Allan Boyd

“ The English were entirely defeated, and many of them slain: and Randolph returned to the camp amidst acclamations of universal joy.
To perpetuate the memory of this victory, two stones were reared up in the field, and are still to be seen there. They stand in a spot which has lately been enclosed for a garden, at the north end of the village of Newhouse, and about a quarter of a mile from the Borough-port of Stirling. This victory gave new spirits to the whole army, and made them so eager for the general engagement, that the night, though among the shortest of the year, seemed long to them. ”

“ All this was executed upon the spot; after which, the Naib, leaping from his horse, threw himself at his feet, and watering them with his tears, addressed him thus:—'Father, I have discharged my duty to my God, my sovereign, my country, and my station; permit me now, by my respect and submission, to acquit the debt I owe a parent. Justice is blind, it is the power of God on earth; it has no regard to father or son—God, and our neighbour's right, are above the ties of nature. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Bereft of Kings, falsely undone,
by thine unkindly host.
2Alas! the free is bound become,
and deceit is thy fall,
The falsehood of the British race,
has brought thee into thrall:
3The grave of the most noble Prince,
to all is great regret,
The subject to law, who doth leave,
the kingdom and estate. ”

“ There is plainly pointed out, that in his time, a great battle should be seen in Fife,
Where saddled horses should be seen,
Tyed unto the trees green.
Not only in Fife, but the four chief rivers of the realm, there should be a battle on each of them, that should make the rivers run with blood, viz. Tweed, Clyde, Forth and Tay.
Last of all, a bloody desperate battle in Northumberland on the river Tyne.—Also great havock and slaughter about the broad walls of Berwick. All these things are yet to come to pass: and when the first appears, the rest will icon follow after. ”

“ This Thomas Lermont, or Rymer was born at Eislington, 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, a blast should blaw, that Scotland should not overcome the evil thereof for twenty years thereafter. ”

“ For stoutest hearts have aft been shy
To venture in within the room
After the night begins to gloom;
For in it they can ne’er get rest,
’Tis haunted by a frightful ghaist!
Ourselves are terrified a’ night ”

“ By means of these artificial improvements, joined to the natural strength of the ground, the Scotch army stood as within an entrenchment, and the invisible pits and ditches answered to the concealed batteries of modern times. Amongst the other occurrences of this memorable day, historians mention an incident of a singular nature.—As the two armies were about to engage, the Abbot of Inchaffery posting himself before the Scots, with a crucifix in his hand, they all fell down upon their knees in act of devotion. ”

“ The first of his prophecies ever taken to be faithfully observed was, That there should be a storm on a certain day, that would surprise all Scotland. Now, some gentlemen being with him that day, they began to jok him, and said Sir Thomas, you are now mistaken, and we shall stay and see your mistake, as we have heard so much of your prophecies. He told them to stay an hour longer, aud they would see and believe. ”

“ John says, As I’m a Christian man,
Who never likes to curse nor ban,
Nor steal, nor lie, nor drink, nor whore,
I’ll never gang within its door,
But sit by the fire-side a’ night,
An’ gang awa whene’er ’tis light. ”

“ Hereabout was the only place where the river could be crossed in any order.—A large body of cavalry advanced to attack him in front, while another fetched a compass to fall upon his flank and rear, but before they could come to a close engagement, they fell into the snare that had been laid for them. Many of their horses were soon disabled by the sharp irons rushing into their feet, others tumbled into the concealed pits, and could not disentangle themselves. ”

“ EDWARD II, of England, kept up the same claim upon Scotland, which his father had began; and after several unsuccessful attempts to establish it, he resolved to make a great effort and with one blow reduce that turbulent nation which had put so many signal affronts upon his father and himself. ”

“ Thou Dalkeith and Leith, famous, the one for a Cromwell, and the other for a Monk, thy Forts shall be brought low and desolate. Leith shall be brought to servitude, Dalkeith to poverty; only they shall reserve a day in the week, to spend what they gain the rest of the days. Pharisees shall build altars in thee and broils will continue for a time in thee. But there shall rise a noble Buck, whose family will be had in great esteem ”

“ The Scots pursued; and great was the slaughter among the enemy, especially in passing the river, where they could keep no order, because of the irregularity of the ground. King Edward himself escaped with much difficulty being closely pursued above-forty miles, by Sir James Douglas, with a party of light horse, He was upon the point of being taken prisoner when he was received into the Castle of Dunbar by the Earl of March, who conveyed him to England, by sea, in a fisher's boat; his immense army being entirely discomfited. The Scots lost only four thousand men ”

“ SIR Thomas Learmant commonly called, Thomas Rymer, was born in the east corner of Fife, of a good family. His Prophesies have been more credited than any that were ever recorded in the Scots Chronicle, as they have been well attested, what of them is past, and what they allude to, in this present century and period, and of his dark sayings yet to come.
He told many mystical prophesies anent all the kings of Europe, and what fell out according to his prediction, in this ancient kingdom of Scotland; what is past, present and to come. ”

“ The day preceding the battle, a strong body of cavalry, to the number of 800, was detached from the English camp, under the conduct of Lord Clifford, to the relief of that garrison. These having marched through some hollow grounds, upon the edge of the Castle, had passed the Scots army before they were observed. The King himself was the first that perceived them, and desiring Thomas Randolph, Earl of Murray, to look towards the place where they were, told him, that a rose had fallen from his chaplet. ”

“ Rymer desired him to make no noise, assuring him that he had not the least intention to hurt him.—"You have a good character, said he, among your neighbours; but you must expect your life will be cut short, if you are so wicked as to continue the freedoms you took with me. Hold your hand, here are 30 shillings to buy leather; husband it well, and set your children a laudable example." ”

“ The explication of the foregoing prophecy, concerning Hempe being come, and also gone, and leaving Scotland and England joined in one, is fulfilled in the late King William, who came out of Holland, which in old times was vulgarly called the land of Hempe: and the joining of the two nations together, signifies the Union.
These things were foretold by the two Scots Prophets, in the reign of King Arthur. First, by the marvellous Merling, who is said to be got by a Devil, who ravished a young Woman, his mother, in a wood near Coldstream, in the South of Scotland. ”