Lack of French support meant substantive local backing failed to materialise, and the Scottish Jacobites dispersed without significant military action.

Under the 1697 Treaty of Ryswick, Louis XIV of France recognised William III as king of England and Scotland, instead of the exiled James II, who had been deposed by the 1688 Glorious Revolution.

[6] However, Hooke obtained a letter of support signed by Erroll, the Earl of Panmure and six others, promising 25,000 men and requesting 8,000 French troops, weapons, money, artillery, ammunition and "majors, lieutenants, and serjeants to discipline" the Scots army.

[7][b] John Ker, another Jacobite agent, also claimed backing from Scottish Presbyterian dissidents, arguing they "are persuaded (Union) will...render the Scots slaves to the English".

[7] As the Royal Navy patrolled exits from French ports along the English Channel, naval operations often took place during the winter months, when wind and tides made it harder to enforce a blockade.

However, it also increased risks from the weather; conditions off north-eastern Scotland were well known to French privateers and de Forbin's biggest concern was lack of a confirmed landing place.

[11] Rather than slow-moving transports, de Forbin insisted on using a larger number of small but fast privateers, with reduced crews and fewer guns to accommodate the troops.

[12] The British had been monitoring the preparations, and a squadron under Sir George Byng now arrived off the nearby port of Gravelines, preventing the French from departing.

Most of them made it back to Dunkirk although they were pursued by the British around the north of Scotland and west of Ireland, but they sustained severe damage to both ships and men.

[18] It occupied large elements of the British and Dutch navies for several months, with Byng ordered to remain in Scotland even after its defeat, and troops were diverted from Ireland and southern England.

[19] Despite its ultimate defeat, the expedition achieved France's short-term purpose but helped the pro-war Whigs win a majority in the May 1708 general election, the first held after Union.