Scene 5 : Edinburgh Cross
A crowd is anticipating the arrival of the Bonnie Prince. Two milkmaids, Jennie & Mary, are among them. Enter Annie, a third milkmaid.
Annie
Girls! The highland army has entered the city gates – their blue bonnets are bobbin up & down the Royal Mile like the waves on the windy Forth
Jenny
We should hide oorsells, I’ve heard tales of what that randy bunch of sex-starved maniacs get up to
Mary
I dinnae ken – I wouldn’t mind a bit of a highland fling, myself
Annie
Never mind the Highlanders, they’re but smelly bullocks the lot of em, but I’ve heard the Prince looks like an angel
Jenny
Good god, you’re right, here he comes now
Mary
He’s absolutely gorgeous
Jenny
Aye, look at his graceful mein & manly locks!
Annie
Hands off girls – I saw him first
Enter the Prince, Murray & Lochiel, with various other elements of the army
Murray
Welcome to Edinburgh, sir
Charlie
A most beautiful city – it reminds me somewhat of Firenze
Jenny
Oh my days – he sounds so sexy with that foreign accent
CHARLIE IS MY DARLIN’
Am Dm Am, Am F E am
E Am E Am, F C Dm Am E
Charlie he’s my darling,
my darling, my darling,
Charlie he’s my darling,
the young Chevalier.
Twas on a Monday mornin
Right early in the year
When Charlie came to our town
The Young Chevalier.
An’ Charlie he’s my darling,
my darling, my darling,
Charlie he’s my darling,
the young Chevalier.
As he cam’ marchin’ up the street
The city for to view
Right there he spied a bonnie lass
As she towards him drew
An’ Charlie he’s my darling,
my darling, my darling,
Charlie he’s my darling,
the young Chevalier.
Jenny sits on his knee
He set his Jenny on his knee,
All in his Highland dress;
For brawlie weel he ken’d the way
To please a bonny lass.
An’ Charlie he’s my darling,
my darling, my darling,
Charlie he’s my darling,
the young Chevalier.
Lochiel
You two girls, the Prince & his army will be needing milk, & lots of it – now get to work, & you will be suitably rewarded
Annie
But Jenny’s a milkmaid too, she should help
Charlie
Im afraid she will be attending to some personal business of mine
Murray
Now off with ya ya trollops, get to work
Mary & Annie
It’s upon yon heathery mountain,
And down yon scroggy glen,
We daur na gang a milking,
For Charlie and his men.
An’ Charlie he’s my darling, my darling, my darling,
Charlie he’s my darling, the young Chevalier.
Scene 6 – It is night, near Tranent
The Macleans are gather’d on the night before the Battle of Prestonpans
David
So son, are ye ready for yer first battle
Eric
Aye da – ah reckon so
David
Dinnae worry lad – Ive fought in five battles – & Ill be alive for five more
Angus
Stick with us & you’ll do no wrong Eric
Fergus
Dae ye have any advice Angus
Angus
All you need to do is shout like the devil & run like the wind
David
Then spill as much English blood as your god allows –
Angus
Aye, & dinnae let the sound of gunfire make your flesh cautious lads
Eric
What should I do when I’m face-to-face with a redcoat
David
Well boy – you look him straight in the eyeball… Then you kick him in the nuts & cut out his guts as he’s dropping – trust me, he wont be getting back up
Angus
Hey lads, have you seen my scars
Eric
Yes granda, aboot a thousand times
Angus
This one here’s the best – hand to hand combat with a seven foot English bastard – if he’d cut me just half an inch to the left he’d have had my heart oot
Fergus
What was your first battle like, Angus?
Angus
I remember it like it was yesterday – when I was barely a wee laddie I found myself marching with the redoubtable Dundee – doon at the pass of Killiecrankie – I fought under Lord George Murray on the very same field as Rob Roy McGregor & his mad rascals
Eric
I’m so excited for my first, I cannae wait
Angus
Ah, but grandson, war’s no pretty thing, I saw a lot of good lads die on those bloody slopes – let me sing you a song
THE BRAES OF KILLIEKRANKIE
An’ ye had been where I hae been
Ye wadna been sae cantie-o
An’ ye had seen what I hae seen
On the braes o’ Killiecrankie-o
I fought at land, I fought at sea
At hame I fought my auntie-o
But I met the Devil and Dundee
On the braes o’ Killiecrankie-o
The bauld pitcur fell in a furr
And Clavers gat a clankie-o
Or I had fed an Athol gled
On the braes o’ Killiecrankie-o
It’s nae shame, it’s nae shame
It’s nae shame to shank ye-o
There’s sour slaes on Athol braes
And the de’ils at Killiecrankie-o
An’ ye had been where I hae been
Ye wadna been sae cantie-o
An’ ye had seen what I hae seen
On the braes o’ Killiecrankie-o
Enter Maclean
Maclean
Boys, listen hear, you can save yer singing til after the battle – Lord Murray says we’ll be off at four in the morning – that’s two hours before dawn – apparently he’s found a track through the marshes so we’ll be coming right behind Jonnie Cope & his boys – they won’t stand a chance, that’s if you boys are up for it
David
You can count on us Duncan
Maclean
Good lads – I’ll see you all at four
David
You heard the chief, wed be better get some sleep boys, we’ll want tae have all us energy for the charge – good night to you all
All
Night
Fergus
Ah bollox! Has anyone got a spare blanket… Eric budge up pal – Let me share yours
Eric
Get off
Fergus
Go on…
Scene 7 – 21st September 1745, fields south of Prestonpans
The Bonnie Prince, Murray, Lochiel, Maclean & other chiefs are in counsel before the Battle of Prestonpans
Murray
Gorgeous morning yer highness, Prince of Wales
A wonderful manoeuvre come to pass
As the English sat at their stakes like snails
Yer army made its way thro the morass
Tracked thro the marshes, measuring their stealth
& now rest hard upon his other flank,
But not for long! the boys did toast yer health
& for this, Grace of God, did duly thank
Those men who eat dry crust & lie on straw
Shall fecht like kings, now watch them charge to war!
