thereof, he removed himself and family and anything he valued within
the house to an bill above the town, where he might see and bear
anything that might befall the house; and that same night about
cock crow he saw bis house and biggings in flames, and found
them consumed to ashes on the morrow. The perpetrators could not
be found; yet it was generally thought to be Hector his uncle's
contrivance."

The writer then describes the legitimation of Agnes Fraser's
children by the Pope, and continues - "Hector, notwithstanding of
the legitimation, refused to quit the possession of the estate,"
and he then gives the same account of John's feigned expedition
to Ireland, and the burning of Hector's house at Wester Fairburn,
substantially as already given from another source, but adding -
"That very night they both entered upon terms of agreement without
acquainting or sending for any, or to advise a reconciliation
betwixt them. The sum of their agreement was, that Hector, as a
man able to rule and govern, should have (allowing John an aliment)
the estate for five or six years, till John should be major, and
that thereafter Hector should render it to John as the right and
lawful undoubted heir, and that Hector should ever afterwards
acknowledge and honour him as his chief, and so they parted, all
being well pleased. [John and Hector did condescend that Hector
should have the estate till John were one and twentie years, and
that John should live on his own purchase till then. Letter from
MS.] But Allan and the most of the Kintail men were dissatisfied
that John did not get Ellandonnan, his principal house, in his
own possession, and so desired John to come to them and possess
the castle by fair or foul means wherein they promised to assist
him. John goes to Kintail, desires him to render the place to