Thomas the Rhymer

Who was Thomas the Rhymer?

Thomas of Erceldoune, sometimes styled Thomas Learmonth, was a 13th-century Scottish laird and reputed prophet from Earlston., perhaps better known by the sobriquets Thomas the Rhymer or True Thomas. In literature he appears as protagonist to the tale about Thomas the Rhymer who was carried off by the "Queen of Elfland" and returned having gained the gift of prophecy. The tale survives in a medieval verse romance in five manuscripts, as well as in the popular ballad "Thomas the Rhymer". The original romance ca. 1400 was probably condensed into ballad form ca. 1700, though there are dissenting views on this.

Sir Walter Scott expanded the ballad into three parts, adding a sequel which incorporated the prophecies ascribed to Thomas, and an epilogue where Thomas is summoned back to Elfland after the appearance of a sign, in the form of the milk-white hart and hind. Numerous prose retellings of the tale of Thomas the Rhymer have been undertaken, and included in fairy tale or folk-tale anthologies; these often incorporate the return to Fairyland episode that Scott reported to have learned from local legend.