For furtherance of which vnion, when daie and place was appointed to assemble the Forboises togi|ther, Adam Gordon, the brother of the earle of Hunt|leie (deuising by all policie he might to hinder the Adam Gor|don disap|pointeth the vnion of the Forboises. same, and hauing priuie intelligence thereof by his kin, fauourers, and followers) came with a great power of armed men vnto the same place (at the time appointed for the assemblie of the Forboises) to breake off their vnion. And although there were two troopes of the Forboises, which presentlie appée|red in their sight, yet before they could ioine their strengths, Adam Gordon speedilie set vpon the one armie (not readie to be succoured by the other) and in the middle thereof did kill this Arthur Forboise; who being the hope of all that race and now slaine, his Arthur For|boise slaine. death did so amaze the other, that foorthwith the rest were soone ouerthrowne, scattered, and fled each one as he might best shift for himselfe. In which vnhappie conflict some persons of name were presentlie kil|led, The For|boises put to flight. and manie others taken and reserued for ran|some. Whervpon the residue (fearing more crueltie should be vsed vpon the prisoners, loath to haue anie more of their race to be cut awaie, and giuing place to the time present) withdrew themselues from the fight, and neuer attempted anie thing afterward in the reuenge of their ouerthrow. Which feare and wise suppression of reuenge grew not without iust cause, supposing that their aduersaries (if they were further vrged) would shew no more mercie to such The house, great bellied wife, and chil|dren of Alex|ander For|boise burnt. as they had prisoners, than they did to the house of Alexander Forboise before time, which they burnt with his great bellied wife and the other of his chil|dren.

The eldest brother of Arthur (who was the chiefe of that familie) hauing his house so spoiled, and him|selfe hardlie escaping from his enimies hands, hast|ned to the court, from whense (though the matter was in great extremitie) he was by the king to be releeued. For which cause there were appointed two hundred footmen to such of the nobilitie as fauoured The For|boises receiue aid from the king. and followed that faction, with letters to the adioi|ning nobilitie to associat themselues to the part of the Forboises. These thus confeder at and come to|gither to the rest of the Forboises, with certeine other families of their affinitie & neighbours, so aduanced the spirit of this Alexander, that he now thought himselfe sufficientlie fensed against all the forces of his aduersaries. But as their number increased, so there wanted amongst them one person sufficient to inioy the place of a capteine, whome the rest might follow, sith all the principals and heads of the fami|lies were almost yoong men, and scarse one better than others in degrée of calling. Wherefore the as The For|boises follow seuerall lea|ders. Iohn Keth departed. Alexander Forboise go|eth to Aber|den. semblie being drawen into diuerse companies (for they were inforced to follow seuerall leaders) Iohn Keth with fiue hundred horssemen departed to his house not far from thense. Alexander Forboise with his retinue and two hundred footmen went to Aber|den, to expell Adam Gordon from thense, and to re|pare his armie in the iournie.

Adam Gordon (not sléeping his affaires, know|ing the preparation of the Forboises, and vnder|standing the approch of his enimie so néere with so small companie) assembled his people, led them out of the towne, and compelled the citizens to follow, to The For|boises ouer|throwen be|sides Aber|den. make the number of his armie to séeme the grea|ter. Shortlie after, in a field next adioining to the towne, the two companies met, and a sharpe con|flict was committed betwéene them. In which the kings footmen (appointed to the Forboises) desirous (more hastilie than wiselie) to fight, and aduenturing further in following of the Gordons (than their shot of powder would continue) they went so far, that in the end (being out of the reach of defense or helpe of their company) they were put to fearfull flight by the bowmen of the Gordons, who pursued them egerlie, and continued the battell vntill night. At what time there were not manie of the vanquished slaine, but mostlie taken and reserued as prisoners, amongst which was the said Alexander Forboise taken, after that he had long and valiantlie defended himselfe a|gainst his enimies in the same conffict, to the perpe|tuall glorie of that house.