n
to insult him I rebuked them sharply and told them to their
face that among them there was no spirit so clean and brave.
This morning he was executed and since there was a fear lest
the people who have greatly loved him should attempt to rescue, I
was present with two troops of horse. It needeth not me to tell
you that he died well, bidding farewell to earth and welcome to
heaven in words I cannot forget, tho' they sounded strange to me.
Sweetheart, I will say something boldly in thine ear. I have had
little time to think of heaven and little desire for such a
place, but I would count myself fortunate if in the hour of death
I were as sure of winning there as Henry Pollock. So he died
for his side, and I helped him to his death; some day I may die
for my side, and his friends will help me to my death. It is a
dark day and a troubled nation. Henry Pollock and John Graham
have both been thorough. God is our judge, wha kens but He may
accept us baith? But I cannot deny he was a saint, as ye once
said of him, and that I shall never be, neither shall you, Jean
Graham, my love and my heart's delight

This is sore writing to me, but I would rather ye had it from my
hand than from another's, and I fear me ye will hear bitter words
in Dundee of what has been done. This is the cup we have to drink
and worse things may yet be coming, for I have the misgiving that
black danger is at hand and that the king will have to fight for
his crown. Before long, if I be not a false prophet, my old
general, the Prince of Orange, will do his part to wrest the
throne from his own wife's father. If he does the crown will not
be taken without one man seeing that other crowns be broken, but I
fear me, Jean, I fear greatly. In Scotland the king's chief
servants be mostly liars and cowards, seeking every man after his
own interest, with the heart of Judas Iscariot, and in London I
doubt if they be much better. These be dreary news, and I wish to
heaven I had better to send thee. This I can ever give, unless ye
answer me that it is yours before, the love of my inmost heart
till I am able to give you it in the kiss of my lips, with your
arms again flung about me, as on that day. Till our meeting and
for evermore, my dearest lady and only Sweetheart first and last,
I am your faithful lover and servant,

JOHN GRAHAM.

So