Prophecies of Thomas the Rhymer, the ancient Scotch prophet (1)/Chapter 3
THOMAS THE RHYMER'S
PROPHECIES,
IN VERSE.
1. SCOTLAND be sad now and lament,
For honours thou hast lost,
But yet rejoice, in better times.
Which will pay the cost.
2. Tho' unto thraldom you should be,
Brought by your enemies;
You shall have freedom from them all,
And enjoy your liberties.
3. The grave of the most noble prince,
To all is great regret,
The subject to law, who both leave,
The kingdom and estate.
4. O anguish great! where every kind,
And ages doth lament;
Whom bitter death has ta'en away,
Shall Scotland sore repent.
5. Lately a lamb of rich increase,
A nation stout and true,
Has lost their former dear estate,
Which they did hold of due.
6. By hard conflict, and by the chance,
Of noble fortune’s force,
Thy hap and thy prosperity,
May turn into worse.
7. Tho’ wont to won, may be subdued,
And come in under yoke ;
Strangers may reign, and you destroy,
What likes him by sword’s stroke.
8. A foreign foe whom neither thy force
Nor manners do approve,
Woe is to thee, by guile and slight,
Will only win above.
9. This mighty nation was to-fore,
Invincible and stout,
Will yield slowly to destiny,
Great pity is but doubt.
10. In former age the Scots renown,
Did flourish goodly gay !
But yet alas ! will be overcome,
With a great dark decay.
11. Then mark and see what is the cause,
Of this so wond'rous fall !
Contempt of faith, falsehood, deceit,
The wrath of God withal.
12. Unsatiable greed of worldly gain,
Oppression, cries of the poor ;
A perpetual and slanderous race.
No justice put in ure.
13. The haughty pride of mighty men,
Of former vice chief cause,
The nutriture of wickedness,
An unjust match of laws.
14. Therefore this cause the prophets,
Of long time did presage ;
And now has happen’d every point,
Into your present age.
15. Since fate is so, now Scotland learn,
In patience to abide,
Slanders, great fears, and sudden plagues,
And great dolours beside.
16. For out of thee shall people rise,
With divers happiness ;
And yet a pen can scarcely write,
Thy hurt, skaith, and distress,
17. And yet beware thou not distrust,
Altho’ o’erwhelm’d with grief,
Thy stroke is not perpetual,
For thou shall find relief.
18. I do suppose, altho’ too late,
Old prophecies shall hold,
Hope thou in God’s goodness evermore,
And mercies manifold.
19. For thou that now a patient is,
And seemeth to be bound ;
At liberty shall free be set,
And with empire be crown’d.
20. From high above shall grace come down,
And thy state, Scotland, be,
In latter ends, more prosperous,
Than former age shall see.
21. Old prophecies foretell to thee,
A warlike heir he's born,
Who shall recover new your right,
Advance this kingdom's horn.
22. Then shall fair Scotland be advanc'd,
Above her enemies power;
Her cruel foes shall be dispers'd,
And scatter'd from her bower.
23. Fair Scotia's enemies may invade,
But not escape a plague;
With sword, and thrist, and tears, and pest,
With fears, and such like ague.
24. And after enemies thrown down,
And master'd in the war,
Then Scotland in peace and quietness,
Pass joyful days for ever.
But that the curious may be more fully informed concerning the aforesaid predictions, with respect to their being exactly fulfiled, they are referred to the Scottish Histories.