James II & James III rule; the Leask Ties to the Clan Hay become important (1437 AD to 1488 AD)

•     March 25, 1437 AD        James II is crowned in Holyrood Abbey. (4-page 251)

•     November 13, 1440 AD Humphrey Leask (as Umfray Lask of yat ilk) is witness to a charter of confirmation dated November 13, 1440, by James III, King of Scotland, in favour of John Bannerman, burgess of Aberdeen, of the lands of Croffis, otherwise Cruives, previously held by the latter’s nephew, John Bannerman of Alesike. (ad)

•     1446 AD        According to Brian Chalmers, Leask Thomas Lask’s second son-James de Cragy in Orkney, also known as Jamis of Leask, married Prince Henry’s daughter Margaret St. Clair in 1446. Jamis was also known as Lord Huip or Lord Hupe. (ae)

•     1446 AD        James II invites the Earl of Douglas and his brother to dinner and executes them. (2-page 89)

•     1451-55 AD        James II and the Douglas Clan goes to war with each other, which James II wins by 1455. (2-page 89-91)

•     1452 AD        According to Clan Hay history, William de La Hay, the 5th Hereditary High Constable was named the first Earl of Erroll in 1452. (af) He received the title as a reward for his support of James II against the Douglases. November 4, 1456, By a deed at the churchyard in Slains, November 4, 1456, Ulfredus Lask de eodem (Humphry Leask of that ilk) personally resigns his lands of Lask (Leask) and Achlethen (Auchlethen, parish of Cruden) in the barony of Slains into the hands of his superior, Sir William Hay, 1st Earl of Erroll, Constable of Scotland, for new infeftment in favor of his son and heir, Thomas Leask, the fourth Chief. (ah)

•     1456 AD        Wilfred Lask of that Ilk, in 1456 signed a Band of Manrent to William (Hays) Earl of Erroll and resigned the lands of Leask and Auchlethin in favor of his son Thomas Lask. In this deed Thomas is designated ‘armiger’ to superior, Sir William Hay. (ag)

•     1460 AD        James II dies attacks Roxburg Castle, stilled controlled by the English, when one of his prized cannons accidentally burst. His son, the future James III was nine years old. (4-page 259) (1-page 103)

•     March 22, 1460/61 AD        By a deed dated at Slains, co Aberdeen, March 22, 1460/61, Umfra Laysk of that ilk, with the consent of his eldest son and heir, Thomas Leask, disposes (sells) the land called Brinthous, lying in the town (toun) of Tawarty (now Tarty), co Aberdeen, to said Sir William Hay, 1st Earl of Erroll. (ai)

•     1468 AD        A marriage agreement was affected between the daughter (Margaret) of King Christian I of Norway and Denmark and James III. Orkney (Shetland was included later) was pledged to provide a royal dowry. (10-Page 150)

•     July 10, 1469 AD        James III (age 18) marries Margaret (age 10). (4-page 260)

•     1471-2 AD        King James III of Scotland forces Earl William to exchange his earldom estates for land in central Scotland. Orkney is annexed to Scotland (11-page 26)

•      February 20, 1472 AD        Orkney and Shetland annexed from Norway to Scotland.

•     1472 AD        The bishopric was transferred from the see of Nidaros to that of St Andrew (11-page 26)

•     1480 AD        Lord Henry Sinclair is appointed the first tacksman leasing the land from the King of Scotland. Lord Henry stayed on as tacksman until 1513 when he was killed at Flodden Field. (11-page 27)

•     July 14, 1483 AD        Thoma Lesk de eodem (Thomas Leask of that ilk), is witness, with his second son Johanne Lesk filio dicti Thome (John Leask), and others, to the precept of sasine, dated July 14, 1483, granted by Thomas Erskine, lord of the barony of Kellie, in favor of Alexander Menzies, burgess of Aberdeen, and of his wife Elizabeth Leslie, of the lands of Laskguyeon, in said barony of Kellie, co Aberdeen, on the resignation of John Menzies. (aj)

•     August 4, 1484 AD        Willielmo Laisk de eodem (William of that Ilk) is designated baillie (ballivo meo) of Gilbert Hay of Carmuk (Son of Sir Gilbert Hay of Dronlaw (ak)), in a precept of sasine in favor of Walter Hay, son of Gilbert Hay of Caramuk, of his lands of Caramuk and Ardgeicht, in the parish of Ellon, co of Aberdeen, dated at Ellon August 4, 1484. (al) William is the 5th Clan Chief.

•     January 14, 1488/89 AD        Wilyame off Laysk (William of Leask) is a witness to a letter of manrent granted by Alexander Fraser of Fillorht (Philorth, parish of Fraserburgh, co Aberdeen) to William Hay, Earl of Erroll, dated at the Chanonry of Ross, January 14, 1488/89. (am)

•     June 11, 1488 AD        James III is killed south of Sterling between Sauchie and Bannock Burns as a result of encounter with Border rebels. It is unknown who killed him despite the offer of 100 merks of land for the identity of the killer. (4-page 271-272)

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