Memorials of four old families

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Patrick of Auchindoun, Knight ; Sir Thomas Gordon of Clunye, Knight ;
Sir John Gordon of Pitlurge, Knight ; and John Gordon of Glenbucket,
who took burden upon themselves for the Earl of Huntly, as also for them-
selves, and their " remanent kyn and freindis of the name of Gordon."
Provision was made in case of any alleged defection from the bond on the
part of Grant or Mackintosh, in which case the above named, together with
the lairds of Findlater, Balquhane, Drum and Innermarkie, were to decide.
—Vide " The Chiefs of Grant."
The Clan Chattan, however, 800 strong, under William Mackintosh,
son of Lachlan, the Chief, invaded the lands of Auchindoun and Cabrach
but were attacked by Huntly and Sir Patrick of Achindoun, and defeated.
The following lines from an old billad refer to this —
" O Willie Mackintosh, O Willie Mackintosh,
Whaur left ye a' yer men ?
Ye've left them in the granes o' the Gauch
Feeding Cabrach swine."
to which Mackintosh rejoins —
" Head me or hang me, death canna fley me,
I'll burn Auchindoun or life ley me."
This naturally led to further clan fights, in which the Gordons had the
best of it, and Huntly's power was re-established.
His enemies then revived the cry against him of having entered into a
conspiracy with the Earls of Angus and Errol to overturn the Protestant
religion in Scotland, and the young King, under pressure from them and
Queen Elizabeth, summoned the Earls to St Andrew's, 5th February, 1593 :
on their refusal and some other negotiations they were attainted without
trial at a Parliament held in the end of May, 1594.
A considerable army was then collected in the King's name, and sent
under the command of the Earl of Argyll, a youth of 19 years of age, to
subdue the three Catholic Earls : and during its advance through Badenoch
and Strathspey, all the clansmen who had a thirst for revenge or plunder,
joined his standard.
On arriving at Drummin, on the River Avon, orders were issued to the
Forbeses, Frasers, Dunbars, the Clan Kenzie, the Irvines, Ogilvies and
Leslies, as also to any others either hostile to the Gordons, or zealous for
promoting the Protestant religion, to march and re-inforce them.
Huntly, joined by Errol, arrived at Auchindoun the same day that
Argyll reached Drummin ; and, though their force was greatly inferior, they
resolved to attack Argyll before the Forbeses and other clans from the east,
and the Frasers and others from the north, could arrive.