Farkennedandnotedishisname？
Hisreputationisbynomeansconfinedtothelandofhisbirth，butextendsthroughmostofthenationsofEurope。AverycuriousvolumeofhisLife，Prophecies，andMiracles，written，itissupposed，byRobertdeBosron，wasprintedatParisin1498，whichstates，thattheDevilhimselfwashisfather，andthathespoketheinstanthewasborn，andassuredhismother，averyvirtuousyoungwoman，thatsheshouldnotdieinchild-bedwithhim，asherill-naturedneighbourshadpredicted。Thejudgeofthedistrict，hearingofsomarvellousanoccurrence，summonedbothmotherandchildtoappearbeforehim；andtheywentaccordinglythesameday。Toputthewisdomoftheyoungprophetmosteffectuallytothetest，thejudgeaskedhimifheknewhisownfather？TowhichtheinfantMerlinreplied，inaclear，sonorousvoice，“Yes，myfatheristheDevil；andIhavehispower，andknowallthings，past，present，andtocome。“Hisworshipclappedhishandsinastonishment，andtooktheprudentresolutionofnotmolestingsoawfulachild，oritsmothereither。
EarlytraditionattributesthebuildingofStonehengetothepowerofMerlin。Itwasbelievedthatthosemightystoneswerewhirledthroughtheair，athiscommand，fromIrelandtoSalisburyPlain，andthathearrangedthemintheforminwhichtheynowstand，tocommemorateforevertheunhappyfateofthreehundredBritishchiefs，whoweremassacredonthatspotbytheSaxons。
AtAbergwylly，nearCaermarthen，isstillshownthecaveoftheprophetandthesceneofhisincantations。HowbeautifulisthedescriptionofitgivenbySpenserinhis“FaerieQueene。“Thelinesneednoapologyfortheirrepetitionhere，andanysketchofthegreatprophetofBritainwouldbeincompletewithoutthem:——
“TherethewiseMerlin，whilomwonttheysay，Tomakehiswonnelowunderneaththeground，Inadeepdelvefarfromtheviewofday，Thatofnolivingwighthemotebefound，Whensohecounselledwithhisspritesencompassedround。
“AndifthoueverhappenthatsamewayTotravel，gotoseethatdreadfulplace；
Itisahideous，hollowcave，theysay，UnderarockthatliesalittlespaceFromtheswiftBarry，tumblingdownapaceAmongstthewoodyhillsofDynevoure；
Butdarethounot，Icharge，inanycase，Toenterintothatsamebalefulbower，Forfearthecruelfiendesshouldtheeunwaresdevour！
“But，standinghighaloft，lowlaythinecare，Andtheresuchghastlynoiseofironchaines，Andbrazencaudronsthoushaltromblingheare，Whichthousandsprites，withlong-enduringpaines，Doetosse，thatitwillstunthyfeeblebraines；
Andoftentimesgreatgroansandgrievousstownds，Whentoohugetoileandlabourthemconstraines；
AndoftentimesloudstrokesandringingsoundsFromunderthatdeeprockmosthorriblyrebounds。
“Thecause，theysay，isthis。AlittlewhileBeforethatMerlindied，hedidintendAbrazenwallincompass，tocompileAboutCayrMerdin，anddiditcommendUntothesespritestobringtoperfectend；
DuringwhichworktheLadyoftheLake，Whomlongheloved，forhiminhastedidsend，Whotherebyforcedhisworkmentoforsake，Themboundtillhisreturntheirlabournottoslake。
“Inthemeantime，throughthatfalseladie’straine，Hewassurprised，andburiedunderbiere，Neevertohisworkreturnedagain；
Nathelessthesefiendesmaynottheirworkforbeare，Sogreatlyhiscommandementtheyfear，Buttheredoetoileandtravailedayandnight，Untilthatbrazenwalltheyupdoereare。“
[FaerieQueene，b。3。c。3。s。6——13。]
AmongstotherEnglishprophets，abeliefinwhosepowerhasnotbeenentirelyeffacedbythelightofadvancingknowledge，isRobertNixon，theCheshireidiot，acontemporaryofMotherShipton。Thepopularaccountsofthismansay，thathewasbornofpoorparents，notfarfromValeRoyal，ontheedgeoftheforestofDelamere。Hewasbroughtuptotheplough，butwassoignorantandstupid，thatnothingcouldbemadeofhim。Everybodythoughthimirretrievablyinsane，andpaidnoattentiontothestrange，unconnecteddiscourseswhichheheld。Manyofhispropheciesarebelievedtohavebeenlostinthismanner。Buttheywerenotalwaysdestinedtobewastedupondullandinattentiveears。Anincidentoccurredwhichbroughthimintonotice，andestablishedhisfameasaprophetofthefirstcalibre。Hewasploughinginafieldwhenhesuddenlystoppedfromhislabour，and，withawildlookandstrangegestures，exclaimed，“Now，Dick！now，Harry！O，illdone，Dick！O，welldone，Harry！Harryhasgainedtheday！“Hisfellowlabourersinthefielddidnotknowwhattomakeofthisrhapsody；butthenextdayclearedupthemystery。Newswasbroughtbyamessenger，inhothaste，thatattheveryinstantwhenNixonhadthusejaculated，RichardIIIhadbeenslainatthebattleofBosworth，andHenryVIIproclaimedKingofEngland。
ItwasnotlongbeforethefameofthenewprophetreachedtheearsoftheKing，whoexpressedawishtoseeandconversewithhim。A
