Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

THE SCOTTISH BORDER. 209
" Thereafter, on every side, sorrow shal arise ;
" The barges of clear barons down shal be sunken ;
" Seculars shall sit in spiritual seats,
" Occupynig offices anointed as they were.
Taking the lilye 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 ?
But, without looking farther into the signs of thetimes,
the editor, though the least of all the prophets, cannot
lielp 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 reprint-
ed during the last century, probably to favour the pre-
tensions 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, ai-e 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 Bemer-
side had twelve daughters, before his lady brought him
a male heir. The common people trembled for the cre-
dit of their favourite soothsayer. The late Mr Haig w.ns
VOL. III.
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