so I hope it's come safe, and that H. has gott
it. He has had two or three sent him from this of late, different
ways, and one goes of this day by the near way he sometimes uses. We
hear from all hands of the preparations against us, but we resolve
to stand it, cost what it will, and if they come out we will
certainly give them battle, lett their number be never so great. It
must now be plain to all that will allow themselves to see, that
nothing less is designed by the present managers than the intire
ruin and destruction of this poor country, and of every honest man
in it; and if this will not be an awakened people, I know nothing
that will. Since this then is plainly the case, there can be no
choise in dying honourably in the field for so just a cause, or
leving to see the ruin and intire destruction of our country, our
King, and our friends and relations. For my part, I shall prefer the
first with all cheerfulness, and never desire to live to be a
witness to the latter, which certainly will be the case if it please
God our King should be defeat."

The next paragraph of this letter speaks mournfully of disappointment in
those on whose aid the Earl had counted.

"It must be a strange infatuation that has gott amongst people,
especially those that always pretended to be friends to our cause,
many of whom told before the King came that they wad certainly joyn
him when he landed, and made his not being with us the only
objection, and now when he is come they make some other shift;--I
must say such people are worse than our greatest enemies; and if any
misfortune should befal the King or his cause, (which God forbid!) I
think they that pretended to be our friends have very much to count
for, and are more the cause of it than any others, since no doubt
the ashourances that many gave to joyn us when the King landed was
a chief motive for his comming to us. I hope in God we shall be able
to opose them tho' their numbers should be greater, and to their
shame and confusion be it if they come against us. I hope very soon
the King will have such assistance as will defeat all their designs,
and that his affairs will take a sudden turn in other pairts."

The most serious defection from the Jacobite cause was the submission of
the Marquis of Huntley and the Earl of Seaforth to the victorious arms
of the Ear