A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans

WARLIKE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE EARL OF CAITHNESS. 283
Sir Robert Gordon having arrived in Sutherland in the month of
August sixteen hundred and twenty-three, was immediately joined by
Lord Berridale for the purpose of consulting on the plan of opera-
tions to be adopted ; but, before fixing on any particular plan, it was
concerted that Lord Berridale should first proceed to Caithness to learn
-nhat resolution his father had come to, and to ascertain how the inhabi-
tants of that country stood affected towards the earl. He was also to
notify to Sir Robert the arrival of the ship of war on the coast. A day
was, at the same time, fixed for the inhabitants of the adjoining pro-
vinces, to meet Sir Robert Gordon in Strathully, upon the borders be-
tween Sutherland and Caithness. Lord Berridale was not long in Caith-
ness when he sent notice to Sir Robert acquainting him that his father,
tlie earl, had resolved to stand out to the last extremity, and that he had
fortified the strong castle of Acrigell, which he had supplied with men,
ammunition, and provisions, and upon holding out which he placed
his L:ist and only hope. He advised Sir Robert to bring with him into
Caithness as many men as he could muster, as many of the inhabitants
stood still well affected to the earl.
The earl of Caithness, in the meantime, justly apprehensive of the
consequences which might ensue if unsuccessful in his opposition, de-
spatched a messenger to Sir Robert Gordon, proposing that some gentlemen
should be authorized to negotiate between them, for the purpose
of bringing matters to an amicable accommodation. He enforced his
request by desiring Sir Robert to recollect that he was a nobleman, a
peer of the realm, who had once been a commissioner himself in his
majesty's service ; that nothing of a criminal nature could be laid to his
charge ; that his creditors were alone concerned ; that he was the first
nobleman ever proclaimed a rebel, or challenged as a traitor for debt,
without any criminal cause judicially proved against him; on all which
grounds he entreated Sir Robert that such offers as he might make might
be again sent to the Privy Council. Sir Robert, who perceived the
drift of this message, which was solely to obtain delay, returned for
answer that he was exceedingly sorry that the earl had refused the bene-
fit of his last protection for clearing away the imputations laid to his
charge ; that although some of the charges against him were civil of-
fences, yet, by his disobedience in failing to appear before the Lords of
Uie Council to make his answer, he had changed their nature, and made
them criminal ; that, besides these civil actions, he had been charged
with several criminal offences, which, by absenting himself from trial,
he must be held to have acknowledged ; that the Privy Council had al-
ready seen how futile all his promises were ; that he, Sir Robert, clearly
perceived, that the earl's object in proposing a negotiation, was solely
to waste time and to weary out the commissioners and army by delays,
which he, for his own part, would not submit to, because the harvest
was nearly at hand, and the king's ship could not be detained upon
the coast idle. Unless, therefore, the carl would at once submit himself