Conflicting Plans
However, both Mar and Bolingbroke came up with sensible plans which would turn the spread of Jacobite support to good use.
Mar argued for a rising in Northumberland and Scotland. Having secured Holy Island or Alnmouth, a French army would land, and, with the help of the local Jacobites, Newcastle would be secured. Meanwhile, a Scottish Jacobite army would seize Edinburgh, where it would be joined by King James, before marching to Newcastle. From here, the combined Jacobite force would march into Lancashire and the Welsh Borders, gathering support for a push on London in 1716.
Bolingbroke's proposal was quite different. He favoured a quick march on London before the Government could properly prepare its defence. The Northumbrian and Scottish army would act as a feint, drawing the Government army away from London and then refusing to engage it in battle. Once the Hanoverian forces were committed, the King would land in the South-west, raise the local population, meet with the rebels from Wales, march to Oxford, a Jacobite stronghold, and then on into London.
Both of these plans were sound and held considerable hope of success, but unfortunately Mar and Bolingbroke could not agree on which strategy to pursue, and both the Northumbrian Jacobites and those in the South-west were given the impression that they would be supported by French troops and the senior Jacobite command. However, on 1 September the latter plan was agreed on and messengers took ship for Newcastle and for the Highlands, carrying orders that the Northumbrian Jacobites 'were to be ready to rise upon warning given'.