Three Celtic earldoms

34 THREE CELTIC EARLDOMS
having been a man of singular worth and probity ;
when civil war broke out he attached himself to his
majesty's interest. He raised 2000 men for the king's
service, and declared he would oppose every measure
which was contrary to the honour and dignity of the
crown.
His Conservative opinions led him to join in the
famous bond by Montrose, called the Cumbernauld
Bond, dated August 1640. During the troubles of
1640 he was apprehended by order of Argyll at the
ford of the Lyon, together with Sir William Stewart
of Grandtully and twelve of the Atholl men. Atholl
was imprisoned for a short time in Stirling Castle.
On 2nd March 1641 he received a summons from
the committee of Estates to explain his reasons for
subscribing the bond, was requested to proceed to
Edinburgh for the purpose, and not neglect the
notice, " lest the same might produce further
jealousy, while his appearance might clear him and
remove any scruples which others might entertain
against him." What the end of this was is not
recorded.
It was to his kinsman and brother-in-law, the Earl
of Tullibardine, that the following letter was written —
an appeal for help against Cromwell, who had taken
prisoners the Earl of Leven and other noblemen.
" The Earl of Loudon to the Earl of Tullibardine,
from Comrie, 30th August, 165 1.
"In name of the Estates you are to attend a
meeting at the Kirk of Killin on 5th September to
resolve what is fit to be done for the safety of the
Kingdom against those who had invaded it, and had
taken a number of noble lords and other members of
Committee ; also for the service of the King who
was hazarding his life in the same cause, and for the