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avourites by advocating the repeal of the Union。 He was again made Secretary of State for Scotland in 1713； but was unceremoniously dismissed from office by George I。； and he vowed revenge。 He afterwards found his way to Fife； and subsequently to the Braes of Mar。 On the 19th of August； 1715； he despatched letters to the principal Jacobites； among whom was Lord Seaforth； inviting them to attend a grand hunting match at Braemar on the 27th of the same month。 This was a ruse meant to cover his intention to raise the standard of rebellion and that the Jacobites were let into the secret is evident from the fact that as early as the 6th of August those of them in Edinburgh and its neighbourhood were aware of his intentions to come to Scotland。 Under pretence of attending this grand match； a considerable number of noblemen and gentlemen arrived at Aboyne at the appointed time。 Among them were the Marquis of Huntly； eldest son of the Duke of Gordon the Marquis of Tullibardine； eldest son of the Duke of Athole； the Earls of Nithsdale； Marischal； Traquair； Errol； Southesk； Carnwarth； Seaforth； and Linlithgow； the Viscounts Kilsyth； Kenmure； Kingston； and Stormont Lords Rollo； Duffus； Drummond； Strathallan； Ogilvie； and Nairne； and about twenty…six other gentlemen of influence in the Highlands； among whom were Generals Hamilton and Gordon； Glengarry； Campbell of Glendaruel； and the lairds of Aucterhouse and Auldbar。 ＇Rae； p 189； Annals of King George； pp。 15…16。＇ Mar delivered a stirring address； in which he expressed regret for his past conduct in favouring the Union； and； now that his eyes were opened； promising to do all in his power to retrieve the past and help to make his countrymen again a free people。 He produced a commission from James appointing him Lieutenant…General and Commander of all the Jacobite forces in Scotland； and at the same time informed the meeting that he was supplied with money； and that an arrangement had been made by which he would be able to pay regularly any forces that might be raised； so that no gentleman who with his followers should join his standard would be put to any expense； and that the country would be entirely relieved of the cost of conducting the war； after which the meeting unanimously resolved to take up arms for the purpose of establishing the Chevalier on the Scottish throne。 They then took the oath of fidelity to Mar as the representative of James VIII。 and to each other； and separated； each going home after promising to raise his vassals and to be in readiness to join the Earl whenever summoned to do so。 They had scarcely arrived at their respective destinations when they were called upon to meet him at Aboyne on the 3d of September following； where； with only sixty followers； Mar proclaimed the Chevalier at Castletown in Braemar； after which he proceeded to Kirkmichael； and on the 6th of September； raised his standard in presence of a force of 2000； mostly consisting of cavalry。
When in course of erection； the ball on the top of the flag…staff fell off。
This was regarded by the Highlanders as a bad omen； and it cast a gloom over the proceedings of the day。
Meanwhile Colonel Sir Hector Munro； who bad served as Captain in the Earl of Orkney's Regiment with reputation in the wars of Queen Anne； raised his followers； who； along with a body of Rosses； numbered about 600 men。 With these； in November； 1715； he encamped at Alness and on the 6th of October following he was joined by the Earl of Sutherland； accompanied by his son； Lord Strathnaver； and by Lord Reay； with an additional force of 600； in the interest of the Whig Government； and to cover their own districts and check the movements of the Western clans in effecting a junction with the Earl of Mar； whom Earl William and Sir Donald Macdonald had publicly espoused； as already stated； at the pretended hunting match in Braemar。 The meeting at Alness was instrumental in keeping Seaforth in the North。 If the Earl and his mother's clans had advanced a month earlier the Duke of Argyll would not have dared to advance against Mar's united forces； who might have pushed an army across the Forth sufficient to have paralyzed any exertion that might have been made to preserve a shadow of the Government。 It may be said that if Dundee had lived to hold the commission of Mar； such a junction would not have been necessary； which amounts to no more than saying that the life of Dundee would have been tantamount to a restoration of the Stuarts Mar was not trained in camp； nor did he possess the military genius of Dundee。 Had Montrose a moiety of his force things would have been otherwise。 Mar； trusting to Seaforth's reinforcement； was inactive； and Seaforth was for a time kept in by the collocation of Sutherland's levies； till he was joined by 700 Macdonalds and detachments from other clans； amounting； with his own followers； to 3000 men； with which he promptly attacked the Earl of Sutherland； who fled with his mixed army precipitately to Bonar…Bridge； where they dispersed。 A party of Grants on their way to join them； on being informed of Sutherland's retreat； thought it prudent to retrace their steps。 Seaforth； thus relieved； levied considerable fines on Munro's territories； which were fully retaliated for during his absence with the Jacobite army； to join which he now set out； and Sir John Mackenzie of Coul； whom he had ordered to occupy Inverness； was； after a gallant resistance； forced by Lord Lovat； at the head of a mixed body of Frasers and Grants； to retire with his garrison to Ross…shire。 〃Whether he followed his chief to Perth does not appear； but on Seaforth's arrival that Mar seems for the first time to have resolved on the passage of the Firtha movement which led to the Battle of Sheriffmuiris evident and conclusive as to the different features given to the whole campaign by the Whig camp at Alness； however creditable to the noble Earl and his mother's confederates。 But it is not our present province to enter on a military review of the conduct of either army preceding this consequential conflict； or to decide to which party the victory； claimed by both parties； properly belonged suffice it to say that above 3000 of Seaforth's men formed a considerable part of the second line； and seem from the general account on that subject to have done their duty。〃 ＇Bennetsfield MS。＇ A great many of Seaforth's followers were slain； among whom were four Highlanders who appear to have signally distinguished themselves。 They were John Mackenzie of Hilton； who commanded a company of the Mackenzies； John Mackenzie of Applecross； John Mac Rae of Conchra； and John Murchison of Achtertyre。
Their prowess on the field had been commemorated by one of their followers； John MacRae； who escaped and returned home； in an excellent Gaelie poem； known as 〃Latha Blar an t…Siorra；〃 the 〃 Day of Sheriffmuir。〃 The fate of these renowned warriors was keenly regretted by their Highland countrymen； and they are still remembered and distinguished amongst them as 〃Ceithear Ianan na h…Alba；〃 or The four Johns of Scotland。
During the preceding troubles Ellandonnan Castle got into th