Thomas Hay

infobox bishopbiog
name = Thomas Hay


religion= Roman Catholic Church
See = Diocese of Ross
Title = Bishop of Ross
Period = 1483–1488 × 1492
consecration =
Predecessor = William Elphinstone
Successor = John Guthrie
post = | ordination =
bishops =
date of birth = unknown
place of birth = unknown
date of death = 1488 × 1492 ?
place of death =

Thomas Hay was a 15th century Scottish prelate. A canon of the diocese and cathedral of Aberdeen, on the translation of William Elphinstone from Bishop of Ross to Bishop of Aberdeen, Hay was provided as Elphinstone's successor in Ross, this occurring on May 16, 1483. [Dowden, "Bishops", p. 221; Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 269.] He was probably the Thomas Hay who held the Aberdeen prebend of Turriff. [Dowden, "Bishops", p. 222.]

It was Bishop Hay who, on September 12, 1487, with the consent of the cathedral chapter of Fortrose and at the request of King James III of Scotland, erected the church of St Duthac at Tain into a collegiate church, "for the increase of the divine worship of the chapel or collegiate church of the blessed confessor Duthac of Tain". [Dowden, "Bishops", p. 222; Cowan & Easson, "Medieval Religious Houses", p. 228, where quote can be found.]

The new church consisted of and was to support one provost, two deacons or sub-deacons, a sacrist, an assistant sacrist, and three child choristers; the five prebendary canonries where to be Cambuscurry, Dunskeath, Morangie, Newmore and Tarlogie. [Cowan & Easson, "Medieval Religious Houses", p. 228; Dowden, "Bishops", p. 222, n. 2.] The erection was confirmed under the Great Seal of Scotland on December 3, and was confirmed by Pope Innocent VIII in 1492. [Cowan & Easson, "Medieval Religious Houses", p. 228.]

Bishop Hay was at parliament on January 11, 1488, his last appearance in any contemporary sources. [Dowden, "Bishops", p. 222; Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 269.] Hay's episcopate therefore lasted until at least 1488; it did not last beyond early 1492, the latest possible date for the appearance of John Guthrie as his successor; it is unclear if Bishop Hay died, or if he resigned, or if got demoted, though death is the most likely. [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 269.]

Notes

References

* Cowan, Ian B. & Easson, David E., "Medieval Religious Houses: Scotland With an Appendix on the Houses in the Isle of Man", Second Edition, (London, 1976)
* Dowden, John, "The Bishops of Scotland", ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
* Keith, Robert, "An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down to the Year 1688", (London, 1824)
* Watt, D. E. R., "Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638", 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)