Thomas Rimor de Ercildoun (the modern Earlston, in Berwickshire).

Thomas Learmonth, sometimes spelt Learmount, Learmont, or Learmounth, was better known as Thomas the Rhymer or True Thomas.

According to one of his poems Thomas met the Queen of the Fairies in the Eildon Hills and went with her to her kingdom under the hills.  Thomas thought he had been at the Fairy kingdom for only three days, but when he returned to the surface, he found he had been there for three years.

The Queen of the fairies gave Thomas the gift of prophecy, and during his life he predicted many things that eventually came true.

Thomas predicted:

The death of King Alexander III in 1286. 

The day before he said:

"On the morrow, afore noon, shall blow the greatest wind that ever was heard before in Scotland."

The defeat of King James IV at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

The Union of the Crowns of Scotland and England in 1603.

Scottish success at the Battle of Bannockburn 1314
- The succession of Robert the Bruce to the throne
- The removal of Edward Balliol during second war of Scottish independence in 1332
- The battle of Halidon Hill, 1333
- The defeat of Mary Queen of Scots' forces at the Battle of Pinkie in 1567

 

 "As long as eagles nest on the cliffs of Pennan,

there will be Bairds in Auchmedden."

Thomas predicted that the brig would fall were it ever to be crossed by an only son riding a mare's only foal!

Brig o' Balgownie, wicht is thy wa',

Wi' a wife's ae son an' a mare's ae foal,

Doun shalt thou fa'.

The Brig o' Balgownie was built  in 1329 at the request of King Robert the Bruce.

Fyvie, Fyvie, thou’ll never thrive,
As long as there’s in thee stones three:
There’s one in the oldest tower,
There’s one in the lady’s bower,
There’s one in the water-gate,
And these three stones you’ll never get!

While a cock craws in the north,

there’ll be a Fraser at Philorth.

Thomas the Rhymer phrophesised:

"When the heron leaves the the tree,

the Laird o' Gight shall landless be."

 

Thomas the Rhymer also phrophesised:

"At Gight three men by sudden death shall dee,

And after that the land shall lie in lea."

Thomas the Rhymer based a prophesy on a prominent granite boulder which stood on farm land belonging to the Keith's, Earl Marischal's of Scotland, the boulder was for generations known as 'Tammas's Stane' and Thomas foretold -

 As lang's this stane stands on this craft,

The name o' Keith sall be alaft;

But fan this stane begins t' fa',

The name o' Keith sall weer awa'.

 The 'Tammas's Stane' was removed and used for building purposes in the 18th century, which is said to have coincided with the death of George Keith, 10th Earl Marischal in 1778 - the last of his line.