1st Earl Huntley. He the son of William Hay 1st Earl Erroll [aged 38] and Beatrice Douglas Countess Erroll.
In October 1462 William Hay 1st Earl Erroll [aged 39] died. His son Nicholas [aged 26] succeeded 2nd Earl Erroll.
In 1470 Nicholas Hay 2nd Earl Erroll [aged 34] died. His brother William [aged 21] succeeded 3rd Earl Erroll.
Before 14th October 1485 William Hay 3rd Earl Erroll [aged 36] and Isabel Gordon Countess Erroll were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. She the daughter of George Gordon 2nd Earl Huntley [aged 30] and Anabella Stewart [aged 49]. He the son of William Hay 1st Earl Erroll and Beatrice Douglas Countess Erroll. They were third cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
After 14th October 1485 William Hay 3rd Earl Erroll [aged 36] and Elizabeth Leslie Countess Errol were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. He the son of William Hay 1st Earl Erroll and Beatrice Douglas Countess Erroll.
On 14th January 1507 William Hay 3rd Earl Erroll [aged 58] died. His son William succeeded 4th Earl Erroll. Christian Lyon Countess Erroll [aged 25] by marriage Countess Erroll.
On 9th September 1513 at the Battle of Flodden was fought at the Branxton, Northumberland [Map]. the English army was commanded by Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk [aged 70], Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk [aged 40], Edmund Howard [aged 35], Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 45], Edward Stanley 1st Baron Monteagle [aged 51] and Marmaduke Constable [aged 56].
The English army included: Henry "Shepherd Lord" Clifford 10th Baron Clifford [aged 59], William Conyers 1st Baron Conyers [aged 44], Thomas Berkeley 5th Baron Berkeley [aged 41] and Richard Neville 2nd Baron Latimer of Snape [aged 45].
Father and son Ralph ellerker of risby in yorkshire and Ralph Ellerker were knighted by Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey, as were Marmaduke Constable [aged 33], William Constable [aged 38], George Darcy 1st Baron Darcy Aston [aged 16], Edmund Walsingham [aged 33], Thomas Burgh 7th Baron Cobham 5th Baron Strabolgi 1st Baron Burgh [aged 25] and Walter Stonor [aged 36].
John Booth [aged 78], Randall Babington, John Bigod [aged 38] and Thomas Fitzwilliam [aged 39], Christopher Savage [aged 49], Thomas Venables [aged 44] and Brian Tunstall [aged 33] were killed.
Bryan Stapleton of Wighill [aged 55] was killed. (Some reports have him dying in 1518).
The Scottish army suffered heavy casualties:
King James IV of Scotland [aged 40] was killed. His body was taken to London, then to Sheen Priory, Richmond [Map]; thereafter it disappeared. His son James [aged 1] succeeded V King Scotland.
Archbishop Alexander Stewart [aged 20] was killed.
David Kennedy 1st Earl Cassilis [aged 43] was killed. His son Gilbert [aged 18] succeeded 2nd Earl Cassilis. Isabel Campbell Countess Cassilis by marriage Countess Cassilis.
William Sinclair 2nd Earl Caithness [aged 54] was killed. His son John succeeded 3rd Earl Caithness.
Matthew Stewart 2nd Earl Lennox was killed. His son John [aged 23] succeeded 3rd Earl Lennox.
William Hay 4th Earl Erroll was killed. His son William [aged 18] succeeded 5th Earl Erroll.
John Douglas 2nd Earl Morton was killed. His son James succeeded 3rd Earl Morton, 6th Lord Dalkeith.
Adam Hepburn 2nd Earl Bothwell was killed. His son Patrick [aged 1] succeeded 3rd Earl Bothwell.
Alexander Stewart 4th of Garlies [aged 32] was killed. His son Alexander [aged 6] succeeded 5th Lord Garlies.
Alexander Elphinstone 1st Lord Elphinstone was killed. His son Alexander [aged 3] succeeded 2nd Lord Elphinstone.
Thomas Hay, George Hepburn Bishop Isles [aged 59], Adam Hepburn Master [aged 56], Thomas "Younger of Cushnie" Lumsden
William Douglas 6th Lord Drumlanrig was killed. William "Younger" Douglas 7th Lord Drumlanrig succeeded 7th Lord Drumlanrig.
George Seton 5th Lord Seton was killed. His son George succeeded 6th Lord Seton.
John Hay 2nd Lord Hay of Yester was killed. His son John [aged 23] succeeded 3rd Lord Hay of Yester. Elizabeth Douglas Lady Hay by marriage Lord Hay of Yester.
Henry Sinclair 3rd Lord Sinclair [aged 48] was killed. His son William succeeded 4th Lord Sinclair.
