Gordons in Sutherland, including the Embo family

37
to the inhabitants and to keip them from raising
any tumult, which wes not possible for him to
doe ; immediately the common bell of the toun
was rung and all the people assembled. ' The
Sinclairs turned out in great force. " Thus ther
began a sharp skirmish among them, which, for a
whyle, wes verie furious ; bot in end the
Catteynes men wer overthrowne and with the
slaughter of some of them, chased farther within
the town. Donald Macky, hearing the tumult,
presentlie returned with a resolution to aid John
cordon ; yit before his coming the feght was
•ended " Gordon and Mackay then retired to the
end of the town, " wher they hovered a whyle, at-
tending the resolution of the Catteynes men ;
who, being now daunted with this sudden fray,"
suffered them to depairt peceab ie at their owne
pleasure, not so much as offerring agane to invade
them. (" Earls of Sutherland," p. 282.)
Lord Caithness summoned Mackay and John
Gordon younger of Embo with their adherents
for the slaughter of John Sinclair of Stirkagg and
for the mutilation of James Sinclair, the laird of
Dun's brother. The parties met at Edinburgh on
■July 17, 1612 (Pitcairn's "Criminal Trials iii.
231), " divers of the surname of Gordoun " appear-
ing, " such as Sir Alexander Gordon, Lord
Sutherland's brother, Cluny, Lesmoir, Buckie,
Knockespack, with sundrie other gentlemen of
good qua itie, too long to set down." It would
appear that young Embo had been wounded, for
Htcairn refers to the charge against the Sinclairs
as that of hurting and wounding Johne Gordoun
of Golspitour and others." Sir Robert Gordon
gives a long account of the attempt to settle the
trouble. Pitcairn is much more succinct : —
Johnne Gordoun, appeirand of Sydra, (the
eldest son of John Gordon of Sidderay) compeirant
personallie in judgement in name of Sir Robert
•Gordon, brother to my Lord of Sutherland,
Duncane McKy, fiear of Far, Johnne Gordoun, ap-
peirand of Gordoun of Golspitour, and producet
the letteris raisit be thame and remanent com-
plineris insert thairin, aganis my Lord of Caith-
nes, my Lord of Berriedaill his sone, and
remanent defenderis thairin contentit ; be the
quhil kis thay and everie ane of thame ar
charget to find cautioun for thair compeirance