Ossian Collection > History of the Highlands and of the Highland clans > Volume 1

IIOSTTLE PREPARATIONS. IN SUTHERLAND. 211
the earl of Sutherland. The earl of Caithness, who felt an inward sa-
tisfaction at hearing of the displeasure of the earl of Sutherland at
George Gordon, dissembled his feelings, and protended to listen witli
great favour to the request of Patrick Gordon, in order to throw
George Gordon off his guard, while he was in reality meditating his
destruction. The ruse succeeded so effectually, that although Gordon re-
ceived tiraeous notice, from some friends, of the intentions of the earl to
attack him, he reposed in false security upon the promises held out to
bim, and made no provision for his personal safety. But he «'as soon
undeceived by tlie apjiearanco of the earl and a body of men, who,
entering Mai-le under the silence of the night, surrounded his house and
required him to surrender. He, however, refused to comply, and
when attacked defended tlie house with great bravery, and killed a
gentleman of the name of Sutherland, one of the principal officers of
the earl ; but being sorelj' pressed, he made a desperate effort to escape
by cutting his way through his enemies and throwing himself into the
river of Helmsdale, which he attempted to swim across, but, in his en-
deavours to reach the opposite bank, was slain by a shower of arrows.
This occurrence took place in the month of February fifteen hundred
and eighty seven. The earl detained Patrick Gordon, the brother of
George, prisoner, but he soon escaped and returned into Sutherland.
The earl of Sutherland, though he disliked the conduct of George
Gordon, was highly incensed at his death, and made great preparations
to punish the earl of Caithness for his attack upon Gordon. The earl
of Caithness in his turn assembled his whole forces, and being joined
by Maekay and the Strathnaver men, together with John, the master
of Orkney, and the earl of Carrick, brother of Patrick, earl of Orkney,
and some of his countrymen, marched to Helmsdale to meet the earl
of Sutherland. As soon as the latter heard of the advance of the earl
of Caithness, he also proceeded towards Helmsdale, accompanied by
Mackintosh, Roderick Mackenzie of Redca^tle, Hector Monroe of
Contaligh, and Neill Houcheonson, with the men of Assint. On his
arrival at the river of Helmsdale, the earl of Sutherland found the
enemy encamped on the opposite side. Neither party seemed inclined
to come to a general engagement, but contented themselves with daily
skirmishes by annoying each other with guns and arrows from the op-
posite banks ci' the river, which, in some instances, proved fatal. The
Sutherland men, who were very expert archers, annoyed the Caithness
men so much, as to force them to break up their camp on the river side
and to remove among the rocks above the village of Easter Hilmsdalc.
Maekay and his countrymen were encamped on the river of Marie, and
in order to detach him from the earl of Caithness, Mackintosh crossed
that river and had a private conference with him. Afiter reminding him
of the friendship which had so long subsisted between his ancestors and
the Sutherland family, Mackintosh endeavoured to impress upon his
Blind the danger he incurred bv taking up arms against his own supe-