The Troubles Betwixt
Forbeses and Gordons in the Years 1571 and 1572
The two families of Gordon and Forbes were of great power and
authority in their country, both of them valiant, wise, and wealthy; both harbouring
deadly feud, long rooted between them. The Gordons then lived with great concord and unity
among themselves; and, by the tolerance of their Kings, had, for many years, governed the
people adjoining unto them, whereby they became wealthy and of great power, and purchased
strength among themselves, together with the attendance and following of other men towards
them. When, on the contrary, the Forbeses were at war one with another, they daily
impaired their own strength, with their own slaughters, and, in end, wrought their own
harm by pressing to strive against the Gordons.
These two surnames did live together at this time, rather in
secret emulation than open envy; because they had (in a way of reconciliation) by marriage
intermingled their families together; but their hid and long-rooted rancour did now burst
forth, not only by following contrary factions during these civil wars betwixt the King's
party and the Queen's, but chiefly because that John, Master of Forbes (eldest son to the
Lord Forbes), had repudiated and put away his wife, Margaret Gordon, daughter to George,
Earl of Huntly, which he did by the instigation of his uncle, Black Arthur Forbes, who
mortally hated the Gordons. This Arthur was a man of great courage, ambitious, and ready
to undertake anything whatsoever for the advancement and reconciliation of his family. The
Forbeses, from the first time of these civil discords in Scotland, did follow the King's
party; the Gordons did always remain constantly faithful to the Queen, even unto the end.
The Forbeses, by persuasion of Black Arthur Forbes, had
appointed both day and place of meeting, where they should assemble together, not only for
their own general reconciliation among themselves, but also to enterprise something
against the Gordons and the rest of the Queen's favourites in these parts; whereof Adam
Gordon of Achindown having secret intelligence (his brother, the Earl of Huntly, being
then in Edinburgh), he assembled a certain number of his kindred and followers to cross
the proceedings of the Forbeses, who were all convened at Tillieangus, above Druminour, in
the beginning of the year of God, 1572. The Forbeses perceiving the Gordons coming up
towards them, against the hill where they then were, they did intrench themselves within
their camp, which they had strongly fortified, dividing their army into two several
companies, whereof Black Arthur Forbes commanded that which lay next unto the Gordons.
Adam Gordon (far inferior in number to his enemies),
presently, without any stay, fiercely invaded the first company; his brother, Mr. Robert
Gordon, set upon the other; so, breaking their trenches, they ran desperately upon the
spears of their enemies. After a sharp and cruel conflict, courageously fought a long time
on either side, Black Arthur Forbes, with divers others, gentlemen of his surname and
family, were slain; the rest were all overthrown, put to flight, and chased even to the
gates of Druminour, the Lord Forbes' chief dwelling-place; few of the Gordons were killed,
but only John Gordon of Buckie, father to John Gordon of Buckie, now living.
The Forbeses attempted nothing afterward in revenge of this
overthrow, until the time that John, Master of Forbes (Black Arthur's nephew and chief of
that family), hardly escaping from his enemies, hastened to Court, where the Earl of Mar,
then Regent, had his residence, hoping by him to be relieved. The Regent gave him five
companies of footmen and some horsemen, with letters to such of the adjoining nobility as
favoured and followed that party, desiring them to associate and join themselves unto the
Forbeses.
These then being confederated and assembled together with
certain other families of their affinity and neighbours, so advanced the spirit of this
John, Master of Forbes, that he now thought himself sufficiently furnished against the
forces of his adversaries, and so presently went to Aberdeen, to expel Adam Gordon from
thence, the year of God 1572, who, knowing the preparation of the Forbeses, and
understanding the approach of the enemies so near at hand, assembled such of his friends
and followers as he could soonest find at that time, and led them out of the town.