Charlie
Good work Lord Murray, now take up the right
A cannonball shall signal the attack
& now sir Jonathan your men must fight
Not slip away as at Corrieyairack
That cuckold marched two thirds of the kingdom
Not one chieftan has proffered him his sword
Let us announce the end of that empire
Ye gentlemen, ye warriors, now come
Join me in solemnity to our lord
‘Gloria Angele Dei!’ now men, fire!
After an exchange of artillery the Highland army embarks on its charge
Maclean
See how they gan! & what a gory sound
The highland roar, as if the Earth did quake
With furious groan, come see their cannons pound
Brave Camerons, line gis an awfa’ shake
But on they run! & wi’ a mighty crack
Oor muskets reap those eves o’ redcoat corn
& now they rush intae the killing ground,
By broadsword & scyth’d pitchfork limbs be torn
Carrying great slaughter to the English
To be in England, aye, their dying wish!
Lochiel
Sweet salutations sire, yer battles won
Peer thro the smoke & see those fleeing shapes
An entire English army on the run
Lord Percy shall see none of them escapes
The ghoul of Hanover must bare defeat
The field is littered with his bastard dead
Back to Berwick flies Jonnie Cope’s retreat
Wi’ not one of ‘is bayonets stain’d red
Tae praise this day there is nae better word
Tis Victory! God bless King James the Third
Charlie
Ours is the day, the field, the glory
Go spread its fame – fly north, south, east & west
Fly to Vienna, London & Paris,
Fly to Ferrol, Ostend, Dunkerque & Brest
& let us war! But ‘fore the march we sound
Carry the wounded to a better bed
At Holyrood let casks of wine be found
To toast our heroes & libate the dead
The motions of destiny are at hand,
Come tomorrow let us invade England
D’Eguiles
The Bonnie Prince has won the fray
Beside the fair Forth sands
The Highland army in his pay
Has never known a better day
Their fates are in his hands
Scene 8 : Tranent
The Macleans are gather’d after the battle
Angus
So Fergus, how did you find your first battle
Fergus
Aye, it was geat – I loved to see the English scattered like sheep
Angus
Aye, bottle-necked feartie-cats the lot of them
Eric
Here comes the chief
David & Duncan arrive with a barrel of Brandy & a bag of cups
David
Lads, the Prince has order’d casks of brandy to be opened to drink the king, his father’s health – each clan gets twa
Angus
Great stuff, I love a drop of the old French nectar
David
{Handing out the glasses}
Here you go lads
Duncan
To the King over the water
All
The King over the water
David
So lads, the chief’s got a few words to say
Duncan
Aye I do – a magnificent effort today lads, but its only the beginning – one battle does not make a war – grand estate or humble cottage, we clansmen of the north, we poet-patriots, have sworn to help the Prince in this enterprise wherever it may go – we will be inexcusable before god & man if we do not do all in their power to assist & support our undertaking, even into England if the Prince wills it – so ,enjoy tonight, you deserve it, & I’m sure there’ll many more nights like these as we march with Charlie
David
Well said, Duncan
Everybody
Aye
Angus
Let us shake hands with ruin & stare death in the eye, for the esteemed cause of King & Country
Fergus
Has somebody got a fiddle, lets get this party started!
HEY JOHNNIE COPE
The drums of war were sounding far,
When Johnnie Cope cam tae Dunbar,
When Johnnie Cope cam tae Dunbar,
Upon a misty Morning
Cope Sent a a Message tae Dunbar
Said; ‘Charlie meet me if you daur,
‘And I’ll learn you the arts of war,
‘If you’ll meet me in the morning’
Chorus:
Hey Johnnie Cope are you wauking yet,
Or are your drums a- beating yet?
If you were wauking I would wait,
Tae gang tae The Coals in the morning
When Charlie looked this letter upon,
He drew his sword the scabbard from,
Come follow me my merry men,
And we’ll meet Johnnie Cope in the morning.
When Johnnie Cope he heard o’ this,
He thought it wouldna be amiss,
To hae a horse in readiness,
To flee awa’ inthe morning.
Fye now Johnnie, get up and run,
The Highland bagpipes mak a din,
It’s better tae sleep in a hale skin.
For ’twill be a bloody morning.
When Johnnie Cope tae Dunbar came,
They spiered at him, ‘where’s a’ your men?’
‘The Deil confound me gin I ken,
For I left them a this morning.’
Now Jonnie troth, ye were na blate,
Tae come wi’ news o’ your ain defeat,
And leave your men in sic a straight
So early in the morning.
‘Faith’, quo Johnnie, ‘I had sic fegs,
Wi’ their claymores and their philabegs,
If I face them again Deil brak ma legs,
So I wish you a’ good morning.’
The Conchordia Folio 
