He continues on September 19th:
“God be thanked! But had five thousand landed on any part of this island a week ago, I verily believe the entire conquest would not have cost them a battle.”
The King, however, was persuaded that the affair was of no importance, and promptly snubbed the Prince of Wales when he asked for a command. Even a regiment was denied him, while his younger brother was given a brigade straight away in Flanders two years before!
Frederick upon this stood apart as it were, with his arms folded, and contemplated the preparations cynically.
Matters stood in this wise until well on into September, when news arrived of the total defeat of Sir John Cope’s army at Preston Pans on September 20th.
What was more surprising than this, however, was the news of the Prince’s exceeding moderation and kindness to the vanquished.
He showed himself on this occasion of victory, as indeed he did at all times in the campaign, a kind-hearted and honourable gentleman, who could have taken his place among the knights in the days of chivalry.
Had Charles been able to pursue his victory, and to have made a forced march into England, he might soon have ended the matter, but most of his Highlanders disappeared for the time to put their share of the spoil of the battle in safe places in the mountains.
However, within six weeks he had an army of six thousand men again round his standard at Holyrood, and with these he presently set forth again towards England.
To his credit be it said that his army was an orderly one; all irregularities he repressed with a firm hand. True it might have happened sometimes that his Highlanders would stop some prosperous looking traveller on the road and level their firelocks at him, but when the trembling victim inquired what they wanted the answer generally was “a baubee,” i.e., a halfpenny.[68]