John de Graham

[Jock]

Sir John de Graham (died. 22 July 1298) was a Scottish soldier, born in the lands of Dundaff, in the late 13th century. He was a patriot, fighting alongside Sir William Wallace, considered his friend, and right-hand man



'Here lyes Sir John the Grame, baith wight and wise,
Ane of the chiefs who reschewit Scotland thrice.
Ane better knight not to the world was lent.
Nor was gude Grame of truth and hardiment.'

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LAMENT OF WALLACE AFTER
THE BATTLE OF FALKIRK

Thou dark-winding Carron, once pleasing to see,
To me thou canst never give pleasure again;
My brave Caledonians lie low on the lee,
And thy streams are deep ting'd with the blood of the slain.

Ah! Base-hearted treach'ry has doom'd our undoing,
My poor bleeding country, what more can I do?
E'en valour looks pale o'er the red field of ruin,
And freedom beholds her best warriors laid low.

Farewell ye dear partners of peril! Farewell!
Though buried ye lie in one wide bloody grave,
Your deeds shall enoble the place where ye fell,
And your names be enrolled with the sons of the brave.

But I, a poor outcast, in exile must wander,
Perhaps, like a traitor, ignobly must die!
On thy wrongs, O my country! Indignant I ponder;
Ah! woe to the hour when they Wallace must fly.

Robert Tannahill (1744 - 1810)