[330] Nisbet's Heraldry, vol. I. ubi supra. * * * * * I close this attempt (for I call it nothing more) with a singular Motto of a Private Family. HAIG, or perhaps _Haigh_, of Bemerside, has for the Family Motto "Tyde what may," founded on a Prophecy of Sir Thomas Lermont (well known in Scotland by the name of "Thomas the Rhymer," because he wrote his Prophecies in Rhyme), who was an Herald in the Reign of Alexander III. He is said to have foretold the time of his own death; and particularly, among other remarkable occurrences, the Union of England and Scotland, which was not accomplished till the Reign of James VI. some hundreds of years after this Gentleman died. These Prophecies were never published in a perfect state; but the Epitome of them is well known in Scotland, though Mr. Nisbet says it is very erroneous. The original, he tells us, is a Folio MS. which Mr. Nisbet seems to have seen; for he adds, "Many things are missing in the small book which are to be met with in the original, particularly these two lines, concerning his (Sir Thomas Lermont's) neighbour, Haig of Bemerside: 'Tyde what may betide, Haig shall be Laird of Bemerside.' "And," continues Mr. Nisbet, "his Prophecy concerning that ancient Family has hitherto been true; for since that time till this day (1702) the Haigs have been Lairds of that place."[331] [331] Nisbet's Cadencies, pp. 158, 159. * * * * * "Cave Adsum" is the Motto of JARDIN, of Applegirth, Bart. in Scotland. The Ingredients (as they may be called) to which it alludes, are very dispersed, and to be collected from the Supporters, the Bearing, and Crest: the Arms having "Three Mullets charged on the Chief;" the Supporters, "An Armed Man and a Horse;" and the Crest, "A Mullet or Spur-Rowel." This might allude to Justs and Tournaments[332]. [332] See Nisbet's Heraldry. * * * * * I shall conclude with one Irish Motto; that of FITZGERALD--"_Crom a Boo_;" a Cri de Guerre, or Term of Defiance. _A Boo_ means _the Cause_, or the _Party_, and _Crom_ was the ancient Castle of the Fitz-Geralds. So _Butler_ a _Boo_ meant the Ormond Party, the Cri on the other side; by which they insulted each other, and consequently frays and skirmishes ensued[333]. [333] I owe this observation to my noble Friend, and kind Correspondent, Lord Dacre. * * * * * Simon Fitz-Alan had a Son Robert, who, being of a fair complexion, was called _Boyt_, or _Boyd_, from the Celtic or Gallic word _Boidh_, which signifies fair or _yellow_[334], from which he assumed his Sur-name, and from him all the Boyds in Scotland are descended[335]. [334] So _Douglas_ means White Man. See "Armories." [335] Douglas, p. 373.