Waked at night by a heavy tread,
Soldiers were standing around his bed;
“You are the man for whom we are sent,
Of Delaware Rebels the President;
Come with us or we run you through;
Prisoner of war to the King are you!”

Scarcely clothed and upon a run
Down to the river at Wilmington,
Elbows tied and a gag in his throat,
John McKinly boarded a boat;
Tide and night zephyrs sped him away
To the captured port—Philadelphia.

“You are the type that aye do and dare,
Calvinist Irish of Delaware;
Take the oath to the King and go.”
John McKinly answered him: “No.”
“Be our guest till the King allow!”
Bowed politely General Howe.

So, a prisoner within bounds,
Worse than a soldier held by wounds,
John McKinly wearily led
A year all bordered by royalist red,
Pointed out from barrack and tent:
“Little Delaware's President,”

Till to New York they made him range,
Lacking a governor to exchange,
Where a lady, saddened and fair,
Bowed to the captive of Delaware;
“I am the wife of Franklin's son,
Jersey's governor; there is but one.”

“There are three that their mothers mock;
Both the Howe's are of leman stock!
Shall I exchange with a scion of shame,
Match his taint with my State and name?”
“Be as kind as the Lord above
Who forgave the Magdalen's love.

“Far in London my heart he won,
Loyal courtier and Franklin's son;
Not till he told me his father's rove
Did I pity the man and love
Losing his father, too, in the strife,
I am his holiest tie—his wife!

“From his palace they bore him far
Ere there was rupture or legal war;
O, Americans! why unkind?
I am the prisoner left behind;
Governor, hear a poor widow's cry,
Give back my husband, or ere I die!”

“I will repeat thy tender prayer
To the statesmen of Delaware;
They the Congress will ask to free
Governor Franklin in place of me.”
“Haste, oh, haste! for my grief is fate:
He may come when it is too late!”

Long were Franklin and wife estranged;
He and McKinly hands exchanged:
“Franklin, my friend,” said McKinly, low,
“Come to thy lady who loved thee so.”
“O, my God! Is it as I fear?”
Lady Franklin was on her bier.