messengerwasaccordinglydespatchedtobringhimtocourt；butlongbeforehereachedCheshire，Nixonknewanddreadedthehonoursthatawaitedhim。Indeeditwassaid，thatattheveryinstanttheKingexpressedthewish，Nixonwas，bysupernaturalmeans，madeacquaintedwithit，andthatheranaboutthetownofOveringreatdistressofmind，callingout，likeamadman，thatHenryhadsentforhim，andthathemustgotocourt，andbeclammed；thatis，starvedtodeath。
Theseexpressionsexcitednolittlewonder；but，onthethirdday，themessengerarrived，andcarriedhimtocourt，leavingonthemindsofthegoodpeopleofCheshireanimpressionthattheirprophetwasoneofthegreatesteverborn。OnhisarrivalKingHenryappearedtobetroubledexceedinglyatthelossofavaluablediamond，andaskedNixonifhecouldinformhimwhereitwastobefound。Henryhadhiddenthediamondhimself，withaviewtotesttheprophet’sskill。
Great，therefore，washissurprisewhenNixonansweredhiminthewordsoftheoldproverb，“Thosewhohidecanfind。“FromthattimeforththeKingimplicitlybelievedthathehadthegiftofprophecy，andorderedallhiswordstobetakendown。
Duringallthetimeofhisresidenceatcourthewasinconstantfearofbeingstarvedtodeath，andrepeatedlytoldtheKingthatsuchwouldbehisfate，ifhewerenotallowedtodepart，andreturnintohisowncountry。Henrywouldnotsufferit，butgavestrictorderstoallhisofficersandcookstogivehimasmuchtoeatashewanted。Helivedsowell，thatforsometimeheseemedtobethrivinglikeanobleman’ssteward，andgrowingasfatasanalderman。Onedaythekingwentouthunting，whenNixonrantothepalacegate，andentreatedonhiskneesthathemightnotbeleftbehindtobestarved。
TheKinglaughed，and，callinganofficer，toldhimtotakeespecialcareoftheprophetduringhisabsence，androdeawaytotheforest。
Afterhisdeparture，theservantsofthepalacebegantojeeratandinsultNixon，whomtheyimaginedtobemuchbettertreatedthanhedeserved。Nixoncomplainedtotheofficer，who，topreventhimfrombeingfurthermolested，lockedhimupintheKing’sowncloset，andbroughthimregularlyhisfourmealsaday。ButitsohappenedthatamessengerarrivedfromtheKingtothisofficer，requiringhisimmediatepresenceatWinchester，onamatteroflifeanddeath。SogreatwashishastetoobeytheKing’scommand，thathemountedonthehorsebehindthemessenger，androdeoff，withoutbestowingathoughtuponpoorNixon。Hedidnotreturntillthreedaysafterwards，when，rememberingtheprophetforthefirsttime，hewenttotheKing’scloset，andfoundhimlyinguponthefloor，starvedtodeath，ashehadpredicted。
Amongthepropheciesofhiswhicharebelievedtohavebeenfulfilled，arethefollowing，whichrelatetothetimesofthePretender:——
“AgreatmanshallcomeintoEngland，ButthesonofaKingShalltakefromhimthevictory。“
“Crowsshalldrinkthebloodofmanynobles，AndtheNorthshallriseagainsttheSouth。“
“ThecockoftheNorthshallbemadetoflee，Andhisfeatherbepluckedforhispride，Thatheshallalmostcursethedaythathewasborn，“
Allthese，sayhisadmirers，areasclearasthesunatnoon-day。
ThefirstdenotesthedefeatofPrinceCharlesEdward，atthebattleofCulloden，bytheDukeofCumberland；thesecond，theexecutionofLordsDerwentwater，Balmerino，andLovat；andthethird，theretreatofthePretenderfromtheshoresofBritain。Amongthepropheciesthatstillremaintobeaccomplished，arethefollowing:——
“Betweenseven，eight，andnine，InEnglandwondersshallbeseen；
BetweennineandthirteenAllsorrowshallbedone！“
“ThroughourownmoneyandourmenShalladreadfulwarbegin。
BetweenthesickleandthesuckAllEnglandshallhaveapluck，“
“ForeignnationsshallinvadeEnglandwithsnowontheirhelmets，andshallbringplague，famine，andmurderintheskirtsoftheirgarments。“
“ThetownofNantwichshallbesweptawaybyaflood“
Ofthetwofirstofthesenoexplanationhasyetbeenattempted；
butsomeeventorotherwilldoubtlessbetwistedintosuchashapeaswillfitthem。Thethird，relativetotheinvasionofEnglandbyanationwithsnowontheirhelmets，issupposedbytheoldwomentoforetellmostclearlythecomingwarwithRussia。Astothelast，therearenotafewinthetownmentionedwhodevoutlybelievethatsuchwillbeitsfate。Happilyfortheirpeaceofmind，theprophetsaidnothingoftheyearthatwastowitnesstheawfulcalamity；sothattheythinkitaslikelytobetwocenturieshenceasnow。
ThepopularbiographersofNixonconcludetheiraccountofhimbysaying，that“hispropheciesarebysomepersonsthoughtfables；yetbywhathascometopass，itisnowthought，andveryplainlyappears，thatmostofthemhaveproved，orwillprove，true；forwhichwe，onalloccasions，oughtnotonlytoexertourutmostmighttorepelbyforceourenemies，buttorefrainfromourabandonedandwickedcourseoflife，andtomakeourcontinualprayertoGodforprotectionandsafety。“Tothis，thoughanonsequitur，everyonewillcryAmen！