Page:Life and prophecies of Mr. Alexander Peden (1).pdf/31

 ſaid to John, "Go to your prayers, for you ſhall immediately die." When he was praying, Claverhouse interrupted him three times: One time that he ſtopped him, he was pleading that the Lord would ſpare a remnant, and not make a full end in the day of his anger; Claverhouse ſaid, I gave you time to pray, and ye are begun to preach: He turned about upon his knees and ſaid, Sir, you know neither the nature of praying nor preaching, that calls this preaching! Then continued without confusion. When ended, Claverhouse ſaid, Take good-night of your Wife and children. His Wife ſtanding by, with her child in her arms, that ſhe had brought forth to him, and another child of his first wife's, he came to her and ſaid, Now, Marion, the day is come that I told you would come, when I ſpake first to you of marrying me. She ſaid, Indeed, John, I can willingly part with you. Then he ſaid, That is all I desire, I have no more to do but die." Then he kissed his Wife and bairns, and wished purchased and promised blessings to be multiplied upon them, and gave them his blessing. Claverhouse ordered ſix ſoldiers to ſhoot, and the most part of the bullets came upon his head, and ſcattered his brains upon the ground Claverhouse ſaid to his Wife, What thinkest thou of thy huſband now, Woman? She said, I thought ever much of him, and now as much as ever. He ſaid, It were juſtice to lay thee beſide him. She ſaid, If ye were permitted, I doubt not but your cruelty would go that length. But how will ye answer for this morning's work? He ſaid, To man I can be answerable, and for God, I will take him in my own hand! Claverhouse mounted his horse and marched, and left her with the dead corpse of her huſband lying there. She set the bairn on the ground, and gathered his brains, and tied up his head, and ſtraighted his body, and covered him with her plaid, and ſat down and wept over him. It being a very deſart place, where never victual grew, and far from neighbours, it was ſome time before any of their friends came to her: The first that came, was a very fit hand, that old ſingular woman in the Cummerhead,