The life and death of Mother Shipton being not only a true account of her strange birth and most important passages of her life, but also all her prophesies, now newly collected and historically experienced from the time of her birth, in the reign of King Henry the Seventh until this present year 1667, containing the most important passages of state during the reign of these kings and queens of England ... :.... London, Printed for B. Harris, 1677.

The Life and Death of Mother Shipton.

Being not only a true Account of her ſtrange Birth; and moſt important Paſſages of her Life; but alſo all her Propheſies, now newly Collected, and Hiſtorically Experienced, from the time of her Birth, in the Reign of King Henry the Seventh, until this preſent Year 1667 Containing the moſt Important Paſſages of State during the Reign of theſe Kings and Queens of England following, Viz.

Henry the Eighth.
Edward the Sixth
Queen Mary
Queen Elizabeth.
King James.
King Charles the Firſt.
King Charles the Second.

Strangely preſerved amongſt other Writings belonging to an old Monaſtary in York-ſhire, and now publiſhed for the Information of Poſterity.

Illustration [Image not included in the transcription.]

LONDON, Printed for B. Harris, at the Stationers Arms in Swe[•]things-Ally near the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, 1677.

Beloved Countrey-men;

THe great Fame, and general received Opinion of Mother Shipton, with the Credit ſhe hath obtained by thoſe ſeveral Propheſies uttered by her, which ſince in the greateſt meaſure have come to paſs: Theſe conſiderations (I ſay) put me upon a Reſolution to ſearch out by my beſt endeavour, the Parents, Place, and Time wherein this Mother Shipton Flouriſhed. Many old Manuſcripts and ruſty Records I turned over, but all in vain; at laſt I was informed by a Gentleman (whoſe Anceſtors by the Gift of King Henry the Eighth, enjoyed a Monaſtary in thoſe parts) that he had in his keeping ſome ancient Writings which would in that point ſatisfie my deſire, were they not ſo injured by Time, as now not legible to Read; however, I not deſpairing to find out their meaning, with much Importunity deſired to have a ſight of them; which having obtained, I took of the beſt Galls I could get, beat them groſly, and laid them to ſteep one day in good white-Wine, that done, I diſtilled them with the Wine; and with the diſtilled Water that came off them, I wetted handſomly the old Letters, whereby they ſeemed as freſh and fair, as if they had been but newly written; here did I find her Life and Propheſies copied out by an impartial hand, which I have in this Book preſented to thy view, together with an Expoſition upon her Propheſies, for the better underſtanding of them, and which may ſerve to them whoſe leiſure will not permit to read, or want of money forbid to buy more Voluminous Authors; this (I ſay) may ſerve to them inſtead of a Chronicle, wherein they may find related the chiefeſt matters performed in each King and Queens Reign ſince the time wherein ſhe flouriſhed: much more might be added, but leaſt I ſhould exceed the bounds of an Epiſtle, and like the Citizens of Mindium, make my Gates too bigg for my City, I ſhall here break off abruptly, wiſhing thee as much pleaſure in the Reading thereof, as I had in the VVriting of it; and ſo

Farewel.

R. Head.

POSTSCRIPT.

COurteous Reader, let me deſire thee Candidly to paſs over ſome ſeemingly Impoſſibilities in the firſt ſheet, (allowing the Author Licentia Poetica in her deſcription) and ſome Actions performed in her Minority; and only to weigh the more ſerious parts of her Propheſies, wherein (if thou bee'ſt rational) I doubt not but thou wilt receive ample ſatisfaction.

The Contents.

CHAP. I. WHat her Father and Mother were, and what wonderful things happen'd at her Birth; as alſo the place of her Nativity.
CHAP. II. How the Devil constantly viſited her, in what forms and ſhapes, what ſtrange things ſhe did to thoſe that offended her, harming ſome, and making ſport with others.
CHAP. III. How Agatha Shipton was apprehended, and brought before a Juſtice; what her Confeſſion was, her Mittimus being made to be ſent to Priſon, how ſhe eſcaped by the help of her friend the Fiend; ſhe is retaken, and found with Child, is bail'd,
CHAP. IV. What kind of ſhape Mother Shipton had when ſhe was born, how ſhe was put to Nurſe at the charge of the Pariſh, and what ſtrange things were ſeen in the houſe where ſhe was Nurſt, during the ſpace of four years.
CHAP. V. How Mother Shipton whilſt but very young at Nurſe, was daily viſited by Spirits, in divers ſhapes and forms, and what prancks they plaid during her abode there.
CHAP. VI. How Mother Shipton was put to School, learning more in a day, than other Children could in a Month; how ſhe was jeer'd by her School-fellows for having ſuch a monſtrous long Noſe, and what prancks ſhe plaid upon them by way of Revenge, ſhe now growing very famous.
CHAP. VII. How ſeveral perſons came to Mother Shipton for her Predictions, and how a rich Heireſs being deceived by her Maid, fell ſick and dyed.
CHAP. VIII. Mother Shipton's Propheſies concerning Henry the Eighth's journey into France, of Gardinal Woolſey, and other things.
CHAP. IX. Her Propheſies to the Abbot of Beverly, concerning the downfal of Abbyes, Nunneries, Priories, &c. with other things.
CHAP. X. Her Propheſies concerning King Edward the Sixth, the Rebellion of the Commons, the Death of the Duke of Somerſet, with other things.
CHAP. XI. Her Propheſies concerning the Death of Jane Grey, the burning of the Martyrs, of Wyats Rebellion, the Death of Queen Mary, and Cardinal Pool.
CHAP. XII. Her Propheſies concerning the Reign of Queen Elizabeth the change of Religion, the attempts of the Papiſts upon the Queen, the Spaniſh Invaſion, the burning of Pauls Steeple, the death of the Queen of Scots, the reducing of Ireland, the beheading the Earl of Eſſex, &c.
CHAP. XIII. The Propheſies of the Reign of King James, his uniting England and Scotland, his peaceable Reign, a Learned time, the Powder Treaſon, the Marriage with the Prince Elector and Lady Elizabeth, the Death of Prince Henry.
CHAP. XIV. The Propheſies of the Reign of King Charles the Firſt, his Marriage with France, the Murther of the Duke of Buckingham, the Scottiſh troubles of the long Parliament, & Bloody Warr enſuing after the Execrable Murther of the King.
CHAP, XV. The Reign of King Charles the Second, the Ʋſurpation of Cromwel, the ſtrang Confuſion of a Democratical Government, the Restauration of the King, the great Sickneſs, the Burning of the City of London.

THE LIFE and DEATH OF MOTHER SHIPTON.

CHAP. I.

What her Father and Mother were, and what Wonderful things happened at her Birth, as alſo the place of Her Nativity.

IN the Second Year of King Henry the Seventh, which was in the Year of our Lord One thouſand Four hundred Eighty and ſix; there lived a Woman called Agatha Shipton, at a place called Naſeborough near the Dropping-Well in York-ſhire. She came of poor Parentage, who died and left her to ſhift for her ſelf, at the Age of fifteen. After their deceaſe, ſhe ſtill inhabited in the Old Houſe; but being now deprived of thoſe helps ſhe formerly enjoyed conducible to a lively-hood, ſhe was conſtrained to ſeek relief from the Pariſh? which ſhe did, but with ſo much regret and grief, that ſhe ſeemed in her begging rather to command Alms, then in an humble manner to deſire it. At length ſhe arrived to that paſs, that ſhe was upon the matter ſtarving, rather then ſhe would be beholding to the charity of any.

The Devil looking on her poverty to be great, and knowing her evil inclinations by her completion (for you muſt underſtand, that the Devil is a great Scholar, well read in all things, and much acquainted with the conſtitutions of all ſorts of perſons.) I ſay, perceiving that ſhe was willing to accept of any propoſition to change her condition▪ He one time as ſhe was ſitting Melancholy under a Tree by a River ſide, accoſted her in the form of a very handſome young man, well apparel'd with all things ſuitable to a youthful garb. Pretty Maid, (quoth he) Why doſt thou fit ſo ſad? Thy age is too ſlender for thy head to be troubled with cares of the World; come tell me what is the matter, and if it lie within my power to aſſiſt thee (as I am ſure it doth) thou ſhalt not want a friend of me.

Agatha caſting up her eyes, and there ſeeing a face ſo lovely, could not ſuspect a Devil bid in that comely ſhape; whereupon in a lamentable tone ſhe expreſt all that troubled her, informing him of her great wants, and that knowing not how to work, ſhe could not provide what her neceſſaries required: Piſh (ſaid the Devil) this is nothing, be ruled by me, and all ſhall be well; ſhe told him ſhe would; hereupon be ordered her to meet him at the ſame place the next day, and he would bring ſome friends along with him, for he told her he reſolved to marry her; ſhe promiſed him ſhe would, and accordingly they met. He came riding upon a ſtately Horſe, with a pillion behind for his Spouſe, attended by a great many Gallants (as they appeared) well mounted, and in a noble equipage.

His Devilſhips attendants ſoon conveyed his Miſtris behind him, as ſhe imagined; not in the leaſt doubting the reality of all ſhe ſaw.

They needed neither ſwitch nor ſpurr to haſten them forward, the Iades were fiery enough of themſelves, and ran with that ſwiftneſs that the wind could not over-take them in their full ſpeed; ſoon they arrived at their journies end, where ſeemed to be a very ſtately Houſe, with a great pair of Gates, which at their approach opened by a Porter with his ſtick, in his Livery-gown: Alighting, ſhe went in, where ſhe ſaw a great many ſervants, which ſeemed at the ſight of her and their Maſter, to ſhow much reſpect and obeiſance.

Now did the Devil command rich Garments to be brought, which ſhe was immediately cloathed with, and being, thus richly attired, ſhe was uſhered into a great Hall, where was a long Lable furniſhed with all the Varieties the whole world could afford; at the upper end of which table ſhe was placed, next her the Friend her intended husband; all the reſt of the gueſts did place themſelves as they thought fit. As they had the choiceſt cheere, ſo had they the beſt of Wines, and ſweeteſt Muſick.

