pp. 262-263]           THE MACKINTOSHES                            285

[page 263.]

Secreti Consilii, in Robertum Mackonchy abbrich (ex Clan-
gregoriis unum) commissam esse potestatem, quem, securitatis
caussâ, illuc confugisse audiverat, ac propterea sibi in animo
esse, ædificium illud, ne inibi lateret, accurato examine dis-
quirere. Retulit Duncanus istum, de quo loquitur, nusquam
illic latitare, neque se, ullâ lege, (præsertim cùm tantus in pro-
pinquo esset exercitus), domum scrutari permissurum. Domi-
nus a Lovat, Duncani propositum intelligens, eo dolo, ut tantò
faciliùs daretur ingressus, usos agnovit, ideoque summopere
efflagitare perstitit ut, se cum Domino Roberto Gordon,
Georgio Monro a Miltoun aliisque duobus Aulam ingredi per-
mitterent, fideliter pollicentes se, nullam domui creaturos
molestiam, militesque non, præfixas metas excedere ausuros.
Huic eorum rogatui Duncanus præbuit assensum, quod etiam,
Domino Gordono, ulteriùs, in suo ulciscendi proposito pro-
cedere nequeunti, placuit, et ita Dominus Gordonus, dismisso
exercitû, parvâ reportatâ victoriâ minorique gloriâ (neque
enim decimæ fuerant collectæ), domum est regressus.

ANNO 1619 Dominus Gordonus et Makintoshius (nonnullis
intercedentibus amicis) Edinburgi quandam amicitiæ inîerunt
speciem. Verùm, cùm postea Dominus Gordonus, Allani

intrusted to him by the Lords of Privy Council, against Robert
Makonchy abbrich (one of the Clan Gregor), who for the sake of
security had fled hither, as he had heard; and therefore it was
his purpose to search that house carefully, lest he should be
hidden there. Duncan retorted that the man of whom he spake
was never hidden there, nor would he on any condition permit
the house to be searched, especially when such an army was
near it. Lord Lovat, perceiving the resolution of Duncan,
acknowledged that they had used that device in order the more
easily to get access; and therefore he continued to beg very
earnestly that they would allow him, with Sir Robert Gordon,
George Monro of Miltown, and two others, to go into the hall,
faithfully promising that they would not molest the house in any
way, and that the soldiers would not dare to over-pass the limits
before fixed. To this request of theirs Duncan gave assent; on
which account also Lord Gordon was pleased to proceed no further
in his purpose of revenge; and so, having dismissed his army, he
went home, carrying back but small triumph and less glory,
for even the teinds were not gathered.

In the year 1619, Lord Gordon and Mackintosh (by the inter-
cession of some friends) entered into a certain semblance of
friendship. But as Gordon afterwards espoused the cause of