Secondly, we are informed by the same authority that Gight thought that it was

A cryme unpardonable in the person of ony of his rank or within to resset or schaw favour to ony person aganis whome he beiris querrell.

The Council ultimately labelled him

A most rebellious and disobedient person, who, by a concourse of a nombir of odious crymes [had] made himself in a kynd eminent abone offendaris of the heichest degree.

As a final evidence of his evil reputation, let me quote Lord Dunfermline, who, writing to Lord Binning on February 18, L616 (Fraser's Haddington Book), says :

The insolence and misrewle committed by Geyht can nather be uncouthe to yiow nor me that knaws the humouris of those fowkes, althocht wee might have hoped that the good order of the rest of the countrie might have temperit thame suim better.

He revelled in his effrontery, and after the manner of a Jack Sheppard, he once bragged that

He knew the Wynd of the Tolbooth, and how to gyde his turne [and that he had had to do] with the gritest of Scotland, and had outit his turnis aganis thame.

Let me demonstrate these obiter dicta by the leading incidents in his career, extending over a period of six and thirty years (1594-1640):

1594. Robert Betoun was security in 5000 merks for George Gordon's remaining south of the Tay, when freed of his ward (Royal Historical Society's Transactions, Vol. 7, New Series). Note that his second cousin, the third laird of Gight, who died in 1578, had married a daughter of Cardinal David Beaton; while the sixth laird himself was captured in 1640 by a Captain Beaton.

Nov. 9, 1594. The Duke of Lennox, who had been left by James VI. in Aberdeen, as Lieutenant, with 200 troops, received young Gight and the laird of Cluny, "for he had power to receive to peace where he pleased." The Duke, I may note, was Lord Huntly's brother-in-law. 1597-1616. Gight spent these nineteen years in a vigorous opposition to the Reformers. In this he was supported by his wife, Isobel Wood, of the Bonnyton family (which I sketched in this journal

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that the minister of Tarves had declined to baptise "ye first of ye four bairnes." In January, 1601, Mrs. Gordon was excommunicated, as nothing is seen in her bot contumacie," and, in the following September, Gight was excommunicated. On August 6 (1601), he had written a remarkable letter to the Presbytery of Aberdeen (Spalding Club edition), in which he declared :"I heir offeir giff thair is nathing can satisfie you if I remane Catholick bot my bluid and wardlie wrack to enter my selff in ony place ye pleiss till appoint and giff it sall pleis Majestie and your wisdomes of the Kirk of Scotland sa to tak my bluid for my profession, quhilk is Catholick Romane, I will maist willinglie offere it for the same." In 1604 he was accused of having carried a crucifix on a spear at his mother's funeral, and in 1609 the Privy Council summoned him for sheltering a Jesuit, Walter Murdo, "a traffiquair and practizar aganis the lauchfull authoritie and government of Princeis." He was ordered, under a caution of 5000 merks, to confine himself to the burgh of Montrose, where he was to confer with the ministers, "so that he might be resolvit be thame in sic heidis and pointis of his religioun quhairin he standis in doubt." In 1608, the General Assembly had ordered the "downcasting of Gight's [private] chapel" (Mair's Ellon). In February, 1616, the Captain and Lieutenant of the Guard had orders to arrest him as “a traffiquing papist, and adversair to God and his treuth, haveing shacken off his deutie and his majestie, his obedience to the laws and discipline to the kirk."

1605. John Gordon of Buckie had to offer caution

of £2000 that Gight should not harm Archibald Douglas of Bennettle (Privy Council Register). 1607. A "witch" named Malie Wyse was said to live on the lands of Gight (Mair's Ellon). February, 1610. The Bishop of Moray assured the King that Gight had shown himself a "great furderar and favourer of peace.'

January, 1614. The Privy Council requested Gight to go abroad, and remain there "during all the days of his lyftyme." No "skaith" was to come to his person or his property, provided he did nothing against the King or the Kirk. December, 1615. He was summoned by the Privy Council for breaking a sword across the head of the laird of Leask, whose daughter had been abducted in 1608 by his brother Adam.