Dinner being ended, they fell to Dancing; and now could my lecherous Devil ſtay no longer, but he muſt needs walk a co[•]ant with his Miſtris into another private room, and there courted her to luſt; the ſimple Girle conſented, and ſo they both went to bed together, with the Ceremonies of Marriage. His touches (as ſhe confeſſed to the Midwife that delivered her of her Deviliſh Off-ſpring) were as cold as ice, or ſnow. After they had lain a little while together, he told her what he was, and what ſhe muſt do hereafter, if ſhe intended to live happy and delightful days. Firſt, he told her that he was no Mortal, but a Spirit immaterial, and not burdened by a body, nor hindred by any material thing; So that I can when I pleaſe pierce through the Earth and ranſack its Treaſures, and bring what precious things I pleaſe from thence to beſtow on thoſe that ſerve me. I know all rare Arts and Sciences, and can teach them to whom I pleaſe. I can diſturb the Element, ſtir up Thunders and Lightnings, deſtroy the beſt of things which were created for the uſe of man, and can appear in what ſhape, or form I pleaſe. It will be too long to diſcribe my power, or tell thee what I can do; but will only tell thee what thou ſhalt do. That being done, I will give ſhee power to raiſe Haile, Tempeſts, with lightning and Thunder; the Winds ſhall be at thy command, and ſhall bear thee whither thou art willing to go, though never ſo far off, and ſhall bring thee back again when thou baſt a mind to return. The hidden treaſures of the Earth ſhall be at thy diſpoſe and pleaſure, and nothing ſhall be wanting to compleat thy happineſs here. Thou ſhalt moreover, heal or kill whom thou pleaſeſt; deſtroy or preſerve either man or beaſt; know what is paſt, and aſſuredly tell what is to come. Here note by the way, the Devil is a Lyar from the beginning, and will promiſe more by ten millions, than he knows he is capable to perform, to the intent he may inſnare and damn a Soul.

This poor ignorant wretch eaſily believed what this Grand Deceiver of Man kind told her; and being raviſh't with the thoughts of being ſo highly prefer'd, ſhe condeſcended to all the Devil would have her do: Whereupon he bid her ſay after him, in this manner: Raziel ellimiham irammiſh ziragia Pſonthonphanchia Raphael elhaveruna tapinotambecaz mitzphecat jarid cuman hapheah Gabriel Heydoncurris dungeonis philonomoſtarkes ſophecord hankim. After ſhe had repeated theſe words after him, he pluckt her by the Groin, and there immediately grew a kind of Let, which he inſtantly ſuckt, telling her that muſt be his conſtant Cuſtom with her morning and evening; now did he bid her ſay after him again, Kametzeatuph Odel Pharaz Tumbagin Gall Flemmngen Victow Denmarkeonto. having finiſht his laſt belliſh ſpeech, which the chiefeſt of his Minions underſtand not, out of which none but the Devil himſelf can pick out the meaning; I ſay it thundred ſo horridly, that every clap ſeemed as if the vaulted roof of Heaven had crackt and was tumbling down on her head; and withal that ſtately Palace which ſhe thought ſhe had been in, vaniſht in a trice; ſo did her ſumptuous apparel: and now her eyes being opened, ſhe found her ſelf in a dark doleſom Wood; a place which from the Creation, had ſcarce ever injoyed the benefit of one ſingle Sun-beam. Whilſt ſhe was thinking what courſe to ſteer in order to her return, two flaming fiery Dragons appear'd before her tied to a Chariot, and as ſhe was conſulting with her ſelf what was beſt to be done, ſhe inſenſibly was hoiſted into it, and with ſpeed unimaginable conveyed through the Air to her own poor Cottage.

CHAP. II.

How the Devil conſtantly viſited her, in what Forms and Shapes; what ſtrange things ſhe did to thoſe that offended her, harming ſome, and making ſport with others; and at length brought to Bed of a Child, which is commonly called, Mother Shipton.

BEing come home, the Neighbours flockt about her, having miſt her two or three days, ſhrewdly ſuſpecting ſome miſchief had befallen her; but when they beheld her face they were all amazed, to ſee ſuch a ſtrange alteration in her countenance, in ſo ſhort a time; and here the Proverb was verified in her: She lookt as if a Hagg had rid her. Before ſhe met with this wanton Devil, ſhe lookt plump and freſh, which were all the good quallities ſhe had in her ill featured face; but now that red plumpneſs vaniſht, and there was nothing to be ſeen but a pale ſhriveled skin on her cheek, which for want of fleſh ſeemed to fall in her mouth, to be devoured by her hunger-ſtarved jaws. Thoſe about her which were charitable minded, pittied her, comforted and gave her monys, which with a great deal of diſdain and ſcorn ſhe threw them, ſaying, ſhe wanted not, nor ſtood in need of their Alms; for look ye here (ſaid ſhe) is many enough, plucking her hand out of her pocket, the people drawing near her, diſcovered that what was in her hands, was nothing elſe but ſome Aſpin-leaves: and notwithſtanding, they endeavoured to perſwade her that ſhe was miſtaken in ſuppoſing that to be money, yet would ſhe not believe them; ſo ſtrong a Power the Devil had gotten over her already.

In fine, ſhe did bid them all be gone, for now ſhe began to take little delight in humane Society: It was not long that they had left her, before the Devil (with whom ſhe made a Helliſh Contract) came in to ſee her, in the ſame handſome young form as he firſt appeared unto her, telling her that he came to ſupply the company of thoſe ſhe had wiſely diſmiſt, that ſhe needed not the Society of humane creatures, for he would not fail to he conſtantly with her; always bringing with him what ſhould not only ſerve for a bare Livelihood, but her Delight, Pleaſure, and Satisfaction: Hereupon by the Devil's command, there inſtantly appeared ſeemingly, a compleat noiſe of Muſick, with Diſhes of Meat, great variety of the choiceſt and moſt pleaſing ſort: which ſo raviſhed Agatha, that ſhe fell to the ground in a very profound and deep trance. One of her Neighbours coming in this while, wondered to ſee Agatha lying on the floor motionleſs; however out of pity and commiſeration, ſhe kneeled down, and having croſt her ſelf, and ſaid a ſhort prayer, ſhe endeavoured to waken Agatha, but uſing what means ſhe could, it all ſignified nothing; ſhe ſhook and pincht her, and pulled her by the noſe, yet ſtill ſhe lay inſenſibly: This Neighbouring-woman being ſtrangly amazed and ſcared hereat, ran out amongſt the reſt of the Neighbours, crying out, that poor Agatha Shipton was ſuddenly ſtruck dead, and ſo deſired them to go into the houſe with her, and they ſhould there be the eye-witneſſes of the truth thereof; whereupon ſeveral went and found what this woman had ſaid, to be ſeemingly true: but one wiſer then the reſt ſtooped down and perceiving that ſhe breathed, ſpake aloud, Friends, ye are all miſtaken, Agatha is not dead, but in a trance, or elſe ſhe is bewitched; ſhe had ſcarce uttered theſe words before Agatha began to ſtir; and ſoon after, raiſed her ſelf on her leggs, crying out in a very diſtracted tone, What make ye here, vile wretches? Cannot I enjoy my pleaſures, but ye muſt be Ches-dropping? get ye gone, as having nothing to do here, and hereupon ſhe fell a dauncing, which they wondered at becauſe they could here no Muſick. At length Agatha turning about, and ſeeing they were not gone; ſaid, if ye are reſolved thus to diſturb me, and will not go, I will make ye: this ſomething affrighted them, for they now verily believed ſhe was a witch; and as they were haſtning away with all imaginable ſpeed, a ſudden ſtrong wind boiſted them a great height into the air, falling all to the ground again without the leaſt barm, only ſome ſhame to the women, for they deſcended with their heads downwards, their coats over their ears, their lower parts appearing all naked to the aſtoniſhed ſpectators; the men were ſeen like overgrown Goats with larg horns on their heads, and women riding on their backs: which ſights as they produced inexpreſſible wonder, ſo amidſt their amazement, they could not but burſt out into exceſſive laughter.

This wonderful and unexpected exploit, was inſtantly noiſed all about the Countrey, which occaſioned a great reſort of people to the place where Agatha lived; which ſo perplext her by their undeſired viſits, that ſhe reſolved within her ſelf to be revenged on ſome of them; which by the Devils help ſhe effected; miſchieving ſome in their perſons, others in their cartel, and others in their credits: one had a Horſe that dyed ſuddenly, and being opened, there was found in his ſtomack fiſh-books, and hair, inſtead of Hay and Dars. Another going to ſit down at Table with perſons of good quality at dinner-time, and thinking himſelf very ſpruce and fine, had in an inſtant his Kuffe pull'd off, and the ſeat of an Houſe of Office clapt on in its place, he that ſate next him, breaking out into a great laughter at the ſight thereof, was ſerved little better; for his Hatt was inviſibly conveyed away, and the Pan of a Cloſe-ſtool which ſtood in the next room, put on inſtead thereof; A modeſt young Gentlewoman which did ſit at the Table at that time, on no other errand but to ſee this young witch which was ſo much talked of; looking on theſe two worthy ſpectacles of laughter, endeavoured all ſhe could to refrain laughing, but could not, and withal continued farting for above a quarter of an bour; this made them all laugh ſo extreamly that the Maſter of the houſe was alarum'd (below) therewith, and being deſirous to ſhare with his Gueſts in their mirth, came running up ſtairs as faſt as his legs would carry him, about to enter the door, he could not, and no wonder, ſince the oldeſt man living, never ſaw a larger pair of horns then he had on his head: Whilſt they were gazeing one on another as more then half diſtracted, they were all reduced to the ſame condition they were in before; after which there followed a noiſe, as if an hundred perſons were laughing together, but nothing at all was ſeen.

Theſe perſons fearing ſomething worſe might befal them if they ſtaid any longer, made all the haſt they could to be gone: Agatha knowing their intent reſolved to take her farwel of them by ſerving them one trick more, which was thus; As they were about to mount on Horſe-back, they were pelted with rotten Apples, Dung, and ſtuff that ſmelt worſe then can be imagined. As they rid through the Town, ſuch men as thought they rid ſingly, were all obſerved to have behind them a deformed old Woman; and as their Faces differ'd all one from another, ſo did their habits, which were all tatter'd and ragged, and patcht with a hundred colours, fear, ſhame, and the hooting of the people, made them put ſpurs to their Horſes, neither did they forbear the ſwitch, nor any thing that might add ſpeed to their Horſes heels, ſo that it may be ſaid, they rather flew then rode; how could it be otherwiſe? for needs muſt he go whom the Devil drives.

Coming home, they declare what wonderful things they had ſeen performed, though by a young one, yet as they believed the greateſt witch in the world: this news being ſo generally ſpred, came at length to the ear of the Iuſtices, who now thought it high-time to queſtion and bring into examination a perſon that was ſo much talked of, and might, if let alone, do a great deal of miſchief.

CHAP. III

How Agatha Shipton was apprehended and brought before a Juſtice; what her Confeſſion was, her Mittimus being made to be ſent to Priſon; how ſhe eſcaped by the help of her friend, the Fiend; ſhe is retaken, and being found with Child, is bail'd.

Illustration [Image not included in the transcription.]

