reign of James V. Waldhave,' under whose name a set of prophecies was published, describes himself as lying upon Lomond Law; he hears a voice, which bids him stand to his defence; he looks around, and beholds a flock of hares and foxes' pursued over the mountain by a savage figure, to whom he can hardly give the name of man. At the sight of Waidhave, the apparition leaves the objects of his pursuit, and assaults him with a club. Waldhave defends himself with his sword, throws the savage to the earth, and refuses to let him arise till he swear, by the law and lead he lives upon, "to do him no harm." This done, he permits him to arise, and marvels at his strange appearance :— "He was formed like a freike [man] all his four quarters; He answers briefly to Waldhave's enquiry concerning his name and nature, that he "drees his weird," i. e. does penance in that wood; and, having hinted that questions as to his own state are offensive, he pours forth an obscure rhapsody concerning futurity, and concludes, "Go musing upon Merlin if thou wilt: For I mean no more, man, at this time." This is exactly similar to the meeting betwixt Merlin and Kentigern in Fordun. These prophecies of Merlin seem to have been in request in the minority of James V.; for, among the amusements with which Sir David Lindsay diverted that prince during his infancy, are, "The prophecies of Rymer, Bede, and Merlin." Sir DAVID LINDSAY'S Epistle to the King. And we find, in Waldhave, at least one allusion to the very ancient prophecy, addressed to the Countess of Dunbar ; "This is a true token that Thomas of tells When a ladde with a ladye shall go over the fields." I do not know whether the person here meant be Waldhave, an abbot of Melrose, who died in the odour of sanctity, about 4160. The strange occupation, in which Waldhave beholds Merlin engaged, derives some illustration from a curious passage in Geoffrey of Monmouth's life of Merlin, above quoted. The poem, after narrating that the prophet had fled to the forest in a state of distraction, proceeds to mention, that, looking upon the stars one clear evening, he discerned from his astrological knowledge, that his wife, Guendolen, had resolved, upon the next morning, to take another husband. As he had presaged to her that this would hap pen, and had promised her a nuptial gift (cautioning her, however, to keep the bridegroom out of his sight,) he now resolved to make good his word. Accordingly, he collected all the stags and lesser game in his neighbourhood; and, having seated himself upon a buck, drove the herd before him to the capital of Cumberland, where Guendolen resided. But her lover's curiosity leading him to inspect too nearly this extraordinary cavalcade, Merlin's rage was awakened, and he slew him with the stroke of an antler of the stag. The original runs thus : "Dixerat: et silvas et saltus circuit omnes, The original stands thus : "When laddes weddeth lovedies." Another prophecy of Merlin seems to have been current about the time of the regent Morton's execution. When that nobleman was committed to the charge of his accuser, Captain James Stewart, newly created Earl of Arran, to be conducted to his trial at Edinburgh, Spottiswoode says, that he asked, "Who was Earl of Arran?' and being answered that Captain James was the man, after a short pause, he said, And is it so? I know then what I may look for!' meaning, as was thought, that the old prophecy of the 'Falling of the heart' by the mouth of Arran,' should then be fulfilled. Whether this was his mind or not, it is not known; but some spared not, at the time when the Hamiltons were banished, in which business he was held too earnest, to say, that he stood in fear of that prediction, and went that course only to disappoint it. But if so it was, he did find himself now deluded; for he fell by the mouth of another Arran than he imagined."-SPOTTIS woode, p. 313. The fatal words alluded to seem to be these in the prophecy of Merlin : "In the mouthe of Arrane a selcouth shall fall, To return from these desultory remarks, into which I have been led by the celebrated name of Merlin, the style of all these prophecies, published by Hart, is very much the same. The measure is alliterative, and somewhat similar to that of Pierce Plowman's Visions; a circumstance which might entitle us to ascribe to some of them an earlier date than the reign of James V., did we not know that Sir Galloran of Galloway, and Gawaine and Gologras, two romances rendered almost unintelligible by the extremity of affected alliteration, are perhaps not prior to that period. Indeed, although we may allow, that, during much earlier times, prophecies, under the names of Et veniente die, compellens agmina præ se, For a persual of this curious poem, accurately copied from a MS. in the Cotton Library, nearly coeval with the author, I was indebted to my learned friend, the late Mr. Ritson. There is an excellent paraphrase of it in the curious and entertaining Specimens of Early English Romances, published by Mr. Ellis. 