He sent a company of muskateers, under the conduct of Captain
Thomas Carr, to a convenient place where the Forbeses must of necessity pass, there to lie
in ambush, and not to stir the battle did join; then he sent certain of the Sutherland
bowmen (who had retired themselves out of their country during the Earl of Sutherland's
minority), and desired them to draw a great compass about, and so, to set upon the back of
the Forbeses' footmen and muskateers; he himself, and his brother, Mr. Robert Gordon, with
the residue of his company, stayed the coming of the Forbeses at a place called
Craibstane, not far from the ports of the new town of Aberdeen.
The Forbeses, being in sight of Aberdeen, began to consult
among themselves what was best to be done; some were of the opinion that the fittest and
safest course was to go to Old Aberdeen, and there seat themselves, and from thence to
molest the new town, and compel Adam Gordon to depart from New Aberdeen, by the aid and
assistance of these experienced footmen which were sent from the Regent; but the Master of
Forbes and his kinsmen would not hearken thereto, desiring present battle, which was then
concluded; and so the Forbeses advanced with great courage against the Gordons, who
received them with like resolution. At the very first encounter, Achindown's muskateers,
who lay in ambush, killed a number of the Forbeses; then both the armies joined with great
violence.
After a cruel conflict, with incredible obstinacy on either
side, the Laird of Pitsligo (Forbes's) two brethern, with divers other gentlemen of the
surname of Forbes, were there slain; Captain Chisholm was slain, with three other
Captains, which the rest of the Forbeses perceiving, they fled apace; many of the
principals were taken, with their Chief and General, John, Master of Forbes, whose father
was then very aged, lying sick at Druminour, expecting the sorrowful news of this
overthrow. Adam Gordon used this victory very moderately, and suffered no man to be killed
after the fury of the fight was past. When all was ended, he returned to the Church of
Aberdeen, and there gave thanks unto God for his happy success.
Alexander Forbes of Strathgarnock (author of all the troubles
betwixt these two families, and the chief stirrer-up of Arthur Forbes against the Gordons)
was taken at this battle, and, as they were going to behead him, Achindown caused them to
stay his execution. He entertained the Master of Forbes, and the rest of the prisoners,
with great kindness and courtesy; he carried the Master of Forbes along with him to
Strathbogie; and in end gave him and all the rest leave to depart.
The next ensuing summer after this conflict at Craibstane,
Adam Gordon of Achindown, following his victory, entered the Mearns, and besieged the
house of Glenbervie, putting all the Regent's party within that province into a great fear
and tumult. The Earl of Crawford, the Lords Grey, Ovilvy, and Glamis, taking part with the
Regent against the Queen, assembled all the forces of Angus and Mearns to resist
Achindown, and to stop his passage at Brechin, where they encamped; but Adam Gordon, being
advertised of their proceedings, left the most part of his men at the siege of Glenbervie,
from whence he parted in the dead time of the night, with the most resolute men of his
company, to invade these lords; and being come to Brechin, he killed the watch with divers
others, surprised the town, set upon the lords, chased them, and made himself master of
the town and castle of Brechin. The next morning, the lords understanding Achindown's
small forces in regard of theirs, they assembled their men together, and came near until
Brechin to fight against him, who met them with resolute courage; but, as they were ready
to encounter, the lords, not able to endure the first charge of their enemies, fled apace
with all their companies. There were slain of them above 80; and divers of them were
taken, amongst whom was the Lord Glamis, who was carried to Strathbogie, and, being
detained there a while, he was set at liberty with the rest. This conflict was called the
Bourd of Brechin.
Then returned Adam Gordon back again to the siege of
Glenbervie and took it; from thence he went to Montrose, and took that town. In his return
from thence, he took the Castle of Dun, which appertained to the Regent's cousin, and so
marched forward into Angus. The inhabitants of Dundee hearing of his approach, and
despairing of their own abilities to resist him, they sent for help into Fife; but
Achindown, having done his pleasure in Angus and Mearns, returned home into the North,
being contented for that time with what he had already done against his enemies. By this
good success of the Gordons, the Queen's favourers in all the parts of the kingdom were
highly encouraged at that time. |
