A dear nun friend of mine in a cloistered monastery in the west asked me years ago to write a novel about Prince Charles Edward Stuart, "Bonnie Prince Charlie." I plan to do so and already have begun to research it. (I just have to finish my Irish novel first.) He was a romantic, heroic and very tragic figure. His family were the Catholic branch of the Stuart family and they lived in exile from England because of the Protestant cousins who had seized the throne. Many people in England, Scotland and Ireland believed that Prince Charles Edward and his father King James III had the legitimate claim to the crown. Those who followed the Stuarts were called "Jacobites," and they were mostly Catholic.In 1715 and 1745 there were attempts of the Stuart princes and their adherents to regain the British throne, but each effort failed miserably. My ancestors fought along with the Jacobites so, if I had lived back then, I would have probably been a Jacobite, too. They fought for a cause they believed in and were willing to risk everything for the sake of justice.
Here is an article about the Bonnie Prince.
And here are the lyrics to the "Skye Boat Song." It is a lullaby in our family.
The Skye Boat Song
(Chorus)
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing
Onward the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Loud the wind howls, loud the waves roar,
Thunderclaps rend the air
Baffled our foes, stand by the shore
Follow they will not dare
- Chorus
Many's the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore did wield
When the night came, silently lain
Dead on Culloden field
- Chorus
Though the waves heave, soft will ye sleep
Ocean's a royal bed
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head
- Chorus
Burned are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men
Yet e'er the sword cool in the sheath
Charlie will come again.
- Chorus
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12 comments:
Elena. Please. Now you are REALLY labelling yourself a "rad-trad."
Oh, wordsmith. I don't care.
Charles is a flawed hero and makes a great character for a novel. Sometimes I think it would have been better if he had died at Culloden in 1746. He had many affairs and became an alcoholic. He married later in life to a young princess, Louise of Stolberg. He beat her and she ran away with an Italian poet. Later, he renounced his Catholicism in order to gain support, but by that time no one cared anymore. It was through his illegitimate daughter Charlotte Duchess of Albany that he was reconciled to the Catholic faith in Rome before he died. He is buried at Saint Peter's Basilica. It is the custom to leave a white rose at his tomb.
To Anonymous who just wrote in:
I rarely publish anonymous comments. Before you begin criticizing and passing judgment on Prince Charles Edward Stuart, have the courage to give your name, please. Or website/blog.
Cowards are not welcome here.
Thanks for mentioning his faults, and how he beat his wife. But that was later I guess, after he became an alcoholic. He did find redemption, though. Deo Gratias.
We seem to have similar thoughts about his legend, at least, possibly being better off if he had died at Culloden.
You should follow it up with one about his brother. I'd say he'd have made the best king of the lot.
Yes, Jeffrey, his brother would have made a good king. I will do an article about him, too.
The late English novelist Eleanor Hibbert wrote a novel (under her famous pseudonym Jean Plaidy) about Bonnie Prince Charlie as part of her Stuart saga.
Thanks, Elisa! I would love to read that one!
Hi, Elena! Great post! What kept him from succeeding?
Melanie, do you mean his succession to the throne? Well, because his Hanoverian cousin was ensconced there. If you mean, why did his attempt to regain the throne fail, he did almost succeed. He was about a two days march from London. However, his army was outnumbered, and he did not get as much supporters in England as he had expected or been promised. Also, there were some disgreements among his captains. Later, the final defeat at Culloden occurred because his army was exhausted and hungry. They still fought bravely, but many highlanders died that day, and the clan system was pretty much destroyed.
Hi Elena
You could have a look at wwww.pookuspublications.co.uk if you are a Bonnie Prince Charlie fan. Hope you enjoy what you read
Steve Lord
Thank you very much, Mr Lord! I must read your book! It looks excellent. Thanks for the recommendation.
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