GORDON, George 4th Earl of Huntly, Lord Chancellor ²

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  General Notes:

"In 1534, when only nineteen years of age, he (George Gordon) received a commission of fire and sword against the Clan Chattan, who were doing much mischief in the north. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1535, and the following year one of the Regents of the kingdom during the King's absence in France, and also Warden of the Marches. Between 1537 and 1541 he made many politic alliances with his neighbours in the country, and on 3 March 1540-41 he had a grant of the sheriffship of Aberdeen. On 29 August 1542 he completely defeated an English force of 3000 men under tiie command of Sir Robert Bowes at Haddonrig, and afterwards succeeded in frustrating a raid by the Earl of Hertford with a much larger force. Because he did not follow up his advantage he lost the favour of the King, but the end of the latter was now near, and after the rout of Solway Moss and James's death Huntly was in December 1542 nominated one of the Council for the government of the realm during the minority of the young Queen. On 5 June 1546 he was appointed Lord Chancellor."

from Scots Peerage (vol 4)




"George, fourth Earl of Huntly, who succeeded to the earldom in 1524, was made Lord Chancellor of Scotland on the death of Cardinal Beaton, and got the Great Seal in 1546. He also got a grant of the earldom of Moray from Queen Mary, 13th February 1548, and was appointed the queen's Lieutenant in the North. During the queen's absence in France, Huntly had been deprived of the chancellorship, which the queen, on her return, restored to him, but at the same time took from him the earldom of Moray, which she gave to her natural brother, Lord James Stewart, Prior of St. Andrews, who had recently been created Earl of Mar.

This gave rise to implacable enmity between the two earls, of which the enemies of Moray, and of his friend the Earl of Morton, took advantage to plot his ruin. Huntly being at the head of the Catholic party, the queen's maternal relations of the house of Guise had great expectations that he would restore that religion, and they held out hopes to him that the queen would marry his second son, Sir John Gordon of Findlater. It is possible that Huntly entertained this project proposed to him, although he never intended to seize the queen, or to force her to it against her will, as his enemies gave out. If this had been his design, he might easily have executed it, as the queen was frequently in his power, had he been disposed to use force."

from Historical Records of the Leslie Family

Note:

This enmity led to the Battle of Corrichy at Meikle Tap near Aberdeen in 1562, at the end of which Huntly was slain, his son, John, taken prisoner and executed, and their lands foreited. ^{2 4}

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Appointed: Provost, Between 1546 and 10 January 1544, of Aberdeen, Scotland. ⁵

George married Elizabeth KEITH, daughter of Robert KEITH Master of Marischal and Elizabeth DOUGLAS, 27 March 1530(contract).¹ (Elizabeth KEITH was born about 1510 and died after 28 October 1562 ³.)

  Marriage Notes:

"Elizabeth Keith is the daughter of Robert Keith, Master of Marischal and Lady Elizabeth Douglas. She married George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly, son of John Gordon, Lord Gordon and Margaret Stewart, on 27 March 1530."

from thepeerage.com




(3) Elizabeth (Keith), married (contract 27 March 1530) to George, fourth Earl of Huntly.

from Scots Peerage (vol 6)

Note:

Other sources eg Scots Peerage, volume 4, and The Records of Aboyne, erroneously state that Elizabeth was the daughter of William Keith, Earl Marischal. ^{1 2 3 6}