Battles involving England - Jacobite Risings

Pro-Jacobite songs    -     Anti-Jacobite songs

James II had been deposed by William of Orange. James II tried to regain his throne by invading Ireland, but failed. Both William and Mary, and the next monarch, Anne were Stuarts. When Anne died, with no surviving children, George I of Hanover, a Protestant. Roman Catholics were forbidden to be monarch by the Bill of Rights, signed when William of Orange became king. The descendants of James II (who were Catholic) felt that they had a better claim to the throne than George I.

Battle of Preston 1715 (location)

James Stuart, the son of James II, was called the Old Pretender. He had some support from Louis XIV, king of France. The First Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 was strongest in Scotland, especially the Highlands. However, they were defeated at the Battle of Preston in Lancashire.

Battle of Culloden 1746 (location)

Charles Edward Stuart was the son of James Stuart, and was known as the Young Pretender. He came to Scotland from France in 1745 to start the Jacobite rising of 1745. Many Scots joined him and he was at first successful. He invaded England, and got as far as Derby (location), but his followers would go no further, so he returned to Scotland. There his army was defeated at the battle of Culloden, near Inverness.

 Battle of Culloden - 'The Highland attack on the Grenadier Company of Barrell's King's Own Royal Regiment' by David Morier, 1746
Battle of Culloden - "The Highland attack on the Grenadier Company of Barrell's King's Own Royal Regiment" by David Morier, 1746


Pro-Jacobite songs

O Charlie is My Darling

lyrics by Carolina Oliphant, Baroness Nairne (1766-1845)

chorus
Charlie is my darlin',
My darlin, my darlin',
Charlie is my darlin',
The young Chevalier.

'T was on a Monday mornin
Right early in the year
When Charlie came to our town
The Young Chevalier.

As he cam' marchin' up the street
The pipes played loud and clear
And a' the folk cam' rinnin' out
To meet the Chevalier.

Wi' highland bonnets on their heads
And claymores bright and clear
They cam' to fight for Scotland's right
And for the Chevalier.

They've left their bonnie highland hills
Their wives and bairnies dear
To draw the sword for Scotland's lord
The young Chevalier.

Oh, there were mony beating hearts
And mony a hope and fear
And mony were the pray'rs put up
For the young Chevalier.

The Skye Boat Song

lyrics by Sir Harold Boulton, Bart. (1859-1935)

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 winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunderclouds rend the air;
Baffled, our foes stand by the shore,
Follow they will not dare.

Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep,
Ocean's a royal bed.
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head.

Many's the lad fought on that day,
Well the claymore could wield,
When the night came, silently lay
Dead in Culloden's field.

Burned are their homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men;
Yet e'er the sword cool in the sheath
Charlie will come again.



Anti-Jacobite songs

British National Anthem

Published in 1745. The last verse has never been part of the official version. The current version is altered to God save the Queen.

God save our gracious King,
Long live our noble King,
God save the King:
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the King.

O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter his enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all.

Thy choicest gifts in store,
On him be pleased to pour;
Long may he reign:
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the King.

Lord, grant that Marshal Wade,
May by thy mighty aid,
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush,
God save the King.

Rule Britannia!

Lyrics by Thomson and David Mallet in 1740, and first heard in London in 1745.

When Britain first, at Heaven's command
Arose from out the azure main;
This was the charter of the land,
And guardian angels sang this strain:

chorus
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."

The nations, not so blest as thee,
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall;
While thou shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.

Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
More dreadful, from each foreign stroke;
As the loud blast that tears the skies,
Serves but to root thy native oak.

Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame:
All their attempts to bend thee down,
Will but arouse thy generous flame;
But work their woe, and thy renown.

To thee belongs the rural reign;
Thy cities shall with commerce shine:
All thine shall be the subject main,
And every shore it circles thine.

The Muses, still with freedom found,
Shall to thy happy coast repair;
Blest Isle! With matchless beauty crown'd,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.

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