Scottish Text Society publications > Third series > Works of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount, 1490-1555 > Volume 4, 1936

238 THE WORKS OF SIR DAVID LINDSAY
4554-4563. War, and the pursuit of glory, is the folly of princes.
4564-4567. The reference to the support of France clearly refers to the
sending of French troops to Scotland in 1547 during the English in¬
vasion of Scotland. This is the sole internal reference to contemporary
events which can be dated, apart from the references to Pinkie Cleuch,
10th September 1547, in the Cupar Banns [see ante, under discussion
of date and production of Version //.]. Cf. note to Mon., 94-95.
4568-4589. See note to Satyre, 3562-63.
4590-4591. The Prophesie of Merling. Line 4591,/or Or read Of [editorial
error]. Cf. Dreme, 43.
According to J. A. H. Murray, Complaynt of Scotland, E.E.T.S.,
xlii-xlvii, prophetic writing is said to have begun in Wales with the
Cyvoesi Myrddin, written in the reign of Henry II., the historical
prophet being Myrddin, or Merlin, of the sixth century. The fashion
extended to Ireland and Scotland, where a Latin poem of the reign
of Edgar claims to contain predictions by Merlin and Gildas. Thomas
the Rymer, Bede, Gildas, St Bercham, St Columba, Thomas k Becket,
and others were known as prophets, but Merlin was the most popular.
His prophecies exist in Welsh, Latin, English, French, Italian, and
German, and are cited by Geoffrey of Monmouth, Robert of Gloucester,
Laurence Minot, &c. A Byrlh of Merlin was published by Wynken de
Worde in 1510, and A Lytell Treatise of Marlyn by him in 1529. Accord¬
ing to Welsh and Scottish tradition. Merlin was born in that part of
Northern Wales which became a part of the Scottish lowlands. Two
Scottish fifteenth century prophecies were edited by J. R. Lumby,
Ratis Raving, E.E.T.S., 1870. See note to line 4596.
4592. The Gyre Carling. Cf. Cupar Banns, 253, and Dreme, 45, and
notei
4596. Flan Fran resurgent, simul Hispan viribus vrgent,
Dani vastabunt, Vallones valla parabunt.
Sic tibi nomen in a, mulier cacauit in olla :
Hoc epulum comedes.
Only the first two lines belong to the prophecy proper : the remaining
one and a half lines are obscene ridicule.
Cf. Collection of Scottish Prophecies in Alliterative Verse : reprinted
from Waldegrave’s edition, M.DC.III. Bannatyne Club : 1833, p. 42 :
Scottes prophecie in Laline, beginning—
Scotia maesta dole propria iam perdita prole,
Regibus orba tuis, fraude subacta tuis.
This occupies forty-eight lines, and is followed by three four-line and
one two-line Alia Prophetia. The third is—
Flan, fran, consurgent, hispani viribus vrgent,
Dani consurgent, Albani limina lingent,
Sco deuastabit, tunc Gallia arma parabit,
Et cum hoc fuerit Anglica gens periet.