James Stewart 1st Lord of Traquair [aged 33] was killed. His son William [aged 7] succeeded 2nd Lord Traquair.
John Maxwell 4th Lord Maxwell [aged 57] was killed. His son Robert [aged 20] succeeded 5th Lord Maxwell.
George Home 4th Lord Home and John Stewart 2nd Earl Atholl [aged 38] fought.
William Graham 1st Earl Montrose [aged 49] was killed. His son William [aged 21] succeeded 2nd Earl Montrose.
Robert Erskine 4th Lord Erskine 16th Earl of Mar was killed. His son John [aged 26] de jure 17th Earl Mar, Lord Erskine.
Thomas Stewart 2nd Lord Innermeath [aged 52] was killed. His son Richard succeeded 3rd Lord Innermeath.
Robert Crichton 2nd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar [aged 41] was killed. His son Robert [aged 22] succeeded 3rd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar
Father and son William Rollo [aged 59] and Robert Rollo 5th of Duncrub [aged 34], brothers David Lyon of Cossins, William Lyon and George Lyon were killed. John Somerville 1st of Cambusnethan [aged 55], William Keith of Inverugie [aged 43], David Wemyss of Wemyss [aged 40], Robert Keith Master of Marischal [aged 30], Guiscard Harbottle [aged 28], John Erskine, David Home [aged 22], Andrew Stewart 1st Lord Avondale [aged 43], Archibald Campbell 2nd Earl Argyll [aged 64], Robert Douglas of Lochleven [aged 89] were killed. William Murray [aged 43], Colin Oliphant [aged 26], William Ruthven [aged 33], George Douglas [aged 44] and William Douglas [aged 42] were killed. Walter Lindsay of Arden and Walter Lindsay [aged 33] were killed.
On 28th July 1522 William Hay 5th Earl Erroll [aged 27] died. His son William [aged 1] succeeded 6th Earl Erroll.
On 11th April 1541 William Hay 6th Earl Erroll [aged 20] died. His first cousin once removed George [aged 33] succeeded 7th Earl Erroll. Margaret Robertson Countess Erroll by marriage Countess Erroll.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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On 30th January 1573 George Hay 7th Earl Erroll [aged 65] died. His son Andrew [aged 42] succeeded 8th Earl Erroll. Agnes Sinclair Countess Erroll by marriage Countess Erroll.
On 27th June 1584 Francis Hay 9th Earl Erroll [aged 20] and Margaret Stewart Countess Erroll [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. She the daughter of James Stewart 1st Earl of Moray Regent and Agnes Keith Countess Moray and Mar [aged 53]. He the son of Andrew Hay 8th Earl Erroll [aged 53] and Jean Hay [aged 44]. They were fourth cousins. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 8th October 1585 Andrew Hay 8th Earl Erroll [aged 54] died. His son Francis [aged 21] succeeded 9th Earl Erroll.
On 16th July 1631 Francis Hay 9th Earl Erroll [aged 67] died. His son William [aged 34] succeeded 10th Earl Erroll.
On 7th December 1636 William Hay 10th Earl Erroll [aged 39] died. His son Gilbert [aged 5] succeeded 11th Earl Erroll.
On 7th January 1658 Gilbert Hay 11th Earl Erroll [aged 26] and Catherine Carnegie Countess Erroll were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. She the daughter of James Carnegie 2nd Earl Southesk [aged 44]. He the son of William Hay 10th Earl Erroll and Anne Lyon Countess Erroll.
In October 1674 Gilbert Hay 11th Earl Erroll [aged 43] died. His first cousin once removed John succeeded 12th Earl Erroll.
On 1st October 1674 John Hay 12th Earl Erroll and Anne Drummond Countess Erroll were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. She the daughter of James Drummond 3rd Earl Perth [aged 59] and Anne Gordon.
On 30th December 1704 John Hay 12th Earl Erroll died. His son Charles succeeded 13th Earl Erroll.
On 16th October 1717 Charles Hay 13th Earl Erroll died. His sister Mary succeeded 14th Countess Erroll.
In 1749 James Hay 15th Earl Erroll [aged 22] and Rebecca Covington Countess Erroll were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. He the son of William Boyd 4th Earl Kilmarnock and Anne Livingston Countess Kilmarnock.
On 19th August 1758 Mary Hay 14th Countess Erroll died at Slains Castle, Slains. Her great nephew James [aged 32] succeeded 15th Earl Erroll.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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In 1762 James Hay 15th Earl Erroll [aged 35] and Isabella Carr Countess Erroll were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. He the son of William Boyd 4th Earl Kilmarnock and Anne Livingston Countess Kilmarnock.
