The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-25

The Lion of Justice referred to in
the prophecies was interpreted TO mean
Henry L of England who subdued the
laWlessness of England (the dragons
of the island) and levelled to the ground
the castles of Normandy ftoWers of
Gaul). Henry's children We're ship
wrecked so the lions whelps were
changed into the fishes of the sea- that
is, they were devoured by the fish. Gold
be Wrung from the lily and the nettle
refers to the religious orders and the
singing seculars, while silver flowing
from the hooves of them that low is
taken to mean the gain obtained by the
raising and selling of cattle in the
peace that Henry established. In fact,
the enforcing of the law most rigidly
py TINS monarch is said to verify the
prophecy as to the raVening of kites
perishing and the teeth of wolves be-
ing blunted, the kites being the noble
men who robbed and the wolves the
common thieves, both of whom during
Henry's reign could only plunder and
pillage by stealth. The shape of COM
merce being cloven in twain and the
half being round typifes the coming
of the silver half penny the penny be-
ing a that time the only currency
known in England 1t is fact that
the earliest circular halfpence known
to numismaties dates half century
later than the reign of Henry. Not a
lew learned men maintain that Merlin
lived in the reign of Henry |, If indeed
lie was not Geoffrey himself and that
all the prophecies are ex post factor
This may be true and yet from all evi-
dence obtainable the alluslon to the
silver halfpence undeniably antedates
the appearance of that coin by half "A
century
Analogous to the prophecies of Merlin
are those of Mother Shipton the publ
cation of which SO startled England I'm
the fifteenth century This woman's
maiden name was Ursula Southiel and
IKE Merlin demon was her reputed
rather, for she was accredited with be-
ing the daughter of Agatha Shipton and
the devil. In her prophecies the dlscov-
cry OF electricity and the invention of
the automobile were clearly foretold
But to return to Merlin, though | have
SAID he was encased In a hawthorn bush
there is a legend that 1t was a tomb
into which Vivien had induced him to
place himself under the pretext of ascer-
taining II II was large enough for her
to be buried with him, and that upon
his doing so she closed the lid so eff
fectually that IL was never again opened.
Merlin had constructed the tomb him
eself and II was said TO be located in
the forest of Arvantes But the for
NOR tradition is the accepted one and
the hawthorn prison is IN the forest of
Breceliande in Brittany by the fountain
of Baranton. In olden times there was
a marble slab by the side of the foun-
tain upon which was a silver bowl at
tached to the slab by a chain of the
same metal Whoever would dip from
the fountain the bowl filled with wa
ter and dash its contents upon the slab
would Immediately invoke terrific thun-
deratorm During the Middle Ages this
locality was frequently searched for and
though the slab and bowl were never
found the spring, it is claimed was dis
covered. The place was then known as
the Vale of the Fairies on account OF
beng frequented by fays who were es-
peeially fond of children, making them
many precious gifts. Indeed the vi
-eompte de la Villemarque as late as the
year 1887 gives an account of his visit
to this fountain. He gives a graphic
description of the valley and the spring
near which ne saw two stones covered
with moss and surmounted by an old
wooden cross. This he designated as the
place of Merlin's Imprisonment. This place
was once the haunt of the Druids and
fairies who are kind to children may
he see nupon moonlight nights arrayed
in white and sporting around the foun-
tain.
5 a matter of fact the fountain to-
day is mineral spring and is said 10
possess rain-producing properties. 1t has
not been so many centuries ago when in
the time of drouth the simple inhab-
itants of Floermel, the veliage of the
valley would go In procession to the
fount headed by their five great banners
and their priests ringing bells and chant
ing Psalms. on arriving at the foun-
tain the rector of the canton dipped the
foot of wooden cross in the water and
rain always fell before the expiration OF
a week.
Owing to it's mineral qualities the
spring today bubbles up when piece