army set out from Haddington on the next stage of its advance.
Marching for the first few miles by the Edinburgh post-road,
it turned off northwards half-way between Haddington and Tranent
and joined the road running west from Longniddry to Preston.
In contrast to the post-road, which on approaching Tranent
climbed upwards along the shoulder of a ridge, this road passed
through open, level, country, and involved the making of a
considerable detour. In choosing this lower and more roundabout
route Cope, perhaps unwittingly, showed not a little foresight.
He was, as yet, uncertain of the enemy's movements, and although
the post-road possessed certain obvious advantages, the country
through which it ran in the neighbourhood of Tranent was intersected
by enclosures, hollow roads, and coal pits, 'where our Horse
could not act, and which we could not get pass'd before the
Rebels might come up to us ...'. As coming events were to
show, his choice was the correct one.
Having covered about eight miles the royal army halted near
the village of St. Germains, and Lord London, Lieut.-Colonel
White- foord, and Major Caulfeild, the Quartermaster-General,
rode for- ward to select a camp site near Pinkie. They were
accompanied by Lord Home, a Captain in the 3rd Dragoon Guards,
who was serving as a volunteer, and Lord Drummore, who, although
a middle-aged judge, was an enthusiastic camp-follower. If,
like many of Cope's officers, they believed that the Highland
army would not dare to face the royal troops, they were soon
to be disillusioned, for on approaching Musselburgh the Highlanders
came into view 'in full march towards them'.
Following upon the capture of Edinburgh, the Prince had spent
three busy days. A few hours after its surrender he had ridden
into the city from his camp at Slateford and, attended by
the Duke of Perth and Lord Eicho, had made his triumphal entry
into the ancient Palace of Holyroodhouse, surrounded by cheering
crowds of spectators. The Prince, 'smiling all the Time',
was much pleased by his reception, and long after the greater
part of the world had forgotten him and his Cause, he must
often have harked back in memory to the events of that exciting
day. An eye-witness wrote:
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'He was a tall slender young Man, about
five Feet ten Inches high, of a ruddy Complexion, high
nosed, large rolling brown Eyes, long visaged, red-haired,
but at that Time wore a pale Periwig. He was in Highland
Habit, had a blue Sash, wrought with Gold, that came
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