Agatha is now no longer ſuſpected, but plainly known to be a witch, doing ſomething or other daily which was very remarkable; ſhe hath been frequently obſerved to walk alone muttering to her ſelf, and having been watcht by ſome, they have ſeen her ſtamp upon the ground thrice, then wound her hands over her head, laſtly, ſhe ſpake one word thrice, and in the twinkling of an eye, the sky hath been dark and gloomy, though clear before, which belcht out nothing for half an hour but flames, thundring after a moſt hideous manner.

But now the time draws on, wherein ſhe muſt give an account for what ſhe hath done, and in order thereunto, ſhe is apprehended by two reſolute fellows, who were not a whit daunted when they entred the houſe, though Toads, Adders, and ſuch like noiſome creatures crawled up and down the houſe, but could not chuſe but be much ſtartled when they ſeiz'd her and were carrying her, to hear ſuch a terrible crack of thunder, the houſe at that time reeling too and fro like a Cradle.

However they carryed her before the Iuſtice, where being brought, ſhe was ſtrictly examined by him; ſhe not a jot daunted, told him that ſhe had more authority then he, and that notwithſtanding his power, ſhe could command one that could over-rule him when he liſt; That ſhe was a Princeſs, and could have at her beck a thouſand Spirits of the Air, and as many of the Earth and Water; That ſhe could raiſe a Tempeſt preſently, that ſhould overturn his houſe about his ears; and that you may know, it lies not in your power to detain me, three words ſhall procure my liberty: hereupon ſhe ſaid Updraxi, call Stygicon Helluox, ſhe had not ſcarce uttered the laſt word, before there came in a horrid winged-Dragon, which immediately took her up, and carried her away from the amazed Iuſtice and Attendants about him, half dead with fear.

This ſo affrighted all that heard of it, that none would undertake to meddle with her more; ſo that ſhe had a conſtderable time of reſpire. But ſhe now began to be more admired than before, being diſcovered by the great ſwelling of her Belly, to be with Child: The people could not tell what to think, or who ſhould be the Father, concluding that none would be ſo vile and wicked, as to have Copulation with a Devil incarnate; neither could they believe a Spirit had either deſire or power, to generate with any humane Creature; while people were generally paſſing their verdicts on Agatha, ſhe was once more taken and brought before a Iuſtice, and amongſt other queſtions, was asked, whether ſhe was with Child, ſhe acknowledged it; nay further, that it was begot by no mortal Wight: The Iuſtice gave no credit to what ſhe ſaid, as looking on her as an ignorant ſeduced Woman; and ſo askt her what Bail ſhe could produce, intending to deferr the buſineſs till ſhe was Delivered; in this very nick of time two Gentlemen as they appeared by their habits, voluntarily proffered themſelves, which as ſoon as accepted for Baile, vaniſh't preſently, however Agatha had permiſſion to go home.

CHAP. IV.

What kind of ſhape Mother Shipton had when ſhe was born: How ſhe was put to Nurſe at the charge of the Pariſh; and what ſtrange things were ſeen in that Houſe where ſhe was Nurſt, during the time of four years.

THe uſual time of forty weeks being expired, her Mother, after many ſtrange and horrible Torments which ſhe underwent in her Travil, was at laſt delivered (by the rare skill and induſtry of her Midwife, and others of that Sir) of her which is now called, Mother Shipton, which proved the concluſion of her miſerable Life. But her entry into the world was ſuch a terror to all that beheld her, that ſeveral credible perſons then preſent, have ſeveral times confeſt that they never beheld the like: Such ſtrange and horrible noiſes, that the perſons concern'd about her, could ſcarce find ſo much courage in themſelves as to continue in the place where ſhe was, much leſs when they beheld the ſtrange and unparrallel'd Phiſtognomy of the Child, which was ſo miſhapen, that it is altogether impoſſible to expreſs it fully in words, or the moſt ingennous to Limn her in colours, though many perſons of eminent qualifications in that Art have often attempted it, but without any ſucceſs; therefore according to the beſt obſervations of her, take this true, though not full account of her features, and body: ſhe was of an indifferent height, but very moroſe and big hon'd, her head very long, with very great goggling, but ſharp and fiery Eyes, her Noſe of an incredible and unproportionable length, having in it many crooks and turnings, adorned with many ſtrange Pimples of divers colours, as Red, Blew and mixt, which like Uapours of Brimſtone gave ſuch a luſtre to her affrighted ſpectators in the dead time of the Night, that one of them confeſſed ſeveral times in my hearing, that her Nurſe needed no other light to aſſiſt her, in the performance of her duty: Her Cheeks were of a black ſwarthy complexion, much like a mixture of the Black and yellow jaundies; wrinckled, ſhrivelled and very hollow; inſomuch, that as the Ribs of her Body, ſo ſhe impreſſion of her teeth were eaſily to be diſcerned, through both ſides of her face, anſwering one ſide to the other, like the notches in a Ualley, excepting only two of them which ſtood quite out of her mouth, in imitation of the Luſhes of a wild Bore, or the Tooth of an Elephant, a thing ſo ſtrange in an Infant, that no age can parallel: Her Chin was of the ſame Completion as her Face, turning up towards her mouth, and ſhreeks being heard, from an unknown cauſe, as if there had been a more than an ordinary correſpondence between her Teeth and it.

Her Neck ſo ſtrangely diſtorted, that her right ſhoulder was forced to be a ſupporter to her head, it being propt up by the help of her Chin, in ſuch ſort, that the right ſide of her Body ſtood much lower than the left; like the reeling of a Ship that ſails with a ſide winde. Again, her left ſide was quite turned the contrary way, as if her Body had been ſcrew'd together piece after piece; and not rightly placed: her left ſhoulder hanging juſt Perpendicular to her Fundament.

Her Leggs very crooked and miſhapen: The Toes of her feet looking towards her left ſide; ſo that it was very hard for any perſon (could ſhe have ſtood up) to gueſs which road ſhe intended to ſtear her courſe; becauſe ſhe never could look that way ſhe reſolved to go.

After ſhe had remained under the care of her Nurſe, for the ſpace of a Moon, or there abouts, her Mother being unable to provide for her, ſhe was put out to Nurſe at the charge of the Pariſh, to a poor Woman hard by in the Town, where ſhe continued for the ſpace of half a year or there abouts, the houſe not being any waies diſturbed at all, till at laſt her Nurſe having been abroad amongſt ſome of the chief of the Pariſhoners, either to procure ſomething of their Charity for her ſubſiſtance, and the maintainance of her Family, or elſe to fetch her money from the Overſeers of the Poor, for Nurſing the Child; and returning home to her Houſe, ſhe found her dores unbard and wide open, whereat ſhe much amazed and affcighted, ran to her next Neighbour, and acquainted her that ſhe was quite undone, for her houſe was broken open and robbed; the man immediately riſeth from his Dinner, carrying his bread and Cheeſe in his hand, accompanied with his Wiſe and another labring man; approaching the door, endeavoured to enter, but before they could all get quite in, there was immediately a very ſtrange noiſe heard in the next Room to them as if it had been a conſort of Catts, which ſo affrighted them, that they all ran towards the door endeavouring to get out again but it was in vain; for at their approach there were great long yoaks about their Necks, in the form of a Croſs, or turned ſtile; ſo that they could not poſſibly return; and while they were thus ſtriving and crying out for help; their yoaks at laſt fell off, and a cou[•]e-ſtaff, or Brewers-ſting laid upon the mens ſhoulders; upon which an old Woman preſented her ſelf Naked, ſome times hanging by the Heels, ſome times by the Toes, anon by the Middle; with divers other poſtures, they continuing for the ſpace of half an hour, in ſuch ſort, that the poor men were never more tired in clearing of Leggs, nor leſs pleaſed at any thing than in being conſtrained to humour this peice of helliſh activity.

After they had got a diſcharge from this their new employment, the houſe being now quiet, and they a little recovered their ſences and miſſing the women, they ran further into the houſe, where at laſt they found them lying flat upon their bellies, their clothes being turned backwards over their heads, two great black Catts were playing Hocus Pocus upon their poſters, which the men in vain attempted to drive away, untill at laſt their own ſtavery procured the womens freedom from that employment, though they changed not much for the better, for as they were coming out of that Room, in the next their ſtood a pair of Yarwingles, made in the form of a Croſs, uppon which women uſe to put great skains of Yarn, that ſo they may wind it off with more caſe and leſs trouble: Theſe being placed in the middle of the Room, the two men and two women were forced to take the four ends the e[•]f in their hand, and ſo daunce round about the Room one after another, until ſuch time as they were almoſt tired to death, carrying upon every one of their ſhoulders an Imp in the likeneſs of a Monkey or Ape, which hung cloſe upon them; and when ever they ſtackned their pace, theſe Spirits pricked them forward, continuing this recreation for a very conſiderable time; and being cloy'd with this kind of diverſion, they vaniſhed quite out of fight, leaving theſe poor wretches as weary, as aſtoniſhed; who (notwithſtanding) no ſooner perceived themſelves at liberty but they preſently quitted the houſe, and ſoon after addreſſed themſelves to ſeveral of the Neighbourhood, acquainting them with what bad happened, which cauſed great amazement amongſt them, and immediately the whoſe Town was in an uproar; and the Miniſter and ſeveral of the moſt eminent Inhabitants, conſulted together what the occaſion thereof ſhould be, and what to do in the buſſneſs, ſome of them threatning the informers; others thinking they were diſtracted: But at laſt they reſolved to go to the Houſe; yet when they came near, there aroſe a great diſpute amongſt them who ſhould firſt enter, which at laſt was agreed upon, and the Parſon (with his congregation attending him in the rear;) gave them the firſt onſet, and entring the door quivering and ſhaking, they heard the Nurſe-Child cry in a moſt hideous and doleful manner; whereupon there was ſuddenly a noiſe like the treading of people upon ſtones, though the houſe in any place had no other then an earthen floor; at which the Child ceaſed, and a very ſweet muſical harmony of ſeveral notes was heard, and all preſently baniſhed again: after which the Miniſter and Inhabitants entring, and ſearching the Houſe, and at length miſſing the Child one of them looking up the Chimney, ſaw the Cradle wonderfully hanging about three yards high without any ſupport; which being as ſtrangly conveyed down again: they encouraged the Nurſe, and leaving her in the Houſe (though affrighted) they departed for the preſent.

CHAP. V.

How Mother Shipton whilſt but very young at Nurſe, was daily Viſited by Spirits, in divers Shapes and Forms; and what prancks they play'd during her abode there.

