Despite the fact that he triumphed undaunted over all the mean inventions of their malice, his enemies persisted to the end. The executioner tied mockingly round his neck the book that had been published describing his victories; Montrose thanked him, saying that he wore it with more pride than he had ever worn the garter of honour. He uttered a short prayer; then asking them what more indignities they had prepared for him, he patiently and with unbroken spirit yielded his life to the hangman, at the too early age of thirty-eight. Whatever opinions we may have as to the rights and wrongs of the quarrel, this brutal killing of a gallant soldier and accomplished gentleman can only rank as a hideous blot upon all concerned in it. Every insult hurled at Montrose has returned in the verdict of time with redoubled force against the malice of those who stooped to such vindictiveness. The execution of a soldier who has violated no rule of war is at any time a thing that revolts the human conscience, and a sentence hoarse with the vile taunts of its utterers has so far lost all semblance of justice that it is needless to argue upon it. In the verdict of history, the great Marquis of Montrose, whether right or wrong in his political views, lived and died like a man of honour. The ballad of the "Gallant Grahams," written about this time, reflects very sincerely and touchingly the devotion and affection surrounding the great Marquis, accompanied by the very Scottish feeling that in addition to his own personal power and genius, he was also the head of the great Border family of Grahams. *THE GALLANT GRAHAMS* Now, fare thee well, sweet Ennerdale![#] Baith kith and countrie I bid adieu; For I maun away, and I may not stay, To some uncouth land which I never knew. [#] A corruption of Endrickdale. The principal and most ancient possessions of the Montrose family lie along the water of Endrick, in Dumbartonshire. To wear the blue I think it best, Of all the colours that I see; And I’ll wear it for the gallant Grahams, That are banished from their countrie. I have no gold, I have no land, I have no pearl nor precious stane; But I wald sell my silken snood, To see the gallant Grahams come hame. In Wallace days, when they began, Sir John the Graham[#] did bear the gree Through all the lands of Scotland wide: He was lord of the south countrie. [#] The faithful friend and adherent of the immortal Wallace slain at the battle of Falkirk. And so was seen full many a time; For the summer flowers did never spring, But every Graham, in armour bright, Would then appear before the king. They were all drest in armour sheen, Upon the pleasant banks of Tay; Before a king they might be seen, These gallant Grahams in their array.