3 The heart was the cog nizance of Morton. those celebrated soothsayers, have been current in Scotland, yet those published by Hart have obviously been so often vamped and re-vamped, to serve the political purposes of different periods, that it may be shrewdly suspected, that, as in the case of Sir John Cutler's transmigrated stockings, very little of the original materials now remains. I cannot refrain from indulging my readers with the publisher's title to the last prophecy, as it contains certain curious information concerning the Queen of Sheba, who is identified with the Cumæan Sibyl:"Here followeth a prophecie, pronounced by a noble queene and matron, called Sybilla, Regina Austri, that came to Solomon. Through the which she compiled four bookes, at the instance of the said King Sol, and others divers : and the fourth book was directed to a noble king, called Baldwine, King of the broad isle of Britain; in the which she maketh mention of two noble princes and emperours, the which is called Leones. How these two shall subdue and overcome all earthlie princes to their diademe and crowne, and also be glorified and crowned in the heaven among saints. The first of these two is Constantinus Magnus; that was Leprosus, the son of Saint Helena, that found the croce. The second is the sixt king of the name of Steward of Scotland, the which is our most noble king." With such editors and commentators, what wonder that the text became unintelligible, even beyond the usual oracular obscurity of prediction? If there still remain, therefore, among these predictions, any verses having a claim to real antiquity, it seems now impossible to discover them from those which are comparatively modern. Nevertheless, as there are to be found, in these compositions, some uncommonly wild and masculine expressions, the Editor has been induced to throw a few passages together, into the sort of ballad to which this disquisition is prefixed. It would, indeed, have been no difficult matter for him, by a judicious selection, to have excited, in favour of Thomas of Ercildoune, a share of the admiration bestowed by sundry wise persons upon Mass Robert Fleming. For example : "But then the lilye shal be loused when they least think; Thereafter, on every side, sorrow shal arise; The barges of clear barons down shal be sunken; Occupying offices anointed as they were." Taking the lily for the emblem of France, can there be a more plain prophecy of the murder of her monarch, the destruction of her nobility, and the desolation of her hierarchy? times, the Editor, though the least of all the prophets, cannot help thinking, that every true Briton will approve of his application of the last prophecy quoted in the ballad. Hart's collection of prophecies was frequently reprinted during the last century, probably to favour the pretensions of the unfortunate family of Stuart. For the prophetic renown of Gildas and Bede, see Fordun, lib. 3. Before leaving the subject of Thomas's predictions, it may be noticed, that sundry rhymes, passing for his prophetic effusions, are still current among the vulgar. Thus, he is said to have prophesied of the very ancient family of Haig of Bemerside, "Betide, betide, whate'er betide, Haig shall be Haig of Bemerside." The grandfather of the present proprietor of Bemerside had twelve daughters, before his lady brought him a male heir. The common people trembled for the credit of their favourite soothsayer. The late Mr. Haig was at length born, and their belief in the prophecy confirmed beyond a shadow of doubt. Another memorable prophecy bore, that the Old Kirk at Kelso, constructed out of the ruins of the Abbey, should "fall when at the fullest." At a very crowded sermon, about thirty years ago, a piece of lime fell from the roof of the church. The alarm, for the fulfilment of the words of the seer, became universal; and happy were they, who were nearest the door of the predestined edifice. The church was in consequence deserted, and has never since had an opportunity of tumbling upon a full congregation. I hope, for the sake of a beautiful specimen of SaxoGothic architecture, that the accomplishment of this prophecy is far distant. Another prediction, ascribed to the Rhymer, seems to have been founded on that sort of insight into futurity, possessed by most men of a sound and combining judgment. It runs thus: "At Eldon Tree if you shall