Gordons in Sutherland, including the Embo family

36
before Johnne Gordon of Golspitour, William Gor-
don, Alexander Gordon and PaulFiddes. servitors
to the said noble Lord. (" Privy Council Registtr"
V. 746).
1608. November 3 — A commission was issued
to John Gordon of " Golspitour" and others to ar-
rest several men for murdering Charles Pape.
portioner of Mek'e Reny (" Privy Council
Register viii. 189).
In 1611 Sir Robert Gordon took with him into
England John Gordon, younger of Embo, and en-
tertained him there " vntill his nixt returne into
Scotland " (" Earls of Sutherland " 316. )
John Gordon of Golspitour was put on the
Commission for the Peace within the bounds of
Sutherland and Strathnaver, November 12, 1612,
and he with " Gordon apparent of Gol-
spitour " were on the commission August 20,
1623 (" Privy Council Register," x 488 ; xiii 350 )
Young Embo was engaged in the capture of
Arthur Smith, "fals coyner " in 1612. In 1599
Smith and "his man," having fled from Banff
from Sutherland, were apprehended and sent by
the Countess of Sutherland to Edinburgh, where
they were imprisoned. His man was burned,
but Smith duiing his imprisonment", having
*' maid a locke of such exquisit invention and in-
genious devyse that the lyk could not be fund
agane " This was presented to the king and
Smith was liberated. He then went to Caithness
and took post under the Earl, who leagued him-
self with Smith and "at last Catteynes, with the
adjacent cun tries, such as Orknay, Southerland,
Rosse, Strathnaver and Assint, were full of fals
coyne, both go d and silver (" Earls of Suther-
land," 279). Sir Robeit Gordon was commis-
sioned in 1611 to arrest Smith, although the Earl
of Caithness declared that he "purchased" the
commission merely to irritate his lordship.
Sir Robert was unable to carry out the commis-
sion, and he deputed the task to his nephew
Donald Mackay and to John Gordon younger of
Embo Accompanied by Adam Gordon, George-
sone, John Gordon in Brora and some other
Sutherland men they went to Thurso to appre-
hend Smith in May 1612. Mackay seezed Smith
and put him on horseback. Young Embo stayed
with some others " to shew the kiug's commission