When CES and the Scots were in Derby the nobility and wealthy merchants of London were on the point of fleeing with whatever they could carry, for there was no way they could see of defending themselves in the usual way and expected CES to arrive within a couple of weeks at the latest.

However - the promises made by CES of French support had come to nothing, and they were a long way from home. Perhaps without the promises and knowing they had to rely on their own resources they would have been more resolute? Perhaps if both the Prince's ships had made the journey from France, instead of one being chased away by an English ship and the money it contained was lost to the cause - perhaps, perhaps...

They were already rebelling against the Princes authority when a man arrived to inform them that a considerable number of soldiers were blocking their way to London, and more were marching to join them. At this the Prince's commanders decided to return to Scotland.

The man with information, however, was an English agent, and his news of an English army was a total fabrication.

British history unfolded entirely differently due to that incident - if - for instance, a French spy had traveled from London to meet CES and reported to the commanders that the road to the capital was open and undefended, the Stuart kings might have ruled here, though who knows for how long?