On 24th November 1715, John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, wrote a letter to James Stuart, the Old Pretender, and son of James VII. He was camped at Perth following the Battle of Sheriffmuir.

He had received news James was at sea and thought he would write to him before he landed to let him know the situation.

Erskine had heard accounts of fellow Jacobite supporters being captured at Preston in the north of England so thought it prudent to explain what happened at Sheriffmuir. ‘Our left behaved scandalously and ran away,’ he wrote, ‘but our right routed out enemies left and most of their body.’

He went on that their right pursued ‘our left’ but he decided not to push the advantage. They ‘kept the field of battle, and the enemies retired to Dunblane.’ The army stayed at the site overnight, but they had no provisions so the following night marched back two miles until they could ‘get any quarters.’

By morning the army had been reduced ‘to a small number’ which was more to do with the Highlanders heading home than any losses. Erskine headed to Auchterarder initially, then Perth, where he continued to try and ‘get an army together again.’

He hoped that ‘considerable numbers may come in a little time; but now that our friends in England are defeated there will be the troops sent down from thence to reinforce the Duke of Argyle.’ He went on that it would be difficult to make a stand anywhere except in the Highlands ‘where we will not be able to subsist.’

Erskine told Stuart that he had ‘endeavoured to send boats out about those places’ where he judged to be the most likely landing sites.

The Earl wrote two copies of his letter, with one being sent to the west coast to in case that was where James landed.

He stated that ‘by the strength you have with you your Majesty will be able to judge if you will be in a condition when joined with us to make a stand against the enemy...Unless your Majesty have troops with you, which I’m afraid you have not, I see not how we can oppose them, even for this winter, when they have got the Dutch troops to England, and will power in more troops from thence upon us every way.’

Erskine knew his presence would fire up his loyal supporters but had doubts about an army fighting against trained Dutch troops.

Erskine ended the letter with his unwavering loyalty to the man he believed should be king.