be, A brigg ower Tweed you there may see." The spot in question commands an extensive prospect of the course of the river; and it was easy to foresee, that when the country should become in the least degree improved, a bridge would be somewhere thrown over the stream. In fact, you now see no less than three bridges from that elevated situation. Corspatrick, (Comes Patrick,) Earl of March, but more commonly taking his title from his castle of Dunbar, acted a noted part during the wars of Edward I. in Scotland. As Thomas of Ercildoune is said to have delivered to him his famous prophecy of King Alexander's death, the Editor has chosen to introduce him into the following ballad. All the pro But, without looking farther into the signs of the phetic verses are selected from Hart's publication. [The Rev. R. Fleming, pastor of a Scotch congregation in London, published in 1704, "Discourses on the Rise and Fall of Papacy," in which he expressed his belief, founded on a text in the Apocalypse, that the French Monarchy would undergo some remarkable humiliation about 1794.-ED.] 2 [An exact reprint of Hart's volume, from the copy in the THOMAS THE RHYMER. PART SECOND. When seven years were come and gane, The sun blinked fair on pool and stream; And Thomas lay on Huntlie bank, Like one awaken'd from a dream. He heard the trampling of a steed, Come riding down by the Eildon-tree. He was a stalwart knight, and strong; Of giant make he 'pear'd to be : Says "Well met, well met, true Thomas! “A storm shall roar this very hour, 99 For the sun shines sweet on fauld and lea." He put his hand on the Earlie's head; He show'd him a rock beside the sea, Where a king lay stiff beneath his steed,' And steel-dight nobles wiped their ee. "The neist curse lights on Branxton hills: By Flodden's high and heathery side, Shall wave a banner red as blude, And chieftains throng wi' meikle pride. "A Scottish King shall come full keen, The ruddy lion beareth he; A feather'd arrow sharp, I ween, Shall make him wink and warre to see. "When he is bloody, and all to bledde, And woe and wonder ye sall see; Library at Abbotsford, is about to appear under the care of the learned antiquary, Mr. David Laing of Edinburgh.-ED. 1833.] King Alexander, killed by a fall from his horse, near Kinghorn. The uncertainty which long prevailed in Scotland, concerning the fate of James IV., is well known. "There shall the lion lose the gylte, And the libbards bear it clean away; At Pinkyn Cleuch there shalt be spilt Much gentil bluid that day.”— 66 Enough, enough, of curse and ban; Some blessings show thou now to me, Or, by the faith o' my bodie," Corspatrick said, "Ye shall rue the day ye e'er saw me!" "The first of blessings I shall thee show, Is by a burn, that's call'd of bread; 3 Where Saxon men shall tine the bow, And find their arrows lack the head. "Beside that brigg, out ower that burn, Where the water bickereth bright and sheen, Shall many a falling courser spurn, And knights shall die in battle keen. "Beside a headless cross of stone, The libbards there shall lose the gree; The raven shall come, the erne shall go, And drink the Saxon bluid sae free. The cross of stone they shall not know, So thick the corses there shall be.""But tell me now," said brave Dunbar, "True Thomas, tell now unto me, What man shall rule the isle Britain, Even from the north to the southern sea ? " "A French Queen shall bear the son, THOMAS THE RHYMER. PART THIRD.-MODERN. BY W. SCOTT. Thomas the Rhymer was renowned among his contemporaries, as the author of the celebrated romance of Sir Tristrem. Of this once-admired poem only one copy is now known to exist, which is in the Advocates' Library. The Editor, in 1804, published a small edition of this curious work; which, if it does not revive the reputation of the bard of Ercildoune, is at least the earliest specimen of Scottish poetry hitherto published. Some account of this romance has already been given to the world in Mr. ELLIS'S Specimens of Ancient Poetry, vol. i. p. 165, iii. p. 410; 3 One of Thomas's rhymes, preserved by tradition, runs thus : "The burn of breid Shall run fow reid." Bannock-burn is the brook here meant. The Scots give the name of bannock to a thick round cake of unleavened bread. THOMAS THE RHYMER. a work to which our predecessors and our posterity | priety among the class of Modern Ballads, had it not are alike obliged; the former, for the preservation been for its immediate connexion with the first and of the best-selected examples of their poetical taste; second parts of the same story. and the latter, for a history of the English language, which will only cease to be interesting with the existence of our mother-tongue, and all that genius