On 3rd July 1778 James Hay 15th Earl Erroll [aged 52] died at Callendar House, Falkirk. His son George [aged 11] succeeded 16th Earl Erroll.
In 1792 William Hay 17th Earl Erroll [aged 19] and Jane Bell Countess Erroll [aged 21] were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. He the son of James Hay 15th Earl Erroll and Isabella Carr Countess Erroll.
In 1796 William Hay 17th Earl Erroll [aged 23] and Alicia Eliot Countess Erroll [aged 21] were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. He the son of James Hay 15th Earl Erroll and Isabella Carr Countess Erroll.
In 1798 George Hay 16th Earl Erroll [aged 31] died at Callendar House, Falkirk. His brother William [aged 25] succeeded 17th Earl Erroll.
In 1816 William Hay 17th Earl Erroll [aged 43] and Harriet Somerville Countess Erroll were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. He the son of James Hay 15th Earl Erroll and Isabella Carr Countess Erroll.
On 26th January 1819 William Hay 17th Earl Erroll [aged 46] died. His son William [aged 17] succeeded 18th Earl Erroll.
Before 18th October 1821 William Hay 18th Earl Erroll [aged 20] and Elizabeth Fitz-Clarence Countess Erroll [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. She the illegitmate daughter of King William IV of the United Kingdom [aged 56] and Dorothea Bland aka "Mrs Jordan". He the son of William Hay 17th Earl Erroll and Alicia Eliot Countess Erroll.
On 19th April 1846 William Hay 18th Earl Erroll [aged 45] died. His son William [aged 22] succeeded 19th Earl Erroll.
On 20th September 1848 William Harry Hay 19th Earl Erroll [aged 25] and Eliza Amelia Gore Countess Erroll [aged 19] were married in Montreal. She by marriage Countess Erroll. He the son of William Hay 18th Earl Erroll and Elizabeth Fitz-Clarence Countess Erroll [aged 47].
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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On 3rd December 1891 William Harry Hay 19th Earl Erroll [aged 68] died. His son Charles [aged 39] succeeded 20th Earl Erroll. Mary Caroline L'Estrange Countess of Erroll by marriage Countess Erroll.
On 8th July 1927 Charles Hay 20th Earl of Erroll [aged 75] died. His son Victor [aged 50] succeeded 21st Earl Erroll.
On 20th February 1928 Victor Hay 21st Earl of Erroll [aged 51] died. His son Josslyn [aged 26] succeeded 22nd Earl Erroll. Myra Idina Sackville Countess of Erroll [aged 34] by marriage Countess Erroll.
On 24th January 1941 Josslyn Victor Hay 22nd Earl of Erroll [aged 39] was murdered. He was found shot dead in his Buick at a crossroads on the Nairobi-Ngong road. He had dined that evening with Major John Delves Broughton 11th Baronet [aged 57] and his wife, Erroll's alledged lover, Diana Caldwell Baroness Delamere [aged 28]. After dinner Erroll and Diana had gone dancing, Erroll's body was discovered half an hour after he had dropped her off. Broughton was subsequently tried, and aquitted, for the murder. His daughter Diana [aged 15] succeeded 23rd Countess Erroll.
William Hay 6th Earl Erroll and Helen or Eleanor Stewart Countess Erroll and Sutherland were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. She the daughter of John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox and Isabel or Elizabeth Stewart Countess Lennox. He the son of William Hay 5th Earl Erroll and Elizabeth Ruthven Countess Erroll. They were half second cousin twice removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
William Hay 10th Earl Erroll and Anne Lyon Countess Erroll were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. She the daughter of Patrick Lyon 1st Earl Kinghorne. He the son of Francis Hay 9th Earl Erroll and Elizabeth Douglas Countess Erroll. They were fifth cousins.
Francis Hay 9th Earl Erroll and Elizabeth Douglas Countess Erroll were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. She the daughter of William Douglas 6th Earl Morton and Agnes Leslie Countess Morton. He the son of Andrew Hay 8th Earl Erroll and Jean Hay. They were fourth cousins.
William Hay 5th Earl Erroll and Elizabeth Ruthven Countess Erroll were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. He the son of William Hay 4th Earl Erroll and Christian Lyon Countess Erroll. They were half second cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
Francis Hay 9th Earl Erroll and Mary Stewart Countess Erroll were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll. She the daughter of John Stewart 4th Earl Atholl and Elizabeth Gordon Countess Atholl. He the son of Andrew Hay 8th Earl Erroll and Jean Hay. They were third cousins.
George Hay 7th Earl Erroll and Helen Bryson Countess Erroll were married. She by marriage Countess Erroll.