MOther Shipton now grew a pace, and as her ſtature encreaſed, ſo did her deformity: Her ſuppoſed Father (the foul fiend) omitted not a day wherein he viſited not the Houſe where ſhe was, ſometimes viſibly in the form of a Cat, Dog, Bat, or Hog; at other times, inviſibly by noiſes, ſo terrible, as it ſo affrighted the Nurſe, that ſhe oftentimes reſolved to deliver up her charge, and forſake her habitation; ſometimes ſhe came in a pleaſant humour, either ſinging or playing on an Inſtrument, which was uſually a Scotch Bag-pipe.

Her Nurſe ſometimes was in great perplexity, not knowing what was become of her, for an whole day together; but when ſhe was in her greateſt ſearch after her, ſhe ſaw her oftentimes drop through the Roof of the Houſe: Going out, upon her return, ſhe many times found herChild ſtretcht out to a prodigious length, caller than the talleſt living; and at other times as much decreaſt or ſhortned. The poor womans work for the Maior part, was only to rectifie what theſe Spirits diſordered about her Houſe; the Chairs and Stools would frequently march up ſtairs and down, and they uſually plaid below at Bowls with the Trenchers and diſhes: Going to dinner, the meat was removed before ſhe could touch a bit of it, which things, as they much troubled the Nurſe, ſo they gave much ſatisfaction to Mother Shipton; as it appeared by her monſtrous ſmiles: Now and then to pacifie her Nurſe, when ſhe ſaw her much vext hereat, ſhe would ſay, be contented there is nothing here will harm you.

To be ſhort, the Nurſe was ſo continually terrified by theſe apparitions, that ſhe reſolved to complain to the parriſh; and having made known the truth of what had paſt, in commiſeration to the woman almoſt diſtracted, they removed Mother Shipton to another place, where ſhe was put to School, being of an age now fitting for it.

CHAP. VI.

How Mother Shipton was put to School, learning more in a day, then other Children in a Moneth: How ſhe was jeered by her Schoolfellows, for having ſuch a monſtrous long Noſe: and what pranks ſhe plaid upon them, by way of Revenge; growing now very famous.

MOther Shipton was now grown a luſty Girl; and as ſhe was left to the care of the Pariſh, ſo the Pariſh took care that ſhe ſhould have the common ſort of Learning; that is to ſay, Reading and Writing beſtowed upon her. Comming to School, her Miſtriſs began to inſtruct her, as other Children, beginning with the Criſ-croſs-row as they call'd it, ſhowing and naming only three or four Letters at firſt, but to the amazement and aſtoniſhment of her Miſtris; ſhe exactly pronourced every Letter in the Alphabet without teaching. Hereupon her Miſtris, ſhewed her a Primmer, which ſhe read as well at firſt ſight, as any in the School, and ſo proceeded in any Book was ſhown her.

As this produced wonder in her School-Miſtris, ſo hatred and enby in her Comrades; ſome flouted her for her monſtrous long Noſe, others endevoured to heat her, and all ſtrove to miſchief her; but ſhe valued them not, revenging her ſelf upon every one of them, that intended her harm. Some were pinch't, and yet no hand ſeen that did it; others ſtruck ſpeechleſs when they were about to ſay their Leſſons, not being able to utter a word; and none eſcaped from being ſerved one ſcurby trick, or other. This ſo inraged the Parents of theſe Children, looking on Mother Shipton the ſole cauſe hereof; that ſhe was diſcharged the School, and ſo leſt to the wide World.

She hath been often ſeen when alone, to laugh hartily; at other times to talk by her ſelf, uttering very ſtrange riddles, which occaſioned ſome of the more ſober ſort to converſe with her, receiving ſuch ſtrange things from her, as required a long ſtudy to find out the meaning.

Never a day paſſed, wherein ſhe related not ſomething very remarkable, and required the moſt ſerious conſideration. And now it was that people flockt to her far and near, (her fame was ſo great) to be reſolved of their Doubts, all returning wonderfully ſatisfied in the Reſolution of their queſtions.

CHAP. VII.

How ſeveral perſons came to Mother Shipton, for her Predictions, and how a Rich Heire being deceived by her Maid, fell ſick of Grief, and dyed.

ANd now Mother Shipton beginning to grow Famous in the World, for her notable Iudgment in things to come: There reforted to her Houſe a number of people, of all ſorts, both old and young, rich and poor; Eſpecially, of the Female Sex viz. Young Maids and Wenches, who have alwaies a great Itching deſire to know when they ſhall be Married; as alſo, what manner of Husbands they ſhall have; to which ſhe gave ſuch ſatisfactory anſwers, both for the Perſons, and time; that no ſooner could a young Maid get into the Teens, but She would preſently Trott to Mother Shiptons, to be reſolved of her doubt. Now though ſhe were not Mercenary her ſelf, but refuſed great Gifts, when proffered unto her; yet did ſhe keep a young Wench, who rather then fail, if they forgot to open their purſe to her ſhe would remember to open her mouth to them, and tell them, that her Dame Shipton, nor ſhe, could not be maintained with thanks, but that the belly required meat to feed it: and that it was money which made the Mare to go. One day there came a certain young Heir thither, whoſe Father was ſick, to be reſolved by her, whether he ſhould live or die; but Mother Shipton could by no means be wrought upon to tell him any thing; whereupon he proffered the Maid great ſtore of Money, if ſhe could by any means perſwade her Dame, to fulfil his requeſt; the Wench greedy of Money, promiſed him fair; and that if he would come the next Morning, he ſhould be certain to be reſolved; in the mean time, ſhe importuned her Dame with the moſt cunning Rhetorick that ſhe could invent; but ſhe was deaf to all entreaties, and would by no means be induced thereto, whereupon the Wench reſolved with her ſelf, rather than to loſe the money, to give him an anſwer of her own intention; which the next morning ſhe performed in theſe words.

The Grave prepared hath a Room,

Prepare for Death, thy hour is Come.

The young Gentleman having received this anſwer, went home joyfully, hoping preſently to reap the Golden Crop which his Father had ſown, and to be in an inſtant, poſſeſſed of all his vaſt eſtate, but the ſequel proved quite contrary; for by that time he came home, great hopes of amendment appeared in his Father, who each day grew better and better, ſo that in a ſhort time he became perfectly well. This unexpected recovery of the old man, ſtruck ſuch a dump in our young Heir, that he preſently took his Bed, fell extream ſick, and in a ſhort time grew extraordinary ill, that all the ſymptoms of a dying man appeared in him: The old man, who had carked and cared all his life time for his Son, (having no more Children but he) was very deſious of his life, and to know whether be ſhould recover; whereupon he ſent to Mother Shipton about the ſame; who knowing by her Art, what her Maid bad done, ſufficiently did chide her for the ſame: threatning upon ſuch another offence, to turn her out of her ſervice. In the mean time, the Meſſenger was come to her Houſe, who having delivered his errant, was turned back with this anſwer.

For others Deaths who do gape out,

Their own unlook't for, comes about:

Earth he did ſeek, e're long ſhall have,

Of Earth his fill, within his Grave.

The old man having received this anſwer, was much troubled, as thinking his own Death predicted thereby, not imagining in the leaſt, what his Son had done; but he was ſoon quit of that ſuſpicion, for within two daies the young man dyed; when by a Servant (who knew the paſſages) he was informed the truth of the whole matter.

CHAP. VIII.

Mother Shipſons Prophecies concerning King Henry the Eighth's journey into France; of Cardinal Wolſey, and other things.

ABout this time, ſome differences ariſing betwixt King Henry the Eighth, and the French King; great preparations of War were made in England, the Drums beating in every County, to ſummon Voluntary Valour to expreſs it ſelf, indefence of their King and Country, Many Heroick Spirits, who made Honour their Aime, not dreading any dangers for the attaining thereof, now liſted themſelves Bellona's followers: ſo many appearing under Mars his Banner, that he who was furniſhed with Limbs and an Eſtate, to decline the Service, was adjudged a Coward. There was then living in the North, a young Heir, who was newly come to his Eſtate, one whoſe Tongue was all fire, and his heart all ire, who would kill Thouſands with words, but durſt not adventure to do any thing in deeds. This Gallant being by ſome of his Equals, pricked on to make his appearance in the fields of Mars, and not to lie ſleeping at home, when Fame Summoned him forth to Action, he knew not what to do in this caſe; loath was he to loſe his loved Life, and yet the aſperſion of a Coward, though to a Coward himſelf, is of all things moſt odious? He therefore promiſed them fair; that none ſhould be more willing then he, to to ſpend his blood in the quarrel of that Country, from whence he received his deareſt life; but yet reſolved with himſelf, not to ſet one ſtep forward in that path of danger, till he had firſt conſulted with Mother Shipton, concerning what ſucceſs he ſhould have in his journey; if bad, be was reſolved by a feigned ſickneſs to evade, thinking it no policy for a man to part away with that life in an inſtant, which with great coſt and care, had been many years in bringing up.

Hereupon he baſts to our Northern Prophereſs, acquaints her with his Condition, and very earneſtly deſires of her (as ſhe to whom nothing was unhid) that ſhe would unfold to him whether-good, or bad fortune ſhould be his attendant, in this his Expedition. Mother Shipton though ſhe perceived his ſheepleſs courage to be every way unanſwerable to that of a Souldier, yet foreknowing what would come to paſs, returned him this anſwer; which without more ado, fully ſatisfied him to proceed, and perform what be had promiſed; the anſwer was this.

When the Engliſh Lyon ſhall ſet his paw on the Galligue ſhore, then ſhall the Lillies begin to drop for fear: There ſhall be much weeping and wailing amongſt the Ladies of that Country; becauſe the Princely Eagle ſhall joyn with the Lyon, to tread down all that ſhall oppoſe them: and though many Sagitaries ſhall appear in defence of the Lillies, yet ſhall they not prevaile; becauſe the dull Animal of the North ſhall put them to Confuſion; and though it be againſt his will, yet ſhall cauſe great ſhame unto them. Now ſhall the Mitred Pearock firſt begin to Plume, whoſe Train ſhall make a great ſhow in the World, for a time; but ſhall afterwards vaniſh away, and his great Honour come to nothing; which ſhall take its end at Kingſton.

The Explanation of the Prophecy.