and learning have recorded in it. It is sufficient here to ` mention, that so great was the reputation of the romance of Sir Tristrem, that few were thought capable of reciting it after the manner of the author -a circumstance alluded to by Robert de Brunne, the annalist : "I see in song, in sedgeyng tale, If men it said as made Thomas," etc. It appears, from a very curious MS. of the thirteenth century, penes Mr. Douce of London, containing a French metrical romance of Sir Tristrem, that the work of our Thomas the Rhymer was known, and referred to, by the minstrels of Normandy and Bretagne. Having arrived at a part of the romance where reciters were wont to differ in the mode of telling the story, the French bard expressly cites the authority of the poet of Ercildoune: "Plusurs de nos granter ne volent, Qu' ico ne put pas esteer," etc. The tale of Sir Tristrem, as narrated in the Edinburgh MS., is totally different from the voluminous romance in prose, originally compiled on the same subject by Rusticien de Puise, and analyzed by M. de Tressan; but agrees in every essential particular with the metrical performance just quoted, which is a work of much higher antiquity. The following attempt to commemorate the Rhymer's poetical fame, and the traditional account of his marvellous return to Fairy Land, being entirely modern, would have been placed with greater pro Ruberslaw and Dunyon, are two hills near Jedburgh. * An ancient tower near Ercildoune, belonging to a family of the name of Home. One of Thomas's prophecies is said to have run thus; "Vengeance! vengeance! when and where? On the house of Coldingknow, now and ever mair!" The spot is rendered classical by its having given name to the beautiful melody called the Broom o' the Cowdenknows. 3 Ensenzie-War-cry, or gathering word. PART THIRD. When seven years more were come and gone, Pitch'd palliouns took their room, 3 The feast was spread in Ercildoune, In Learmont's high and ancient hall : Nor lacked they, while they sat at dine, (In minstrel strife, in Fairy Land, The elfin harp he won.) Hush'd were the throng, both limb and tongue, And harpers for envy pale; And armed lords leaned on their swords, And hearken'd to the tale. In numbers high, the witching tale No after bard might e'er avail Those numbers to prolong. A parted wreck appears.7 He sung King Arthur's Table Round: How courteous Gawaine met the wound, 3 4 Torwoodlee and Caddenhead are places in Selkirkshire; both the property of Mr. Pringle of Torwoodlee. 5 Quaighs-Wooden cups, composed of staves hooped together. 6 See Introduction to this ballad. 7 [This stanza was quoted by the Edinburgh Reviewer, of 1804, as a noble contrast to the ordinary humility of the genuine ballad diction.-ED.] 8 See, in the Fabliaux of Monsieur le Grand, elegantly translated by the late Gregory Way, Esq., the tale of the Knight and the Sword. [Vol. ii. p. 5.] But chief, in gentle Tristrem's praise, The notes melodious swell; The knight of Lionelle.' For Marke, his cowardly uncle's right, A venom'd wound he bore; When fierce Morholde he slew in fight, No art the poison might withstand; Had probed the rankling wound. With gentle hand and soothing tongue And, while she o'er his sick-bed hung, O fatal was the gift, I ween! For, doom'd in evil tide, The maid must be rude Cornwall's queen, His cowardly uncle's bride. Their loves, their woes, the gifted bard, In fairy tissue wove; Where lords, and knights, and ladies bright, The Garde Joyeuse, amid the tale, In all its wonders spread. Brangwain was there, and Segramore, Through many a maze the winning song Till bent at length the listening throng His ancient wounds their scars expand, O where is Isolde's lilye hand, And where her soothing tongue? She comes! she comes!-like flash of flame She comes! she comes!—she only came She saw him die; her latest sigh There paus'd the harp: its lingering sound แ The silent guests still bent around, For still they seem'd to hear. Then woe broke forth in murmurs weak: On Leader's stream, and Learmont's tower, In camp, in castle, or in bower, Lord Douglas, in his lofty tent, Dream'd o'er the woeful tale; He starts, he wakes;-"What, Richard, ho! What venturous wight, at dead of night, Then forth they rush'd: by Leader's tide, 2 A hart and hind pace side by side, To Learmont's tower a message sped, ; First he woxe pale, and then woxe red; The elfin harp his neck around, In minstrel guise, he hung; Its dying accents rung. Then forth he went; yet turn'd him oft On the grey tower, in lustre soft, And Leader's waves, like silver sheen, In deepening mass, at distance seen, "Farewell, my father's ancient tower! "The scene of pleasure, pomp, or power, Thou never more shalt be. |