about three o'clock in the afternoon
His right was covered by a park wall and by the village of Preston . On his left stood Seaton House , and in his rear lay the sea , with the villages of Prestonpans and Cockenzie . Their front was covered by a deep and difficult morass . It was now about three o'clock in the afternoon , and the Highlanders , seeing that the English did not advance against them , clamoured to be led to the attack . Prince Charles was himself eager to fight , but his generals persuaded him to abstain from attacking the English in such a formidable position . The Highlanders , however , fearing that the English would again avoid a battle , were not satisfied until Lord Nairn with five hundred men was detached to the westward to prevent the English from marching off towards Edinburgh . During the night the two armies lay upon the ground .