This Day in Jacobite History: Charles Edward Stuart Arrives in Edinburgh, Proclaims His Father Rightful King - 17 September 1745

Prince Charles Edward Stuart's Triumphant Entry into Edinburgh

When the King Enjoys His Own Again *

Let rogues and cheats prognosticate
Concerning king's or kingdom's fate
I think myself to be as wise
As he that gazeth on the skies
My sight goes beyond
The depth of a pond
Or rivers in the greatest rain
Whereby I can tell
That all will be well
When the King enjoys his own again
Yes, this I can tell
That all will be well
When the King enjoys his own again

There's neither Swallow, Dove, or Dade
Can soar more high or deeper wade
Nor show a reason from the stars
What causeth peace or civil wars
The man in the moon
May wear out his shoon
By running after Charles his wain
But all's to no end,
For the times will not mend
Till the King enjoys his own again
Yes, this I can tell
That all will be well
When the King enjoys his own again

Full forty years this royal crown
Hath been his father's and his own
And is there anyone but he
That in the same should sharer be?
For better may
The scepter sway
Than he that hath such right to reign?
Then let's hope for a peace,
For the wars will not cease
Till the king enjoys his own again
Yes, this I can tell
That all will be well
When the King enjoys his own again

Though for a time we see Whitehall
With cobwebs hanging on the wall
Instead of gold and silver brave
Which formerly was wont to have
With rich perfume
In every room,
Delightful to that princely train
Yet the old again shall be
When the time you see
That the King enjoys his own again
Yes, this I can tell
That all will be well
When the King enjoys his own again

Then fears avaunt, upon the hill
My hope shall cast her anchor still
Until I see some peaceful dove
Bring home the branch I dearly love
Then will I wait
Till the waters abate
Which now disturb my troubled brain
Then for ever rejoice,
When I've heard the voice
That the King enjoys his own again
Yes, this I can tell
That all will be well
When the King enjoys his own again

On this day 261 years ago - 17 September 1745, Prince Charles Edward Stuart, aka "Bonnie Prince Charlie", and the Jacobite army arrived in Edinburgh. The Bonnie Prince chose this occasion to declare his father, James Francis Edward Stuart, to be the rightful King of Scotland.

An estimated 60,000 people lined the Royal Mile to welcome the rightful heir to the Scottish throne into the city. Because he could not capture Edinburgh Castle, Bonnie Prince Charlie set up his Court in Holyrood Palace.

He stayed in Edinburgh until the end of October before moving south to invade England.

Holyrood House in 1745 - Residence of Prince Charles Edward Stuart

* Originally, a Cavalier ballad during the English Civil War, this tune was played by bagpipers for Bonnie Prince Charlie on the occasion of his triumphal entry into Edinburgh. You may recognize the tune by its other name, "The World Turned Upside Down", which tradition says the surrendering British troops played as they paraded by the victorious Continental and French Armies at Yorktown during the American Revolution.

Incidentally, Sarah walked down the aisle to this tune at our wedding.


Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
This Day in Jacobite History: Mary Queen of Scots Deposed - 24 July 1567

This Day in Jacobite History: The Battle of Killiecrankie - 27 July 1689

This Day in Jacobite History: Death of Queen Anne; George, Elector of Hanover, Becomes King - 1 August 1714

This Day in Jacobite History: Proscription Act Introduced, Banning Tartan and Carrying of Weapons - 1 August 1747

This Day in Jacobite History: Latin Mass Outlawed in Scotland - 11 August 1560

This Day in Jacobite History: Raising of the Jacobite Standard at Glenfinnan - 19 August 1745

This Day in Jacobite History: Marriage Ceremony of James Francis Edward Stuart and Princess Maria Clementina Sobieska - 1 September 1719

This Day in Jacobite History: Death of King James II and VII - 16 September 1701