This legend is mainly taken from different parts of Lady Charlotte
Guest's translation of the "Mabinogion," with some additions and
modifications from Rhys's "Hibbert Lectures" and "The Arthurian Legend."


VIII. MERLIN

In later years Merlin was known mainly by a series of remarkable
prophecies which were attributed to him and were often said to be
fulfilled by actual events in history. Thus one of the many places where
Merlin's grave was said to be was Drummelzion in Tweeddale, Scotland. On
the east side of the churchyard a brook called the Pansayl falls into the
Tweed, and there was this prophecy as to their union:--

"When Tweed and Pansayl join at Merlin's grave,
Scotland and England shall one monarch have."

Sir Walter Scott tells us, in his "Border Minstrelsy," that on the day of
the coronation of James VI. of Scotland the Tweed accordingly overflowed
and joined the Pansayl at the prophet's grave. It was also claimed by one
of the witnesses at the trial of Jeanne d'Arc, that there was a prediction
by Merlin that France would be saved by a peasant girl from Lorraine.
These prophesies have been often reprinted, and have been translated into
different languages, and there was published in London, in 1641, "The Life
of Merlin, surnamed Ambrosius, His Prophesies and Predictions interpreted,
and their Truth made Good by our English Annals." Another book was also
published in London, in 1683, called "Merlin revived in a Discourse of
Prophesies, Predictions, and their Remarkable Accomplishments."