By the Engliſh Lyon was meant the King of England; and by ſetting his Paw on the Gallique ſhore, the Landing of his Army in France, which not long after he did; by the Lillies beginning to drop for fear, was ſignified the great trouble and perplexity of the French, the Lillies being the Arms of France; the weeping and wailing amongſt the Ladies of that Country, denotes the miſeries and deſtructions incident to War, the Sword, Famine, Deſtruction and Deſolation being inſeparable Companions; by the Princely Eagle joyning with the Lyon, and treading down all that ſhould oppoſe them, is meant Maximilian the German Emperor (whoſe Arms were the Eagle) who not only joyned in Amity with King Henry, but alſo took wages of him, and ſerved him in his Wars as an hired Souldier; by the Sagitaries that appeared in defence of the Lillies, was meant the French Cavalry, the chief ſtrength of France, conſiſting of Horſe-men, who appearing like Sagitaries, that is to ſay, half Men, and half Horſes, gave Mother Shipton to uſe that expreſſion; whereas it is ſaid, yet they ſhould not prevail, it fell out ſo accordingly; for notwithſtanding all the oppoſitions of the French Armies, King Henry proceeded on vigorouſly, conquering and taking ſeveral Towns of importance, as Tourmey, Bulloign, &c. But to come to that which moſt nearly concerns the matter, viz. the ſucceſs of our young Heir, in this expedition, which was hinted forth unto him in theſe words, becauſe the dull Animal of the North ſhall put them to Confuſion; and though it be againſt his will, yet ſhall cauſe great ſhame unto them; by the dull Animal of the North, was meant this freſh water Souldier, who according to the Prophecy, put the Frenchmen to confuſion, and great ſhame; for paſſing the Seas with King Henry, being Mounted on a ſtately Horſe, as both Armies confronted each other, he being in the Head of the Battel, juſt before the Charge, ſome body ſtriking his Horſe, the Iade carried him perforce upon the Enemy, with ſuch violence, as put their front into ſome diſorder, which being perceived by our men, they preſently ſo ſeconded him, that in fine, the French very fairely ran away, leaving the Engliſh a glorious victory, purchaſed with a little coſt.

By this means was Mother Shiptons Prediction fulfilled to the diſgrace of the French, and great praiſe of the young Gallant; for the reſt of the Prophecy, the Interpretation thereof runs thus.

By the Mitred Peacock was intended Cardinal Wolſey, ſignified by that Bird, becauſe of his great Pride, who being but a poor Butlers ſon of Ipſwich in Suffolk, grew to ſuch height, that he thought himſelf Superior to ſhe chief Novies of the Land, living in ſuch ſplendor as not to be parallel'd, according to the Prophecy: Whoſe Train ſhall make a great ſhow in the World, and whereas it is ſaid, the Peacock ſhall then begin to Plume, ſo it was, that when King Henry had taken the City of Tourney, in France he made Wolſey Biſhop thereof, who ſoon after roſe to the higheſt degree of Honour a Subject could be capable of, which afterwards (as the Prophecy ſaies) vaniſhedaway, and his great Honour come to nothing: And laſtly, whereas it is ſaid, be ſhould have his end at Kingſtone; the Cardinal being told of this Prophecy, would never paſs through the Town of Kingſtone, though lying directly in the Road, from his own Houſe to the Court, but afterwards being arreſted of High Treaſon, by the Earl of Northumberland and Sir Anthony Kingſton the Lieutenant of the Tower ſent unto him, his very name (remembring this Propheſie) ſtruck ſuch a terror to his heart, that he ſoon after expired.

CHAP. IX.

Her Prophecy to the Abbot of Beverly, concerning the downfal of Abbeys, Nunneries, Priories, &c. with other things.

MOther Shiptons Prediction[•] coming thus effectually to paſs, ſpread her Fame far wider than it was; inſomuch, that many who before looked upon her as a crackt-brain'd Woman, now began to admire her, and to eſteem of her words as Oracles. And as the nature of Engliſh people is, rather to deſtre to know what is to come, than to ſeek to rectifie ought what is done amiſs; ſo the greateſt part of her diſitants, came only to be reſolved, of what ſhe knew, would come to paſs, of which number was the Abbot of Beverly, who fearing the downfal of Religious Houſes, and a change of the Religion then profeſſed, putting on the counterfeit Cloaths of a Lay-perſon, he came to Mother Shiptons, and knocking at the door, ſhe being within, called to him, and ſaid, come in Mr. Abbot, for you are not ſo much diſguiſed, but the For may be ſeen through the Sheeps skin; it is not thoſe Cloaths makes you a Lay-perſon, no more than a Long-Town, makes a man a Lawyer; come, take a ſtool and ſit down, for you ſhall not go away unſatisfied of what you deſtre, and thereupon ſhe began to utter forth her Prophecys in this ſort.

When the Cow doth ride the Bull,

Then Prieſt beware thy Soul.

And when the lower Shrubs do fall,

The great Trees quickly follow ſhall.

The Miter'd Peacocks lofty Pride.

Shall to his Maſter be a Guide.

And one great Court to paſs ſhall bring,

What was neer done by any King.

The Poor ſhall Grieve, to ſee that Day,

And who did Feaſt, muſt Faſt and Pray.

Fate ſo Decreed their Overthrow,

Riches brought Pride, and Pride brought Woe.

Theſe Propheſies were thus Explained; by the Cow was meant King Henry, who gave the ſame, by reaſon of the Earldom of Richmond, which was his Inheritance: and the Bull betokeneth Mrs. Anne Bulloign, whome the King took to Wife, in the room of Queen Catharine, her Father gave the Black Bulls head in his Cognizance, and was his Beaſt; and when the King had married Queen Anne, then was fulfilled the ſecond line of the Prophecy, viz. Then Prieſt beware thy Scul; for what a number of Prieſts Religious and Secular, loſt their heads for offending of thoſe Laws made to bring this matter to paſs.

And when the Lower Shrubs do fall,

The great Trees quickly follow ſhall.

The Miter'd Peacocks lofty pride.

Shall to his Maſter be a Guide.

Cardinal Wolſey (who is here intended by the Miter'd Peacock) in the height of his Pride, and vaſtneſs of his undertakings, intending to erect two fair Colledges, one at Ipſwich where he was born, the other at Oxford where he was bred; and finding himſelf unable to endow them at his own Charges; be obtained Licenſe of Pope Clement the Seventh, Anno 1525, to ſuppreſs forty ſmall Monaſteries in England, and to lay their old Lands to his new Foundations, which was done accordingly; and the poor People that lived in them, turned out of doors, many of the Clergy were very much againſt this action of Wolſeys, eſpecially, John Fiſher Biſhop of Rocheſter, alledging for the ſame an Apologue out of Aeſop, that the Iron Head of the Axe, craved a handle of the Wood of Oaks, only to cut off the ſeere boughs of the Tree; but when it was a compleat inſtrumental Axe, it felled all the Wood: applying it, That the ſuppreſſing of thoſe ſmaller Houſes, would in fine, prove Deſtructive to all the reſt; which came to paſs accordingly; for King Henry ſeeing the Cardinals power to extend ſo far; as to ſuppreſs theſe lower Shrubs, be thought his Prerogative might ſtretch ſo far, as to fell down the Great Trees; and ſoon after diſſolved the Priory of Chriſt's Church nigh Aldgate in London, now known by the Name of Dukes-place, and which was the richeſt in Lands, and Ornaments of all the Priories in London, or Middleſex; and which was a fore-runner of the Diſſolution of all the reſt; and which not long after came to paſs.

And one great Court to paſs ſhall bring,

What was ne're done by any King.

By the Great Court, is meant the Parliament, the Supreameſt Court of England; who in the Twenty ſeventh of King Henry's Reign, Anno 1539. To ſupport the Kings States, and ſupply his wants, contented on the Crown, all Religious Houſes, which were not able clearly to expend above two hundred pounds a year; the great ones not long after following the ſame fortune of the ſmaller, which was ne're done (though attempted) by any King before.

The Poor ſhall Grieve to ſee that day.

The Abbots and Priors being moſt bountiful Houſe-keepers, relieving all comers and goers, got themſelves much reputation for their Hoſpitality.

And who did Feaſt, muſt Faſt and Pray.

By the Diſſolution of theſe Houſes, many thouſands were driven to ſeek their fortunes in the wide World, and become utterly expoſed to want, when Monkiſh profeſſion was without poſſeſſion; many a young Nun proved an old Beggar, and were forced to faſt for want of Victuals, who formerly had it provided for them, to their hands.

Fate ſo Decreed their overthrow,

Riches brought Pride, and Pride brought woe.

The great Riches and Pride of the Monks and Eryers was (no doubt) the main cauſe of their overthrow; for whatſoever was the pretence, queſtionleſs profit was the Rope which pulled theſe Religious Houſes down.

All theſe things coming to paſs before ſuch time as this Abbot died, cauſed him to have a great eſteem of Mother Shipton, and to value her Prophecys more than ordinary conjectures; though at the firſt, he could not tell what to make of her Ambiguous Lines, which like the Oracles, formerly delivered at Delphos? rather brought one into a Labyrinth of confuſed conjectures, then ſatisfied the expectation, until by the Clue of Time, the Riddles were manifeſt, and that which at firſt ſeemed ſo hard, now appeared to the underſtanding, as eaſie: However, be at preſent kindly thanked Mother Shipton, and liverally rewarded her Maid (who elſe would have put him in mind of his neglect) much admiring that ſhe ſhould be ſo clear-ſighted, as to ſee through his counterfeit Dreſs; reſolving afterwards to be more informed by her, concerning future events; be at that time took his ſolemn leave of her, and returned home.

CHAP. X.

Her Prophecys concerning King Edward the Sixth: The Rebellion of the Commons: The Death of the Duke of Somerſet, with other things.

NOt long had the Abbot been at home, but his Abby was viſited by ſome Inſtruments employed by the Lord Cromwel for that purpoſe. He who knew what was intended by this Complement, thought it not ſafe to ſtrive againſt the Stream, and therefore quietly ſurrendred his Monaſtary, into the Kings hands. And now perceiving Mother Shiptons Prophecy plainly fulfiled, in the downful of thoſe Houſes, which were judged Impregnable, againſt all the aſſaults of Malice and time; Conſidering the ſtrange Revolutions of ſo ſhort a ſpace: he was very deſirous to be more fully informed of the future. In this Reſolution be repairs again to Mother Shiptons, whom he now accoſts more familiarly, than he did before, making himſelf plainly known unto her; telling her that as what ſhe had formerly ſpoken, he had found to be true in the event; ſo his Iudgment perſwaded him, ſhe was not ignorant of thoſe things which were for the future to enſue; and therefore deſired her, ſhe would not be nice in imparting of this her fore-knowledg unto him; for which ſo great favour, though it were more than his deſerts could command, yet ſhould there never in him be wanting a grateful tongue to acknowledge, and a grateful heart to be thankful unto her, for ſo great a favour.

Mr. Abbot (ſaid ſhe) leave off Complementing, as more fit for Courtiers, and Lovers, and not agreeable to an old Woman, who will neither flatter, nor be flattered by any: and for what you came about, I ſhall not be ſqueamiſh to fulfil your requeſt, let me therefore deſire you, to lend me your attention, and thereupon (after ſome ſhort pauſe) ſhe thus began.

