Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

202 MINSTRELSY OF
But, in a metrical history of Merlin of Caledonia,
compiled by Geoffrey of Monmouth, from the tradi-
tions of the Welch bards, this mode of death is attri-
buted to a page, whom Merlin's sister, desirous to con-
vict the projjhet of falsehood, because he had betrayed
her intrigues, introduced to him, under three various
disguises, enquiring each time in what manner the per-
son should die. To the first demand Merlin answered,
the party should perish by a fall from a rock ; to the
second, that he should die by a tree ; and to the third,
that he should be drowned. The youth perished, while
hunting, in the mode imputed by Fordun to Merlin
himself.
Fordun, contrary to the Welch authorities, confounds
this person with the Merlin of Arthur ;
but concludes
by informing us, that many believed him to be a dif-
ferent person. The grave of Merlin is pointed out at
Drummelziar, in Tweeddale, beneath an aged thorn-
tree. On the east-side of the church-yard, the brook,
called Pausayl, falls into the Tweed ; and the following
prophecy is said to have been current concerning their
When Tweed and Pausayl join at Merlin's grave,
Scotland and England shall one monarch have.
On the day of the coronation of James VI. the Tweed
accordingly overflowed, and joined the Pausayl at the
prophet's grave.
—
Pennvcuick's History of Tn-ccchlak,