The Killing Times-Female Scottish Martyrs
On the 11th May 1685 in the west of Scotland in a small coastal village called wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway the covenanters were sought to swear allegiance and acknowledge King James as head of the church those who refused were executed .
This is a poem based on one young lady called Margaret Wilson aged 18 and a widow lady Margaret Maclauchlan aged 63 who were both found guilty and sentenced to death by drowning.
Despite being reprieved the reprieve was ignored and this is what happened
This period in Scotland was known as The Killing Times and a monument was erected where the two died .
The 18 year old Margaret continued singing and praying until the very end.
They are known as The Martyrs of the Solway
Should I swear an oath
That is not mine to swear
And join the swines while
They eat from others troughs,
Should I bow and beg a life
Not mine to own,
Should I recant my beliefs
For yours and with it
My God disown?
Should I cower like some
Feeble-minded oaf
In a thiefs hole where no breed
Of life is treated worse,
Or on my hands and knees
Plead to ignorance for mercy
To betray my heart and faith ?
Should I sleep in silence all my days
Or should I fight and die beside the brave
Should I betray my love of God
And live naked in a grave.
For like all men my flesh will die
But my faith will live forevermore
On the mudflats of the solway firth
In Dumfries and Galloway.
So shackle my faith in your chains of sin,
And plant me like a redwood tree
And deflower me of what remains
Where only in death will I be free ?
Should I fear the rising solway tide
Where another soul stands alone,
Should I watch last breath go under,
As a king usurps Gods throne.
Should I close my ears to mens gloats
As a blind hand reaches to force her down,
A loving mother's soul with arms outstretched,
And a cowards sword to slit her throat ?
Should I fear the knowing minutes slide
As salt water inch by inch and link by link
Drowns all but faith, of who I am
A devout covenanter who never tired.
Should all man be measured by our pain
In the killing times of king James
When eighteen thousand souls were slain?
Should I trust the heart that feeds my soul
Should I beg for mercy and allegiance swear
Should I listen to the screams from onshore
A broken Father, a broken Mother, a broken silence ?
Recant, recant, recant, recant, recant, recant,
All manner of Scottish love did roar
For there are those who wish I lived
And there are those who wish me dead
But I say to one and all of you I can't, I won't, I shan't.
Would you ?
Copyright ©
Daniel Caplin
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