A Prince that never ſhall be Born,

Shall make the Shaved Heads forlorn.

Then ſhall Commons riſe in Armes,

And Womens Malice cauſe much harmes.

O deadly Pride! O hateful Strife!

Brothers to ſeek each others Life.

Ambition ſhall ſo deadly ſpread,

The Griffin fierce ſhall loſe his Head.

Soon after ſhall the Lyon die,

And mildneſs uſher Cruelty.

Theſe ten lines being prophecies of the Actions in King Edwards Reign; for the Readers benefit; (before we proceed any further in her Predictions,) we will unfold the meaning of them by themſelves, that we may not too much burthen their memory; but by variety add a pleaſure to the reading of them.

A Prince that never ſhall be born.

Shall make the Shaved Heads forlorn.

By the Prince that never ſhall be born is meant King Edward the Sixth, of whom all reports do conſtantly run, that be was not by Natural Paſſage delivered into the World, but that his Mothers Body was opened for his Birth, that ſhe died of the Inciſion the fourth day following; and by the Shaved Heads, is underſtood the Monks, Fryers, &c. who are ſaid to be become forlorn: the Reformation beginning, with the beginning of King Edwards Reign: and the Popes Prieſts put down, as his Supremacy was before, Then ſhall commons riſe in Armes.

King Edward having ſet out certain Injunctions, for the Reformation of Religion, as the Commiſſioners paſſed to divers places for the eſtabliſhing of them, many ſcorns were caſt upon them, and the farther they went from London, as the people were more uncivil, ſo did they more riſe into inſolency and contempt; for in Cornwal, the Commons flocked together, having killed one of the commiſſioners; and albeit Iuſtice was done upon the offenders, the principal of them being Executed in ſeveral places, yet could not their boldneſs be beaten down with their ſeverity, but that the miſchief ſpread farther, in Wiltſhire, and Somerſet-ſhire, where the people ſuppoſeing that a Common-wealth could not ſtand without Commons beat down Incloſures, and ſaid Parks, and Fields Champion. The like Commotions followed in Suſſex, Hamp-ſhire, Kent, Gloceſter-ſhire, Warwickſhire, Eſſex, Hartford-ſhire, Leceſter-ſhire, Worceſter-ſhire, and Rutland-ſhire. but the greateſt of all, was in Devon-ſhire and Norfolk: the one Headed by Henry Arundel Eſquire, Governour of the Mount in Cornwal, the other by Robert Ket a Tanner of Windham in Norfolk: Thoſe of Devon-ſhire, were accounted above ten thouſand, who with a cloſe and ſmart Siege, Surrounded the City of Exeter, which they brought to extream miſery, having a potent Foe abroad, and Famine ſorely rageing within; inſomuch, as they were fain to bake Bran and Meal moulded up in Clothes, for otherwiſe it would not ſtick together; at laſt the Rebels were routed from thence; by the Lord Privy Seal, with the loſs of a Thouſand of their Number, and ſoon after totally routed, at a place called Clift-heath. Theſe of Norfolk, were judged to be more dangerous; both becauſe their ſtrength was great, being eſtimated to be above Twenty Thouſand; as alſo the City of Norwich was a friend unto them, or at leaſt wiſhed them no harm: This rude rout Encamped on Monſhold-hill, a place Impregnable in ſome ſort, being neer to Norwich; againſt whom was ſent the Marqueſs of Northampton, and afterwards the Carl of Warwick, who made many Sallies upon the Rebels with various ſucceſs; had the Rebels kept in this Fort, they might have tired out the Earl, his Horſe being uſeleſs againſt them; but they relying on an old prophecy, came down into Daſſin Dale and quitted the Fort: the words of the prophecy were theſe.

The Country Knuffs, Hob, Dic, and Hic,

With Clubs, and Clouted Shone,

Shall fill up Daſſin-Dale with Blood,

Of ſlaughtred Bodies ſoon.

Which they Interpreted to be of their Enemies Bodies, though it proved of their own; for the Earl ſetting upon them, after a ſtout reſiſtance, they were overcome, two thouſand ſtain upon the place; Ret with his Brother and nine others Executed; the reſt taken unto mercy.

And Womens malice cauſe much Harms.

Lamentable was the effects occaſioned by the malice of two Women in this Kings Reign, which that you may the better underſtand, we ſhall declare the Original grounds thereof. The King had two Unkles, Brothers to Queen Jane his deceaſed Mother, Edward Duke of Somerſet, Lord Protector, &c. and Thomas Lord Seymor Baron of Sudly, High Admiral of England: The Lord Sudly, had taken to Wife Katherine Parr, Queen Dowager, laſt Wife to King Henry the Eighth. The Duke had Married the Lady Ann Stanhope, a Woman for many Imperfections intollerable; This Woman did bare ſuch invincible bate, firſt againſt the Queen Dowager for light cauſes, and Womens quartels; eſpecially, for that ſhe had Precedency of place before her; that albeit, the Queen Dowager dyed by Child-birth, yet would not her malice either die, or decreaſe, but hated the Lord Sudly, for her ſake; and left buzzing fears and jealouſſes in her Husbands Pate, (who was of an eaſie belief) that within few days the Lord Sudley was arreſted and ſent to the Tower, and in very ſhort time after Condemned by Act of Parliament; and within few days after his Condemnation, a Warrant was ſent, under the hand of his Brother the Duke, whereby his Head was delivered to the Axe; which verified what was before predicted:

O deadly Pride! O hateful Strife!

Brothers to ſeek each others Life.

O Wives! the moſt ſweeteſt Poyſon, the moſt deſtred Evil in the World! certainly. as it is true, as Syracides faith, that there is no Malice to the Malice of a Woman: ſo no Miſchief wanteth, where a Malicious Woman beareth ſway; a Woman was firſt given to Man for a Comforter, but not for a Counſeller, much leſs a Controler and Director; and therefore, in the firſt ſentence againſt Man, the cauſe is expreſt, Becauſe thou obeyeſt the voice of thy Wife. And doubtleſs the Protector, by being thus ruled to the Death of his Brother, ſeemed with his left hand to have cut off his right; for hereby he left himſelf now unguarded from the Malice of his Enemies, the Earl of Warwick, etc. who being ambitious of ingroſſing all power into his own hands, ſoon wrought the confuſion of the Duke, as it follows in the Prophecy.

Ambition ſhall ſo deadly ſpread,

The Griffin fierce ſhall loſe his Head.

For the Earl of Warwick eſpying opportunity, ſhewing himſelf, and knowing, that in troubleſome times, the obedience of great perſons is moſt eaſily ſhaken, drew about eighteen of the Privy Council to knit with him againſt the Lord Protector: Theſe he did, to wind up his purpoſe, that they withdrew from the Court, fell to private Conſultations, and ſo ordered the matter, that at length they brought the Protector upon the Scaffold, wherein fine he had his Head cut off, figured here by the name of the Griffin.

Soon after ſhall the Lyon die,

And Mildneſs Uſher Cruelty.

By the Lyon is meant King Edward, who ſurvived his Unkie the Duke of Somerſet, nor above two years grief for his death (as it is generally conceived) bringing him into a Conſumption, though ſome have reported him to be poyſoned; ſoon after his death Maſs and Popery was reſtored again by Queen Mary, for which cauſe many afterwards fryed in the flames, berifying the laſt verſe.

And Mildneſs Uſher Cruelty.

CHAP. XI.

Her Prophecys concerning the Death of Lady Iane Grey; the burning of the Martyrs; of Wyats Rebellion; the Death of Queen Mary; and of Cardinal Pool.

BY Parents too ambitious Pride,

The Scaffold ſhall with Blood be Di'de.

A Vertuous Lady then ſhall die,

For being raiſed up too High.

Her death ſhall cauſe anothers joy,

Who will the Kingdom much anoy.

Miters ſhall riſe, Miters come down,

And ſtreams of Blood ſhall Smithfield drown.

England ſhall joyn in League with Spain,

Which ſome to hinder ſtrive in vain.

The Lyoneſs from Life retires,

And Pontificial Prieſt expires.

This Prophery is peruliarly applyed to the Reign of Queen Mary, and may be interpreted after this manner.

By Parents too ambitious Pride,

The Scaffold ſhall with Blood be Di'de.

This is meant by the Lady Jane Grey daughter to the Duke of Suffolk, who having Married the Lord Gilford Dudly, Son to the Duke of Northumberland, the ambition of Northumberland was ſo great, that be practiſed much on King Edwards tender years, who now was much weakned with ſickneſs, that excluding his two Siſters, the Lady Mary, and Lady Elizabeth, He conveyed the Crown to the Lady Jane, by that which we may call the Teſtament of King Edward, and the Will of the Duke of Northumberland. But the Commons taking part with the Lady Mary, notwithſtanding, the Duke went with great forces againſt her, yet his Souldiers differting him, he was forced to tach about, and with an unwilling mind Proclaim her Dueen, whom in his heart be hated above all others.

A Vertuous Lady then ſhall die,

For being raiſed up too high.

The Lady Jane Grey, who out of dutifulneſs to her Parents, aſſuming the Title of Queen upon her, for her offence, loſt her head: This Lady Jane was a woman of moſt rare and incomparable perfections; for beſides her excellent beauty, adorned with all bariety of bertues, as a clear sky with Stars, as a princely Diadem with Iewels; ſhe was the mirror of her time, for her Religion and Education in the knowledg of the Liveral Sciences, and skill in Languages, for in Thealogy, in Phyloſophy, in all the Liveral Arts, in the Latine and Greek Longues, and in the Vulgar Languages of divers near Nations, ſhe far exceeded all of her Sex, and every one of her years.

Her Death ſhall cauſe anothers joy,

Who will the Kingdom much anoy.

The Death of the Lady Jane was ſuppoſed to be a rejoycing to Queen Mary, and who by reſtoring Popery, and the Perſecutions that the Profeſſors of the Goſpel ſuffered in her time, is ſaid to bring the Kingdome to anoy.

Miters ſhall riſe, Miters come down,

And ſtreams of Blood ſhall Smithfield drown.

