p. 292]                      THE MACKINTOSHES                            357

nochæ, usque quò regrederetur, relictis, ad ea, quæ dicenda
erant, auscultanda, descendere dignaretur, recepit. Desiderium
hoc, Makintoshii animum, recenti curarum fluctû, molestè dis-
cruciavit, qui, amicis suis, tunc temporis, præventibus, quid in
tali casû præstitû utilius esset, consultis, Epistolam, omni, quâ
possent, celeritate, Gulielmo Makintosh a Kylachy et Alexandro
Makintosh a Connadg, cœterisque amicis Stratharrick tunc
commorantibus (fama enim erat discessisse Comitem Morravi-
ensem), quanta, si Makintoshius Stratharrick proficisceretur,
secutura essent incommoda, commonstrantem, destinandam
conclusere. Namque, si, eâ tempestate, suas a tergo copias
relinquendas statueret, hoc, præterquam quod, eorum incessui
ingenti foret objici, maximas enim hactenus et longas satis per-
tulerant moras, etiam vulgo, eorum Ducibus Stratharrick cum
Makintoshio existentibus, a Signis suis discedendi (instante
jam Autumno) ansam præberet. Quapropter (si quicquam
alicujus momenti aut ponderis, ad præsens negotium pertinens,
dicendum esset), illud vel scripto vel nuncio impertiri rogavit.
Epistola hæc, magnâ cum promptitudine, legata est, et, immi-
nente jam sequentis Diei tempore vespertino, Lauchlanus Mak
ab Abirardor et Donald McIntosh ab Auldouri, cum, missæ
Epistolæ responsione accesserunt. Secunda etiam hæc Epis-

and baggage in Badenoch until his return. This demand griev-
ously tormented the soul of Mackintosh with a fresh flood of cares;
and having consulted with his friends then present as to what
was best to be done in such a case, they concluded that a letter
should be directed, with all speed, to William Mackintosh of
Kylachy and Alexander Mackintosh of Connage, and the other
friends then remaining in Stratherrick (for there was a report
that the Earl of Moray had gone away) showing what inconveni-
ences would follow if Mackintosh went to Stratherrick. For if
he should leave his forces at that time behind him, besides prov-
ing a hindrance to their march (for they had already endured
many and long delays) it would also afford occasion to the rank
and file, their leaders being with Mackintosh in Stratherrick, to
desert their colours, the harvest being just at hand. Wherefore,
if there was anything to be said of any moment or weight pertain-
ing to the present business, he requested that it might be imparted
either by writing or by messenger. This letter was sent with
great promptitude, and forthwith on the next day in the evening
Lauchlan Mackintosh of Aberardor and Donald Mackintosh of
Aldourie came with an answer to the letter sent. This second