BASTARD-CRESS, or mithridate-mustard, in botany: A genus of plants belonging to the class of *te- tradyomia*, and order of *siliculae*; and in the natural system ranging under the 39th order, *Siligoula*. The pod is emarginated, obcordate, and polyspermous; the valves are boat-shaped and marginato-carinated. There are 12 species; of which six only are natives of Britain, the *arvensis*, *birtum*, *campiflora*, *montanum*, *perfoliatum*, and *burfa paeforis*.

1. The *arvensis*, treacle-mustard or penny-cress, has orbicular pods, and leaves oblong, smooth, and scalloped. It smells like gallic, and has a white flower. 2. The *birtum*, or perennial mithridate-mustard, has roundish hairy pods; the cauline leaves are fagittate and villous. 3. *The campiflora*, or mithridate-mustard, has roundish pods, fagittate leaves, dentated, and hairy. 4. *Montanum*, or mountain mithridate mustard, has obcordate pods, smooth leaves; the radical leaves somewhat fleshy, ovate and entire; the cauline embracing the stalks, and the corolla being larger than the calyx. 5. *The perfoliatum*, or perfoliate treacle-mustard, has obcordate pods; the cauline leaves are smooth and subdentate; the petals of the length of the calyx, and the stalk branchy. 6. The *burfa paeforis*, or shepherd's purse, has obcordate pods; the radical leaves are pinnatifid.

The seeds of some of these species have an acid biting taste, approaching to that of the common mustard; with which they agree nearly in their pharmaceutic properties. They are rarely made use of any otherwise than as ingredients in the compositions whose names they bear; though some recommend them in different disorders, preferably to the common mustard.

**THOLOUSE.** See Toulouse.

**THOMÆANS,** Thomists. See Christians of St Thomas.

**THOMAS Aquinas.** See Aquinas.

**St Thomas's Day,** a festival of the Christian church, observed on December 21, in commemoration of St Thomas the apostle.

**St Thomas of Canterbury's Day,** a festival of the Roman church, observed on December 29, in memory of Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered, or, as the Romans say, martyred, in the reign of king Henry II.

**THOMAS the Reynour,** called also Thomas Lermont, and **Thomas of Erceldor,** was born at Erceldon, a village near Melrose in Tweedale, in what year is uncertain; but he was an old man when Edward I. was carrying on war in Scotland.

The character of Lermont as a prophet, and which was common to him with Linus, Orpheus, and other early poets in many countries, arose, if we may believe Mackenye in his Lives of Scottich Writers, from his having conferences with Eliza, a nun and prophetess at Haddington. Lermont put her predictions into verse, and thus came in for his share of the prophetic spirit. None of these ancient prophecies now remain; but the following, which pretends to be one of them, is given from a manuscript of the time of Edward I., Part II. The countess of Dunbar is the lady famous for the defence of her castle against the English. Her proper title was Countess of March; but it was common in these times to style a nobleman from his chief residence. Thus Gilbert Strongbow, earl of Pembroke, is called Earl of Striguil, from his residence at Striguil castle, near Chepstow, Monmouthshire, &c.

La Countesse de Donbar demande a Thomas de Effedounne, quant la guere d'Esfce prendreit syn. E yl l'a repoyndyt, et dyt:

When man as mad a kyng of a capped mon, When mon is levere other mons thyng than is owen. When londe thouys foreit, and foreit ys fulde. When hares kendles othir heriton. When Wyt and Wille werres togedere. When mon makes stables of kyrkes; and steles castles wyth flies. When Rokebourh nys no burgh; ant market is at Forwylyc. When the alde is gan, and the newe is come that doue noht. When Bambourne ys donged with dede men. When men ledes men in ropes to buyen ant to fellen. When a quarter of whaty whete is chaunged for a colt of ten markes. When prude pikes, ant pees is leyd in prisoun. When a Scot ne may hym hude ale hare in forme, that the Englysh ne thal hym fynde. When ryht ant wrong allente the togedere. When laddes weddeth loveydes. When Scottes flan fo faute, that for faute of ship, hy dronnet hemselfe. When shal this be? Nouther in thine tyme, ne in myne. Ah comen, ant gone, Withinne twenty wynter ant on.

In fact, the prophecies of Lermont appear to have been merely traditional; nay, it seems doubtful if he ever pretended to such folly, notwithstanding Mackenye's story of Eliza. The reverence of the people for a learned and respectable character seems to have been the sole foundation of Thomas's claim to prophecy. But, in the 16th century, prophecies were made, and ascribed to him, as well as others given to Bede, Merlin, &c. (a). They were printed at Edinburgh, 1615, reprinted 1680, and 1742.

**THOMISM.** See Aquinas.

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(a) Sibilla and Banister Anglicus are mentioned in the time of Edward IV. (MSS Cot. Dom. A. IX.) A long Latin prophecy of Bridlington is there given. Waldhave and Eltraine seem also English prophets. In the whole collection, therefore, Thomas is the only Scottish one.