By the Miters are meant the Biſhops, who in the Change of Religion found great Change; very few of them keeping their Seats wherein they had been ſeated by King Edward the ſixth, the names of the Biſhops thus put down, were theſe, Cranmer Arch Biſhop of Canterbury, Ridly Biſhop of London, Poynet Biſhop of Wincheſter, Holgate Arch-Biſhop of York, Buſh Biſhop of Briſtol, Bird Biſhop of Cheſter, Hoopen Biſhop of Worceſter and Gloceſter, Barlo Biſhop of Bath and Wells, Scory Biſhop of Chicheſter, Ferrar Biſhop of St. Davids, Coverdale Biſhop of Exeter, Taylor Biſhop of Lincoln, and Harley Biſhop of Hereford; in the room of theſe Biſhops thus put down, ſeveral Biſhops were raiſed, as Cardinal Pool made Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, Bonner Biſhop of London, Gardiner Biſhop of Wincheſter, Heath Arch-Biſhop of York, Holeman Biſhop of Briſtol, Gotes Biſhop of Cheſter, Brook Biſhop of Gloceſter, Pates Biſhop of Worceſter, Bourn Biſhop of Bath and Wells; Chriſtopherſon Biſhop of Chicheſter, Morgan Biſhop of St. Davids, Turbervile Biſhop of Exeter, White Biſhop of Lincoln, and Parfew Biſhop of Hereford.

And ſtreams of Blood ſhall Smithfield drown.

Great was the number of Martyrs burned in Smithfield in this Queens Reign, under the Bloody bands of Bonner Biſhop of London, and Dr. Story Dean of St. Pauls; the firſt perſecuting by wholeſale, the ſecond by retail; the names of all thoſe who in this place thus reſtified their Faith by the loſs of their Lives, would be too long here to recite: the chief of them were, Mr. John Rogers, Mr. John Bradford, Mr. Robert Glover, &c.

England ſhall joyn in League with Spain,

Which ſome to hinder ſtrive in vain.

Queen Mary intending to match her ſelf with Philip King of Spain, the bruit thereof being ſpread amongſt the people, was by them ill reſented, as dreading to be under the yoak of a ſtranger; to hinder the ſame (amongſt others) Sir Thomas Wyat, a Kentiſh Knight, took Armes, with a great party aſſiſting him. The Queen bearing of his Commotion, ſent a Herald to him to deſiſt, which be refuſing to do, ſhe reſolves upon force, ſending the Duke of Norfolk with five hundered Londoners againſt him; but theſe Souldiers bearing more affection to Wyats cauſe than the Queens, forſook their Leader, and their Loyalry together, and joyned themſelves to Wyats Faction; who much elated with this ſupply, preſently reſolves for London, promiſing to himſelf eaſte entrance into that City, and hearty entertainment therein; but contrary to his expectation, coming to Southwark, he found all the Lowers of the Tower, and the tops of the ſquare Steeples neer the Bridgfoot on the other ſide, planted with Ordnance againſt him, ſo that both Church and State threatned his ruine; ſo that ſeeing no good to be done there, with a ſwift March (having the Darkneſs of the Night for his Coverture) he haſteth to Kingſton, paſſeth the River, and comes to Knights-Bridg, before almoſt any had notice of his Motion.

Here he divides his Army into two parts, Five hundred of them wheels down towards White-Hall, but could not force their paſſage into it; Himſelf with the reſt of the Army went directly to Charing-Croſs, where he met with ſome oppoſition, but nothing daunted thereat, he marched directly down the Strand and Fleet-ſtreet, and coming to Ludgate promiſed himſelf entrance into the City, but finding the Gate cloſe ſhut, and well fortified againſt him, with Men and Ammunition, his hopes then began to fail him; retreating to Temple-Bar, he was faced with ſome Norſe, where after a ſhort Fight, he ſubmitted himſelf Priſoner, being firſt carried to White-Hall to be examined, from thence to the Tower, and ſoon after to the Scaffold, where he received the rewards of his Revellion.

The Lyoneſs from life retires,

And Pontificial Prieſt Expires.

By the Lyoneſs is meant Queen Mary, who having Reigned five years and ſome odd months, dyed of a Dropſie, though others ſay of Grief for the abſence of her Husband King Philip, and others again, for Calice (taken not long before) and that ſhe ſhould ſay, if after ſhe was dead they ripped her up, they would find Calice written on her heart.

The Pontificial Prieſt ſignified Cardinal Pool, who expired within ſew hours after the death of Queen Mary. This prelate was of princely extraction, his Mother Margaret being Daughter to George Duke of Clarence; when he was young be was brought up together with Queen Mary, and being a zealous Catholick during King Edwards Reign, ſuffered a voluntary exile for the ſame; when the marriage with Prince Philip and Queen Mary was made up, be returned into England, was made Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, more moderate than ſome othes of his fellow Biſhops, having a favourable inclination towards the Proteſtants. He ſurvived the Queen but few hours, and was buried in his own Cathedral at Canterbury, with this ſhort and modeſt Epitaph on his Monument, DE POSITUM CARDINALIS POLI.

CHAP. XII.

Her Prophecys concerning the Reign of Queen Elizabeth; the change of Religion; the attempts of the Papiſts, upon the Queen; the Spaniſh Invaſion; the burning of Pauls Steeple; the death of the Queen of Scots; the reducing Ireland; the beheading the Earl of Eſſer, &c.

THe Lyon fierce being dead and gone,

A Maiden Queen ſhall Reign anon.

Thoſe who ſighed, then ſhall ſing,

And the Bells ſhall Changes Ring.

The Papal power ſhall bear no ſway,

Roms traſh ſhall hence be ſwept away.

The Locuſts ſent from the ſeven Hills,

The Engliſh Roſe ſhall ſeek to kill.

The Weſtern Monarks Wooden Horſes,

Shall be deſtroyed by the Drakes forces.

Troy novant's Triumphant Spir[•],

Shall be conſum'd with flames of Fire.

More wonders yet! a Widowed Queen,

In England ſhall be headleſs ſeen.

The Harp ſhall give a better Sound,

An Earle without a Head be found.

Soon after ſhall the Engliſh Roſe,

Unto a Male her place diſpoſe.

Theſe lines being a Prophecy of the moſt remarkable Actions, during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, are to be interpreted after this manner.

The Lyon fierce being dead and gone,

A Maiden Queen ſhall Reign anon.

Queen Mary is here meant by the fierce Lyon; ſo called, not ſo much for the Cruelty done by Her, as by the Biſhops and Prieſts was done under her; for take her in her ſelf, ſecluded from bloody Counſellors, and ſhe was a moſt Merciful, Pious, Iuſt Princeſs; but in reſpect of the Blood that was ſhed, and the perſecutions then ſuffered, ſhe is here Termed a fierce Lyon: After whom is ſaid, A Maiden Queen to Reign Anon, meant by Queen Elizabeth, one who was the Mirrour of her Set and Age, who for above forty years, to the admitation of enby it ſelf, mannaged the affairs of this Kingdom; having when ſhe began, few friends that durſt help, and leaving no Foes when ſhe died that could hurt her; acting her part ſo well whileſt here ſhe Reigned; that Hiſtory canſcarcely afford us one Prince to be matched to her Fame, in all considerable particulars.

Thoſe who ſighed then ſhall ſing,

And the Bells ſhall changes Ring.

Many who ſat and ſighed in the daies of Queen Mary, by reaſon of the hot perſecution, being forced to forſake their Houſes, becauſe they ſhould not forſake their Religion; now that Queen Elizabeth began to Reign, their mourning was turned into joy, their ſighing into ſinging; returning from their etile, with Pſalmes of thankſgiving in their mouthes: where their Bells rang ſuch Changes in Religion, that the Maſs was put down, and the Common prayer ſet up: Popery baniſhed, and reformation eſtabliſhed; the Miniſters of the Boſpel advanced, and the Schaveling Prieſts, Monks and Fryers, depreſſed.

The Papal Power ſhall bear no ſway;

Roomes traſh ſhall hence be ſwept away.

Soon after the Queens coming to the Crown, a Parliament began at Weſtminſter, wherein the Laws of King Henry, the eighth againſt the See of Rome were renewed, and thoſe of King Edward the ſixth, in favour of the Proteſtants revived, and the Laws by Queen Mary made againſt them repealed: Uniformity of Prayer, and Adminiſtration of Sacraments was enacted, with a Reſtitution of firſt Fruits and Tenths to the Crown; and the Queen acknowledged to be the only and Supream Governour of her Kingdomes: The people in each place beating down Superſtitious Pictures and Images, which blind and miſguided zeal had ſet up.

The Locuſts ſent from the ſeven Hill,

The Engliſh Roſe ſhall ſeek to kill.

By the Locuſts are meant the Prieſts, Fryars and Ieſuits, who ſpread all the World over in greater numbers than the Locuſt did in the Land of Egypt; and by the ſeven Hills is meant Rome, which is built upon ſeven Hills; and by the Engliſh Roſe is ſignified Queen Elizabeth, whom the Prieſt and Ieſuits by their Inſtruments did often attempt to kill; ſo that if we ſeriouſly conſider her Reign, we ſhall ſcarcely find any Prince, whoſe life was ſo often attempted as hers, of which to give you ſome examples would not be impertinent to our purpoſe, and firſt in her Siſters Reign; Stephen Gardiner Biſhoy of Wincheſter, and other Romaniſts, offended with her Religion, ſo wrought with Queen Mary, ſuggeſting that ſhe was conſenting to Wyats inſurrection, that ſhe was ſent priſoner to the Tower, and (as it is ſaid) a Warrant intended to be ſealed for her execution, had not king Philip interceeded. After ſhe came to the Crown ſhe was as incident to troubles as the Month April is to ſhowres, Spain, France and Scotland, combining againſt her, Pope Plus Quintus by his Bull depoſes her, in proſecution whereof the Earls of Northumberland and Weſtmoreland riſe up in Rebellion, being to have been aſſiſted by the Duke D'alva out of the Low-Countries, but out of theſe troubles ſhe was delivered by their Confuſſion. After theſe Leonard Dakers, ſecond San to William Lord Dakers of Gelleſland, endeavoured to bring her into trouble, being intruſted by her with competent forces, which he intending to have imployed to her detriment, failed in his hopes and Power; and brought both ſhame and ruine to himſelfe. Next did Thomas and Edward Stanley younger Sons to the Earl of Darbey, with ſeveral others, plot againſt her; all which ended in their Ruine and her ſafety. Theſe failing, Captain Stukley promiſed to perform wonders againſt her, but his mountaines proved not ſo much as mole-bills, he being ſtain in Barberry, his deſign failed. But to ſpeak of perſonal attempts againſt her, one Somervile drew his Sword in the Court to have ſlain her, Doctor Parry a Spaniolized Italian intended to have Piſtoled her as ſhe walked in her privy Garden: Savage, Windſor, Salisbury, Tilney, and others, conſpired to kill her, the which they waited ſeveral times to effect: one William Stafford, by the inſtigation of the French Ambaſtador, undertook to kill her: Doctor Laper one of her ſworn Phyſicians, for a ſum of money, engaged to Poyſon her: and to conclude all, one Edward Squire, formerly belonging to her Stable, with a mortifferous confection, Poyſoned the Pomel of her Saddle, when ſhe was riding out; from all which notwithſtanding, though ſhe were maliciouſly Poyſoned, ſhe was miraculouſly preſerved, and died in peace; maugre all the malice of her enemies.

