396 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



to give security for their allegiance. But the time was 

 past for legislative intimidation. With few exceptions, 

 the summons to Edinburgh was ignored, and the insur- 

 rection was begun. Scarcely had the Jacobite chiefs 

 reached their homes, when they were again summoned 

 by Mar to meet him at Aboyne, on 3rd September, to 

 decide upon an immediate plan of campaign. 



The attitude of Seaforth, with his powerful following, 

 was of the utmost importance to the Jacobites. Without 

 his assistance, their chances of success were greatly 

 diminished ; upon his help appeared to rest, to no 

 inconsiderable extent, the issue of the impending struggle. 

 The young Earl seems to have been largely under the 

 influence of Brigadier Mackintosh of Borlum, a fervent 

 Jacobite ; and that influence was exerted with all the 

 persuasiveness that " old Borlum " possessed. But it is 

 unlikely that any outside pressure was really necessary 

 to induce Lord Seaforth to take up arms. A sincere 

 Jacobite, and an attainted rebel, he was forced both by 

 sympathy and self-interest into the arms of the Govern- 

 ment's foes. His young English wife Mary Kennett 

 of Coxhoe in the County of Durham and his mother 

 entreated him to keep out of the rising. A number of 

 his clansmen, too, were opposed to the enterprise, and 

 drew up a remonstrance urging caution, especially until 

 the active co-operation of Sir Donald Macdonald of Sleat, 

 of the Tutor of Macleod, and of Mackinnon, could be 

 assured. To the women his answer was, that they 

 possessed neither the spirit, courage, nor virtues of the 

 Spartan mothers ! Possibly not, but they possessed the 

 quality of prudence, in which the impetuous youth had 

 shown himself to be conspicuously lacking. Brigadier 

 Mackintosh opened the ball by marching into Inverness 

 on 1 5th September, and proclaiming the Chevalier at the 

 Market Cross. This bold step seems to have decided 

 Seaforth. He proceeded to give effect to his fine heroics, 

 and made preparations for assuming the offensive. He 

 drew up a list of officers to command his retainers, and 



