And taking a letter from his breast, he placed it in his lordship's hands.
“This confirms our choice,” said the marquis, after reading the letter aloud, amid great applause, and reiterated expressions of satisfaction from the assemblage.
“My first step,” said the earl, when silence was restored, “shall be to set up the standard at Castletown, and proclaim King James. The Fiery Cross shall then be sent round to summon the clans to war. My headquarters will be fixed at Dunkeld.”
“Within a month I will join you there with three thousand men,” said the Earl of Searforth.
“Your arrival will be impatiently expected, my lord,” said Mar. “But by that time I hope to be in possession of Perth. How many men will your father, the Duke of Athole, give us, marquis?” he added to Tullibardine.
“Very few, in comparison with Lord Seaforth,” replied the other. “But I will bring all I can.”
“The duke, I know, is lukewarm in the cause,” said Mar. “But since both his sons are pledged, there can be no fear of him.”
“None whatever,” replied Lord Charles Murray, the Duke of Athole's younger son.
Promises of substantial aid were then given by the Earls of Southesk, Panmure, and other nobles, and by the chiefs Glengarry, and Gordon of Glendarule.
Last of all came Colonel Mackintosh, head of the powerful Clan Chattan. He engaged to raise six or seven hundred well-disciplined Highlanders, but stipulated that his kinsman, Brigadier Mackintosh of Borluni, should have the command of the regiment.