ensis Comarchi uxor, uterum gerens, cum tota familia flammis commissa Capitano Carro Gordoniorum ministro."-MS. Coll. Glasg.

This Captain Car, or Ker, was a famous officer in his time, and had been trained in the wars in Flanders. Previous to the battle of Glenlivet, he was selected by Huntly to watch the motions of Argyle's army. Gordon informs us, that the Forbeses were afterwards foiled in an attempt to assassinate Adam Gordon in the streets of Paris: "Forbes, and these desperate fellows, lay in wait in the street through which he was to return to his lodgings, from the palace of the archbishop of Glasgow, then ambassador in France. They discharged their pistols upon Auchindown as he past by them, and wounded him in the thigh. His servants pursued, but could not catch them; they only found, by good chance, Forbes's hat, in which was a paper with the name of the place where

they were to meet. John Gordon, lord of Glenluce, and Longormes, son to Alexander Gordon, bishop of Galloway, above-mentioned, lord of the bed-chamber to the king of France, getting instantly notice of this, immediately acquainted the king, who forthwith dispatched le grand provost de l'hotel, or the great provost of the palace, with his guards, in company with John Gordon, and Sir Adam's servants, to the place of their meeting, to apprehend them. When they were arrived at the place, Sir Adam's servant, being impatient, rushed violently into the house, and killed Forbes; but his associates were all apprehended, and broke upon the wheel."pp. 113, 114. These were terrible times; and it is not now possible to determine among the feuds of great families, what actions were the effect of malice, and what of sudden passion, or even mere accident.

EDOM O' GORDON.

IT fell about the Martinmass,

Quhen the wind blew shril and cauld, Said Edom o' Gordon to his men, "We maun draw to a hauld.

"And what an a hauld sall we draw to,

My merry men and me?

"We will gae to the house of the Rodes, "To see that fair ladie."

She had nae sooner busket hersel,

Nor putten on her

gown,

Till Edom o' Gordon, and his men,

Were round about the town.

They had nae sooner sitten down,

Nor sooner said the

grace,

Till Edom o' Gordon, and his men,
Were closed about the place.

The lady ran up to her tower-head,
As fast as she could drie*,
To see if, by her fair speeches,
She could with him agree.

As soon as he saw the lady fair,
And hir yates all locked fast,

He fell into a rage of wrath,
And his heart was aghast.

"Cum down to me, ze lady fair, "Come down to me, let's see,

"This night ze's ly by my ain side, "The morn my bride sall be."

"I winnae cum down, ye fals Gordon, "I winnae cum down to thee, "I winnae forsake my ain dear lord, "That is sae far frae me."

* Drie, literally, suffer, was able,

"Gi up your house, ze fair ladye,
"Gi up your house to me,
"Or I will burn zoursell therein,
"Bot and zour babies three."

"I winnae gie up, zou fals Gordon,
"To nae sik traitor as thee,
"Tho' zou should burn mysel therein,

"Bot, and my babies three."

"Set fire to the house," quoth fals Gordon,

"Sin better may nae be;

"And I will burn hersel therein,

"Bot, and her babies three."

"And ein wae worth ze, Jock, my man, "I paid ze weil zour fee,

"Why pow ze out my ground wa' stane, "Let's in the reek * to me?

"And ein wae worth ze, Jock, my man, "For I paid zou weil zour hire; Why pow ze out my ground wa' stane, "To me lets in the fire ?"

* Reek, smoke.