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！