Gale-force winds buffeted the small boat and a freezing mist enveloped it as 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' dressed as a woman servant 'Betty Burke' attempted to escape 'Butcher' Cumberland's soldiers who were searching for the brave and handsome prince. Courageous twenty-four year old Flora MacDonald described as being 'of a fair complexion and well-enough shaped' had only reluctantly agreed to help the Prince who had to convince her of the sense of the plan with every bit of his justifiably famous charm. During the traumatic journey across the wild seas the Prince tried to take care of his young guardian. Flora later described how: 'Happening to wake with some little bustle in the boat she found the Prince leaning over her with his hands spread about her head. She asked what was the matter? The Prince told her 'That one of the rowers being obliged to do somewhat about the sail behoved to step over her body...;and lest he should have done her hurt either by stumbling or trampling upon her in the dark&...;he had been doing his best to preserve his guardian from harm.'1. As well as singing 'pretty songs' to her he also saved her the half-bottle of wine he had left 'lest she should faint with the cold and other inconveniences of a night passage'.2.
They almost didn't make it. Blown off-course in the night they almost landed at MacLeod country in the north-west of Skye and had to escape from the militia who fired on them. Finally landing at Macdonald country in Monkstat the Prince had successfully made his legendary escape to Skye and was able to live in exile in France. However this was the last attempt of a Stewart, a member of that great Scottish dynasty, to recapture the throne. Since the ascent of George 1 to the throne Britain has had a monarchy of German descent.
When Jacobitism first began the Stewarts had been kings and queens of Scotland, their 'ancient kingdom' since 1371. Mary, Queen of Scot's son James VI and 1 of England became king of the two countries in 1603. Upon the death of Charles 11 his brother James 11 succeeded to the throne. James was sympathetic to the Catholics and indeed to Non-conformists. He admitted Catholics into the army and the universities and suspended the penal laws against them. There was great fear in the fiercely Church of England country that Catholics would be restored to power and property especially when the young prince was born in 1687.
