Page:Explication of, the prophecies of Thomas Rymer.pdf/6

 and ſo darkly that they could not be underſtood until they came to paſs.

This Thomas Lermont or Rymer was born at Erſlington, now called Heſelingtown on Tweedſide, above Kelſo. He is reported by hiſtorians to be a quiet ſober man given to no manner of 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 the morrow before high noon, blaſt ſhould blaw, that Scotland ſhould not overcome the evil thereof for twenty years thereafter. The nobleman and many more being greatly amazed,and giving great attention, looking for the blaſt all the 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, he heard the ſound of a poſt's horn, who came with the woeful 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 blawn, 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 prophetical ſayings, they are hard to be underſtood, becauſe they are pointed out by the coats of Arms, which apertain to ſo many different kingdoms, and perſons. Yet we obſerve how he has pointed out plainly,