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Hello, my name's Jack Loudon.

And for BBC Radio 4 from Limelight, this is Pretender Prince,

the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745.

At the age of 24, he'll arrive in Britain almost alone and start the 1745 Jacobite rising,

leading some parts of Scotland to levels of ridiculous hope and then dreadful despair.

With a price on his head in today's value of £8 million, this would-be conquering hero

will march at the head of an army of Highland Klansmen,

once the most feared fighting force in Western Europe.

He doesn't speak their Gallic language, but he will lead them to capture British cities,

rout an army and cause panic in the streets of London.

The national anthem God Save the King will even be the streets of London. The national anthem, God Save the King,

will even be written because of him.

He's on route from France to Scotland

on board a French frigate called the Dutille,

when a British man of war bears down on her and her companionship Elizabeth,

which is carrying 700 men, volunteers, and is laden with guns, cannon and ammunition.

There's a ferocious sea battle which lasts for five hours.

It ends badly.

The Elizabeth, listing heavily and with severe loss of life, turns back for France.

Bonnie Prince Charlie is undeterred.

His ship will go on to Scotland.

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