Prince Charlie was the grandson of King James II, who was removed from the throne of England because he was a selfish man and a bad ruler. The young Prince Charlie tried to win back the crown. He came from France to Scotland with only seven followers. But soon, a large number of Scots joined him, for he was so cheerful, handsome, and friendly that everyone who saw him loved him. They called him “Bonnie Prince Charlie.” But although the prince and his followers were very brave, they had no chance against the well-trained soldiers of King George of England. They won a few victories, but then they were thoroughly defeated. Thousands of brave Scots were killed, and the prince had to flee for his life.
After that, he hid for weeks among the heather and mountains, from the English soldiers who were trying to find him. He lived in small huts or in caves and often had nothing to eat but the wild berries from the forest. Once he stayed with a band of robbers for three weeks, who were very kind to him. And although the king offered a large sum of money to anyone who would betray him, none of his poor friends were false to him.
Finally, a young and beautiful Scottish lady named Flora MacDonald helped him escape. She gave him women’s clothes and pretended he was her servant, Betty Burke. Then she took him away from the place where the soldiers were searching, and after a while, he reached the sea and safely came to France.
Credits
Unknown writer is the attributed author of this short historical tale, which draws on one of Scotland's most enduring folk legends. The story of Bonnie Prince Charlie — and his daring disguise as "Betty Burke," arranged by the real-life Flora MacDonald — passed through oral tradition long before it was set down in writing. The account closely mirrors documented events following the Battle of Culloden in 1746, lending the tale a grounding in genuine history.