1615-1617. He was implicated in the vendetta against the Hays, and the barbaric "trial" of Francis Hay, which I have described in referring to his brother Adam.

May, 1617. He married, at Rothiemay, Lady Jean Lindsay (who had married, in 1607, Sir John Lindsay of Kinfauns and Carraldstone, son of the 12th Earl of Crawford). She was the daughter of George Abernethy, 7th Baron Saltoun, by his wife (married 1588), Lady Margaret Stewart, daughter of the 4th Earl of Atholl, Chancellor of Scotland, who had married Lady Elizabeth Gordon, daughter of the 4th Earl of Huntly. The Parson of Rothiemay was suspended for celebrating the marriage, Gight being a Catholic. Gight thus got two stepdaughters. His wife's sister, Lady Margaret Abernethy, married Sir Alexander Fraser of Philorth, and became the mother of the 10th Baron Saltoun, the first Fraser to bear that title. April-May, 1618. During this period he tried to compel his second wife's mother, old Lady Saltoun, who was lying at the point of death at Corncairn (which was afterwards bought for Gight's brother-in-law, and rechristened Park), to make a will in his favour. Her interests were looked after by Patrick Livingstone of Inchcorse and his brother William. On April 20, Gight, accompanied by his son George (afterwards 7th of Gight), then a “young boy,” called at Corncairn to see Patrick Livingstone, and followed him to Tullidone, where he was taking part in a baptism. Livingstone invited him to dinner. Gordon began to bully him. Livingstone offered to compromise matters, but Gight "burst forth in most bitter and passionate speetchies aganis him, protesting and avowing with mony horrible aithis that he sould stryk ane daigger to the said Patrikis hairt, and that he sould cleive him to the harne pane, unles he causit the said testament [of Lady Saltoun] ather to be nultit or reformit to his [Gight's] contentment." The gentlemen present intervened, and Gight left, vowing vengeance. On May 6, Gight attacked the other Livingstone (William). Having heard that William had seen the dying lady, he followed him to Rothiemay, and began to threaten him. Sir James Skene of Curriehill, the judge, who happened to be on the spot, interfered. On May 13, Gight sent his wife (the dying woman's own daughter) and his son George, to Corncairn to demand the alteration of the will, or "ellis it should be the darrest testament that evir wes maid in the north." Lady Saltoun declined to accede to the request. Next day (May 14) Gight himself, with his son and nine servants, "all bodin in feir of weir with jackis, secritis, steel bonnettis, tua handit swerdis, and other wapponis invasive," marched to Corncairn. Patrick Livingstone had gone to Rothiemay, leaving William on guard. When Gight called, William went to see him at the gate. But

Gight's servants "past betwix Mr. Williame and the yet, and thairby" deprived him "of all meanis of retreate to the house." Gight declared that he would have Livingstone's "hairt bloode, and that he sould wasche his hands in his blood,' and "ding a suard" through any body who tried to defend Livingstone. At last he went off to Rothiemay, where Patrick " choppit" the gates in his face. Back he tramped to Corncairn, declaring that he "sould go mad gif he wer not revengeit" on the Livingstones. He bullied the dying woman for three days, and hastened her death. He was ultimately arrested, and taken to Edinburgh with his son, and was fined 35,000 merks and £10,000 for his good behaviour, and ordered to wear no arms in future.

14th Feb., 1622. Bitterly resenting the latter condition, he petitioned the Privy Council to re-arm him, on the ground that there were "no uther baronis nor gentlemen in the country putt under this forme of cautione," which carried "a foull and havie imputatioun," as if the Gights were "brokin men aganis whome the course of the lawe could have no executione." Thus "separat frome the whole rest of the subjectis of the kingdome and sett be thamesllffis with a marke of reprotche over thair headis whilke is a verrie grite greif unto thame," the Gights declared that they were "expoisit to the malice of all the malitious toungs in the countrey, who takis hold of this cautionare that thay underly to mispryse thame at thair pleasour." The Privy Council very wisely declined to give Gight his "wapponis again, but reduced the caution for "all quarrellis, contraverseis and debattes" between the Gight family and the Livingstones had been removed, and "thay stand upon most hairty termeis of frendshhip" (Privy Council Register).

