The Girl Who Saved a Prince: Part 2

Flora MacDonald's Farewell by George William Joy 

          In the first portion of Flora’s story, it seems as though she and her companions were astonishingly lucky. But there was a catch to their success. Shortly after Flora returned home, the King’s men (King George II, England’s current sovereign) caught up with her. In truth, they weren’t far behind the entire time and someone had given her away. Flora was arrested and placed inside a prison ship, the HMS Furnace.  The prison ships were a common fate for the many Jacobites who were discovered after the rising. In fact, many of them were sailed to the American colonies where they were sold into indentured servitude (which seems to be a step above slavery but was usually just as bad. More on this in a later post, if anyone is interested).

The Tower of London

Prince Frederick

            But Flora’s crime was too extreme for the punishment of indentured servitude. While living in horrid conditions below deck with very little food, she was taken straight to the Tower of London where she would be imprisoned for the next year. During this year she would be tried for treason, the punishment for which, was death. Now you would think that this was the low point of Flora’s life. Perhaps it was for a time, but there was some serious silver lining here! London’s nobility became enraptured with her. Women simply didn’t do these kinds of things back then and her crime was seen as a tale of romantic heroism. At one point, Prince Frederick, the heir to the English throne, visited her in the tower! In fact, he admired her so much that he played a large part in convincing his father to give her amnesty. This girl had a way with Princes!

            Flora’s release was the talk of the town. A wealthy and respected courtier named Lady Primrose took Flora under her wing and introduced her to court (Primrose was secretly Jacobite). Flora’s new place of residence was a fancy London home. She was immensely popular; much London’s nobility turned up to meet her and they showered her with gifts. In addition, Jacobite supporters began raising money for her journey home and ended up raising much more than needed. Flora was now rich!

King Charles II

            But it just keeps getting better! King George II wanted in on the fun and asked that Flora be presented to him. At this meeting, he famously asked her (in a tone that I assume was playfully sarcastic), how she could dare to defy the crown by assisting his enemy. Flora replied: “It was no more than I would have done for your Majesty, had you been in a like situation.” It is said that her selfless attitude and perfect answer to such a nerve-wracking question further delighted the king and his court.

            I imagine that Flora was having the time of her life at this point, but that she was eager to return home. After her meeting with the king, she made her way back to Scotland, escorted by a fellow Jacobite prisoner who had been in the tower with her (who had also been granted amnesty).

            After returning home, Flora got her Happily Ever After. Remember Kingsburg, where Flora and Prince Charlie spent the night before he departed from the Isle of Skye? Well the Laird of Kingsburg had a son and he and Flora were married! So then she got to be a lady.

            If this were a Disney movie it would end here. But Flora’s adventures were far from over! I’m going to do my best to summarize now, because in order to do Flora’s life justice, I would have to write an entire book. Flora and her husband lived happily in their castle for many years and had a bunch of kids. But then they lost all their money. My sources don’t tell me how this happened. But now that they were financially ruined, the family decided to start again in the American colonies.

            This only furthered the family’s misfortunes. By the time they had established a plantation in North Carolina, the American Revolution had erupted. The Carolinas were full of Highlanders who were loyalists and Flora’s family fought alongside them. That obviously didn’t work out. By the end of the war, their plantation was ravaged and burned to the ground, and Flora’s husband was imprisoned in Nova Scotia. In addition, two of their sons had been killed in battle.

            Flora traveled all the way to her husband’s prison camp and when he was released they sailed back to Scotland. But on the way home, a French war ship attacked them! (The French were pretty much always at war with the British) It is said that the sailors on Flora’s ship were fighting the French in hand-to-hand combat. Apparently, at one point, it seemed that her compatriots were giving up. So Flora rushed on deck to rally them with shouted words of encouragement. In the tumult, Flora was attacked and her arm was broken. But she was a hero once again, as her bravery did indeed encourage the men, who successfully fought off their attackers!

            Thankfully, after this event, Flora and her family spent their rest of their lives in peace. So this is the real Happily Ever After. One of her sons had made a fortune as a trader in the East Indies, and he provided for his parents for the rest of their lives. Flora lived comfortably until her death in 1790. She was given a hero’s funeral, which was attended by 3,000 people!! Her grave is marked by a tall Celtic cross, and is located on the Isle of Skye. 

Kilmuir Burial Ground, where Flora was buried

Flora's grave

Flora MacDonald, Preserver of Prince Charles Stuart. Her name will be mentioned in history and if courage and fidelity be virtues mentioned with honor.

            Furthermore, her life has been commemorated in a song, The Skye Boat Song. This song was chosen as the theme song to a new TV series called Outlander (Though Outlander uses different lyrics) and it’s really beautiful! This series take place in the highlands just before the Battle of Culloden,  so if you want to get a feel for Flora’s world, I highly recommend it.

The Skye Boat Song

Speed bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing
Onward the sailors cry
Carry the lad that was born to be king
Over the sea to Skye

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

Many's the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore did wield
When the night came, silently lain
Dead on Culloden field

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

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

Thanks for reading!

Sources:

The Skye Guide:

http://www.theskyeguide.com/see-and-do-mainmenu-35/42-interesting-places/146-flora-macdonalds-memorial-kilmuir

The Women of the American Revolution by Elizabeth F. Ellet

Celtic Clothing:

http://www.celticclothing.com/mm5/irish-american/cc07-04-flora-macdonald.php

The American Revolution: A Concise History by Robert Allinson

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