Editing Thomas the Rhymer (section)

===Manuscript sources===
The medieval romance survives complete or in fragments in five manuscripts, the earliest of which is the Lincoln codex compiled by [[Robert Thornton (scribe)|Robert Thornton]]:{{sfn|Murray|1875|pp=lvi–lxi}}
* [[Lincoln Thornton Manuscript|Thornton MS.]] (olim. Lincoln A., 1. 17) – ca. 1430–1440.{{sfn|Laing|Small|1885|pp=82–83, 142–165}}
* MS. Cambridge Ff. 5, 48 – mid 15th century.
* MS. Cotton Vitellius E. x., – late 15th century.
* MS. Landsowne 762 – ca. 1524–30
* MS. Sloane 2578 MSS.  – 1547. Lacks first fitt.
All these texts were edited in parallel by [[James Murray (lexicographer)|J. A. H. Murray]] in ''The Romance and Prophecies of Thomas of Erceldoune'' (1875).<ref>{{Harvnb |Murray |1875}}</ref>

The Cotton MS. gives an "[[Incipit]] prophecia Thome Arseldon" and an "[[wikt:explicit|Explicit]] prophetia thome de Arseldoune",<ref>{{harvnb|Murray|1875|pp=2, 47}}</ref> thus this was the version that Walter Scott excerpted as Appendix. The Sloane MS. begins the second fytte with: "Heare begynethe þe ij<sup>d</sup> fytt I saye / of S''ir'' thom''as'' of Arseldon,"{{sfn|Murray|1875|p=18}} and the Thornton MS. gives the "[[wikt:explicit|Explicit]] Thomas of Erseldowne" after the 700th line.{{sfn|Murray|1875|p=46}}