July 20, 1623. Having failed in his attempt to bleed his mother-in-law, Lady Saltoun, Gight attempted to squeeze his first wife's brother, Sir Harry Wood, the laird of Bonnyton. Accompanied by his son George and nine servants, "all bodin in fear of wear," he broke into the church of St. Vigeans on Sunday, July 20. "Rusheing throw the kirk, and overtradeing weomen and barnis, who wer sitting upon thair kneyies at the prayer," the intruders seized Sir Harry and carried him off to his "awne house of Lethem, quhilk they surprised and tooke and locked the yetts thairoff," driving out Lady Wood and her children. They then made Sir Harry sign away 'gritt sowmes" of money, and let their horses eat up his "best in field aittis." As an example of what this sort of escapade cost Gight, let me cite the punishment inflicted by the Privy Council. As this attack was considered "ane verie gritt insolence

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a wicked and pernicious praeparative and example, and to the braik of his Majesties peace,' the Privy Council (April 28, 1624) committed Gight to the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, to remain

there at his own charges, and ordered him to pay 500 merks to the Treasurer, 200 merks to the poor of Vigeans, and to the witnesses for their expenses £5 for every horseman and 40/- for every footman. Finally they ordained the lairds of Gight and Bonnytown to find caution in 5000 merks each to keep the peace towards each other. John Leith of Harthill, Henry Ramsay of Ardownye, and Patrick Gordon, indweller in Edinburgh, were cautioners for these 5000 merks, and also in £5000 that Gight, on being released from the Tolbooth, should keep his ward in Edinburgh till he paid the fines. On May 3, 1624, Ramsay was cautioner in 2000 merks for Gight to present Adam Gordon of Ardlogie to the Council.

September, 1623. The Privy Council had before it the case of a French woman, Gight's daughter's governess, whom Gight either could not, or would not, pay. The governess declared that she "intertenyis and furnisses" [in France?] Mary (?) Gordon "verie honnestlie in her apparell and dyet and brings her up in all verteous exerciseis beseaming a young gentlewoman of hir birthe;" for which Gight should have paid her 3300 merks. The poor "Franshewoman" had of course no locus standi, and all the Privy Council could do was to induce Gight to "haif some regaird of his credite and dewtie on this point, and mak tymous and thankfull payment." November 13, 1634. He was summoned by the Privy Council to appear before it in connection with the attacks that had been made by the Gordons on the land of Frendraught for the burning of Lord Aboyne.

April 16, 1639. Gight, who, throughout the Covenanting struggle, "kythit" with the AntiCovenanters, was one of a deputation to Lord Aboyne, then at Percok, to request him not to go south, as the country was now left heidles." Aboyne "yeildit to thair desire, and turnit bak to Strathbogie agane with his fatheris trvnkis" (Spalding).

May 8, 1639. Gight was one of another deputation who, supported by 80 horse and 60 foot, "cam to the kirkyeard of Ellon, and send to the laird [Kennedy] of Kermvk, being in his oune hous of Arduthie, desyring him to refuse the countrie covenant, and to subscrive the Kingis covenant." Kermuck refused (Spalding).

May 10, 1639. Gight, with some other lairds, intended to cum to the place of Tolly-Barclay, and thair to tak out sic armes, mvscatis, gvnis, and carrabinis as the lairdis of Delgatie and Tollie-Barclay had plunderit from the said young laird of Cromartie out of the place of Balquholly [which belonged to the Mowats, who were, I think, relatives of Gight]; bot it hapnit the Lord Fraser and maister of Forbes to sie thair cuming. Thay manit the houss of Towy, cloisit the yettis, and schot diuerss schotis fra the houss heid,

whair ane seruand of the laird off Geichtis wes schot, callit Dauid Prat. Heir be it markit that this wes the first blood that wes drawin heir sen the begining of this covenant." Gight's party ultimately retreated, "thinking it no vassalage to stay whill thay war slayne " (Spalding).

