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times was vulgarly called the land of Hempe: and the joining the two nations, together ſignify the union. Thoſe thing was foretold by the two Scots prophets, in the reign of King Arthur, firſt by the marvelous Merling, who is ſaid to be got by a devil. who raviſhed a young woman, his mother, in a wood near Coldſtram, in the ſouth of Scotland afterwards to the ſame purpoſe, theſe and many more ſtrange things was foretold of by Thomas Lermon, vulgarly called Thomas Rymer, becauſe he ſpoke all his prophetical ſayings in rhyme, and ſo darkly that they could not be underſtood until they came to paſs.
This Thomas Lermon or Rymer, was born at Erſlingtown, now called Heſelingtown, on Tweed ſide, above Kelſo. He is reported by hiſtorians to be a quite ſober man, given to no vice, but prone to piety and devotion, a famous monthly prognoſticator, concerning the ſtate of the weather, and government of the world, by ſtudying the aſpects of the planets.
He being one day aſked by a nobleman what ſort of a day they ſhould have to-morrow? to which he anſwered, that to-morrow before high noon a blaſt ſhould blow, that Scotland ſhould not overcome the evil thereof for twenty years thereafter. The nobleman many more, being greatly amazed, and giving great attention, looking for the blaſt all next day, till towards evening he ſent for Thomas, to rebuke him for the falſhood of his prophecy, and juſt as he began to upbraid him be heard the found of a poſts horn, who came with the woful news, how the king had been hunting, and had broke his neck over a craig, the weſt ſide of the town of Kinghorn, from which accident the town derived its name. Now, ſays Thomas to the nobleman, the blaſt is blown; and for twenty years after there was no peace, but bloody wars in Scotland, on the account of who ſhould be king.
Now, as to the reſt of his prophețical ſayings, they are hard to be underſtood, becauſe they are pointed out by the coats of arms, which appertain to ſo many different kingdoms and perſons. Yet, we obſerve how be has pointed out plainly, many things which has come to paſs in our
