The Ballad of James Skene

His name was James Skene He came from Aberdeen Sent down to Edinburgh to die, The brother of the Laird Land and power shared Everything that Scotland could supply. But inward treasure captured mind and heart The noose won't drag him and God apart, So death where is your sting When the edict of the King Is naming God as a royal crime, And the Covenanter's tone Is God sits on the throne Welcome to the "Killing Times". The Privy Council told Skene to back down But He loved and served a different Man's crown, The sentence of the boss Was death at Market cross So that all the people then could see, The covenant they made Was a useless aid If they thought that it would set them free, He felt his life was not dear to him Here are the final words of James Skene "I lay down my life For owning Jesus Christ" He said as he looked up to the sky, On a cold December Day The wind and rope then played Swinging to the tune of Martyr's cry, Confirming what the world already knows The blood of Martyr's make the harvest grow.