May 13, 1639. Gight took part in the Trot of Turriff, when the Royalists surprised the Covenanting Committee (Britane's Distemper). June, 1639. Montrose and his artillery attacked the Castle of Gight, which was well defended by the laird and Colonel Johnston. The siegers, however, withdrew to Aberdeen (on June 3) when they heard that a Royalist army was approaching (Britane's Distemper).

July 10, 1639. On this day it was reported to the Presbytery of Ellon that Gight had "come to ye Kirk of Ellon upon ye Saboth day, and having maid some ryding throuche ye toun of Ellon, which wes scandelous." Gight (at a subsequent meeting) declared that "he cam not to the Kirk of Ellon to mak ony convocatione, nor to irritat any gentleman there, bot onlie to visit ye laird of Ochterellone and Mr. David Leache [the minister], to tak with him the young laird of Foveran [his grandson], wha was in Ochterellone [the lad's mother, Gight's daughter, having died in the early part of the year]. He said he was sorry if he had offended any of the brethren (Mair's Records of the Presbytery of Ellon). April, 1640. Gight began to fortify his house with men, muskat, meit and drink and vther devysis of defenss," in view of General Monro's advance (Spalding).

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June, 1640. Gight, described as a "seiklie, tender man, being by chance at this samen tyme in Montross, is takin by ane Captain Betoun, and had to [the Tolbooth of] Edinburgh with the rest: his houss of Ardestie [in Forfarshire] pitfullie plunderit, becauss he wes ane papist and out stander aganes the good causs (Spalding). Upon caution he had libertie of frie waird within the toune, and to walk and go at his pleasour." He died in prison on November 17, 1640, "either through age or greefe or bothe together. He was a Papist in his profession. That was eneuch indytement against him” (Gordon's Scots Affairs).

Dec. 30, 1640, Collonell Maister of Forbes send out to the intaking of the place of Geicht ane capiten with 32 soldiouris. The hous is randerit be the lady, becaus none laird wes there. Aluaies scho cam in and delt so with the collonell that they were all removit and cam bak agane to Abirdene (Spalding).

Gight left seven children, by which wife, however, I cannot say. Mr. Mair, in his Presbytery Records of Ellon, notes that his first

wife (Isobell Wood) bore him five children before 1597. Dr. Temple says his second wife bore him a son and a daughter. His issue was as follows:

1. George Gordon was succeeded as seventh laird of Gight.

2. John Gordon assisted his nephew, the eighth laird, to raid the town of Montrose. He was imprisoned in Edinburgh, 1644, with his brother, the seventh laird, who was granted, through his agent, Thomas Gordon, 300 merks to "menteyn" himself and his brother in prison (June 19, 1644, Acts of Parliament, Spalding).

3. Alexander Gordon married Lilias, second daughter of William Menteith of Kers. In 1636 (at which date he was married) he got the estate of Ardestie, in Forfarshire, from Robert Erskine (Great Seal). I may note, however, that his father was known as "Old Ardestie" (Gordon's Scots Affairs), he having probably got that estate through his first wife, Isobell Wood, who was a Forfarshire woman. This Alexander is not mentioned by Dr. Temple.

4. Barbara Gordon married Sir John Turing, both of them "recusants,” 1623 (Mair's Presbytery Records of Ellon). He was present at the battle of Worcester, 1651, and had been created a baronet, 1638. He lost his lands at Foveran, which his house had held for three centuries. He had by Barbara Gordon a son, George, who predeceased him. By his second marriage (in 1652) he had a son, who died unmarried in 1682, when the representation of the family devolved on the (1st) baronet's nephew, the ancestor of the present baronet, who lives at Chichester. Barbara Gordon died early in the beginning of 1639, and Lord Huntly, whose "ant" she was (according to Spalding), attended her funeral.

5. Mary Gordon married Alexander Innes of Coxton, who was concerned in the antiCovenanting struggle, but was pardoned, 1647 (Acts of Parliament). She died, 20th August, 1647 (Familie of Innes).