Page:Life and prophecies of Mr. Alexr. Peden.pdf/32

 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.” He kissed his wife and bairns, and wished purchased and promised blessings to be multiplied upon them, and his blessing. Claverhouse ordered six soldiers to shoot, and the most part of the bullets came upon his head, which 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 these 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, & tied up his head & straighted his body, and covered him with her plaid and sat down and wept over him. It being a very place, where never victual grew. & far from neighbours it was some time before any friends came to her: the first that came, was a very fit hand, that old singular woman in the Cummerhead, named Elizabeth Menzies, three miles distant, who had been tried with the violent death of her husband at Pentland, afterwards of two worthy sons, Thomas Weir who was killed at Drumclog and David Steel who was suddenly shot afterwards when taken. The said Marion Weir, sitting on her husband’s grave, told me, that before that she could see no blood but she