The Weſtern Monarchs Wooden Horſes,

Shall be deſtroy'd by the Drakes Forces.

By the Weſtern Monarchs Wooden Horſes, is meant the King of Spains, great Armado, in the year 1588, by them termed Invincible, though the ſucceſs of it anſwered not the name, being by Sr. Francis Drake and others, brave Sons of Neptune, and Soldiers of Mars, met withal, fought with, and really vanquiſht, moſt of them ſook, and the reſt deſtitute and ſcatter'd, being chaſed by our Ships paſt the 57 degree of Northern Latitude, and there left to be purſued by hunger and cold, a victory ſo remarkable, that time, nor age, will ever weare the remembrance thereof away.

Troy novant's Triumphant ſpire,

Shall be conſum'd with Flames of Fire.

By Troy novant is meant London, which in ancient writings is called Troy novant; and the Triumphant Spire, ſignifies Paulsſteeple, which in the year 1561 the fourth of June, ſtrangly fell on fire, burning for the ſpace of five full hours, in which time it melted all the Lead off the Church, only the Stone Archer eſcaping the fury thereof; ſundry cauſes were attributed by ſundry perſons of this fire; ſome that it was caſually blaſted with Lightning; others that it was miſchievouſly done by Art Magick; and others which was moſt likely) done by the negligence of a Plummer careleſly leaving his coals therein. The Queen was much grieved for this miſchance, but by her bounty, the Cities liberality, and a Contribution from the Clergy, it was afterwards repaired, only the blunt Tower had not the top thereof ſharpened into a ſpire as before.

More wonders yet! a Widowed Queen,

In England ſhall be headleſs ſeen.

The Widowed Queen ſignifies the Queen of Scots, the Mother of king James, who was beheaded at Fotheringhay-Caſtle ſome ſay by the privity, others to the great diſcontent of Queen Elizabeth: A Lany of a ſharp wit, undaunted ſpirit, comely perſon, Beautiful face, Majeſtick preſence, a fluent Orator, and an excellent Poet, as may appear by ſeveral things now extant; amongſt others of her Verſes, this was one, which ſhe wrote with a pointed Diamond, in a window, during her Impriſonment in Fortheringhay-Caſtle.

From the top of all my truſt,

Miſhap hath laid me in the Duſt.

She was beheaded the[_____] day of[_____] Anno 1587, and was firſt buried in the Quire of Peterborough, afterwards by her Son King James, ſolemnly removed from thence to Weſtminſter, where in the South ſide of the Chappel of King Henry the ſeventh, be exected a ſtately monument to her Memory.

The Harp ſhall give a better Sound.

The Harp ſignifies Ireland, as being the Armes of that Country, which Queen Elizabeth by reducing to a better obedience, made it give a better Sound, that is, made it more civilized, and profitable to the Exchequer then ever before.

An Earl without a Head be found.

This was ſpoken of the Earl of Eſſex, one who was the favourite of the Queen, and darling of the poeple; (two things which ſeldome come together, and yet could not both of them protect him from the Scaffold, but that thereon he left his Head:

Soon after ſhall the Engliſh Roſe,

Unto a Male her place Diſpoſe.

By the Engliſh Roſe is meant Queen Elizabeth, as we ſaid before; by whoſe Death, the Right and Title to the Crown, came to James the ſirth, King of Scotland, as lineally deſcended from Margaret the Eldeſt Daughter to King Henry the ſeventh; the iſſue Male failing, by the death of Queen Elizabeth: and here is to be remembred, the Policy of King Henry the ſeventh, who having two Daughters, Married the oldeſt of them to the King of Scotland; and the Youngeſt to the King of France, that if his iſſue Male ſhould happen'd to fail (as it afterwards did) then Scotland might wait upon England as the greater Kingdom, and not England upon France as the leſſer: Beſides there was an old Prophecy, which intimated King James his coming to the Engliſh Crown; for when King Edward the firſt baraced Scotland amongſt other things he brought from thence their Ropal Chair, (ſtill preſerved at the Abby in Weſtminſter) upon which Chair theſe verſes were writ.

If Fates go right, where ere this Chair is Pight,

The Regal Race of Scots ſhall rule that Place.

Which by the Coronation of King James there performed, made good the words of the Prophecy.

CHAP. XIII.

The Propheſies of the Reign of King Iames, his uniting England and Scotland, his Peaceable Reign, a learned time, the Powder Treaſon, the Marriage with the Prince Elector, and Lady Elizabeth; the Death of Prince Henry.

THe Northern Lyon over Tweed,

The Maiden Queen ſhall then ſucceed,

And joyn in one, two mighty States,

Ianus then ſhall ſhut his Gates.

Mars ſhall yeild to Mercury,

All things tend to Proſperity.

Hells power by a fatall blow,

Shall ſeek the Land to overthrow.

Which by miſtake ſhall be reverſt,

And heads from ſhoulders be diſperſt.

The Britiſh Olive next ſhall twine

In mariage with the German Vine.

The Ninth to Death his power ſhall yeild,

Death Conquers all, he winns the Feild.

Next follows the remarkable actions of King James's Reign, predicted in the foregoing lines, which may be thus explained.

The Northern Lyon over Tweed,

The Maiden Queen ſhall then ſucceed,

And joyn in one, two mighty States.

By the Northern Lyon, is meant King James; and by the Maiden Queen, Queen Elizabeth, whom King James, being King of Scotland ſucceeded in the Engliſh Crown, joyned thereby the two Nations of England and Scotland, which had been often attempted before, not only by Conqueſt, but by Marriage; once by Conqueſt, by King Edward the firſt, who ſubdued their Armies, took their ſtrong places, and made their Nobles yield him obeiſance; yet what they thus loſt by him, they recovered of his Son King Edward the ſecond; the other of Marriage, was by King Henry the Eighth, who endeavoured to have matched his Son, Prince Edward, with the Heireſs of Scotland, and had proceeded very far therein, when Death cut him off; and though afterwards attempted by the Duke of Somerſet, Lord Protector, and the Scots beaten at Muſſelboroughfield, yet all would not prevail; God having decreed their union to be afterwards, in a more peaceable manner.

Janus then ſhall ſhut his Gates.

Janus was one of the gods belonging to the ancient Romans; whoſe Temple was never ſhut, but in the days of Peace, which happened not above twice, in the ſpace of two thouſand years: King James his Reign being a very peaceable time, when Swords ruſted in their Sheaths for want of uſing them; Mother Shipton in her Propheſſe alludes thereto.

Mars ſhall yield to Mercury,

All things tend to proſperity.

War ſhall give place to Peace, Fighting to pleading, the Sword to the Gown, the Pike to the Pen, Barbariſm to Learning, &c. this Peace ſhall cauſe Plenty, Plenty work proſperity, &c.

Hells power by a fatal Blow,

Shall ſeek the Land to overthrow.

Which by miſtake ſhall be reverſt,

And heads from Shoulders be diſperſt.

Theſe Lines have reference to the horrid Powder Plat, which was to have been acted by ſome deſperate Papiſts, to have blown up the Parliament Houſe with Gun-powder, and therein our Religion, Laws, King, Prince, Peers, Biſhops, Iudges, Knights and Burgeſſes, all deſigned to Deſtruction: The chief actors herein were, Robert Catesby, Thomas Perey, Sir Everard Digby, Francis Threſham, Robert Winſter, Thomas Winter, John Wright, Chriſ. Wright, Ambroſe Bookwood, Robert Key, John Graunt, Guido Faux, and Bates, Catesbies man, Gentlemen moſt, of Ancient Families, ſome of plentiful Fortunes, but all of reſolute Spirits: Theſe being ſuggeſted by the Devil, and ſeconded by his Agents, the Ieſuits, to bring their purpoſe about, hired a Vault under the Parliament Houſe, wherein they ſtowed Thirty ſix Barrels of Powder, with ſeveral Iron Barrs, to make the force of the fire more effectual, all which they covered with Billets, thinking thereby to have covered their Deſign, from being Diſcovered: On the Fifth of November, the day of the Parliaments firſt ſitting, was the time appointed, to put their Deſign in execution; but Providence had ordered it otherwiſe, that thoſe who intended miſchief, ſhould taſte the effects of it; on the Evening before, came to the Lord Monteagle, a ſtrange Letter, from a ſtrange hand, by a ſtrange Meſſenger; without Date to it, name at it, and (to outward appearance) ſenſe in it? A Letter which when it was opened, was even ſtill Sealed, ſuch the affected obſcurity therein: The Letter contained theſe words,

My Lord,

OUt of the Love I bear to ſome of your Friends, I have a care of your preſervation; therefore I would adviſe you, as you tender your Life, to deviſe ſome excuſe to ſhift off your attendance at this Parliament: For God and Man have concurred to puniſh the wickedneſs of this time. And think not ſlightly of this Advertiſement, but retire your ſelf into your Country, where you may expect the Event in ſafety: for though there be no appearance of any ſtir, yet I ſay, they ſhall receive a terrible blow this Parliament, and yet they ſhall not ſee who hurts them: This counſel is not to be Contemned, becauſe it may do you good, and can do you no harm; for the danger is paſt ſo ſoon as you have burnt the Letter; and I hope God will give you the grace to make good uſe of it: to whoſe holy Protection I commend you.

This Letter being communicated to the King, he expounds the myſtical Blow, to be meant by Gun-powder, and thereupon commanded the Rooms under the Parliament Houſe to be ſearcht, where the Myſtery of Iniquity was quickly diſcovered, ſome of the Traytors taken in London, others in the Country, the hands of Iuſtice overtaking them, they became examples of Iuſtice, and taſted of that Cup (though not with that Cruelty) which they intended others ſhould have drank of.

The Britiſh Olive next ſhall twine,

In Marriage with the German Vine.

By the Britiſh Olive, is meant the Lady Elizabeth, Daughter to king James; and by the German Vine, the moſt Illuſtrious Prince Frederick, Count Palatine of the Rhine; this Lady Elizabeth was enriched with all the endowments both of Body and mind, which make to the compleating of a Princeſs; moſt dearly beloved of the Engliſh, as one that deſerved well of all; hear a wit of that age thus complaining.

Moſt ſweet Elixabeth! that happy Name,

If we loſt nothing elſe by loſing thee,

So dear to England is, we are too blame:

If without tears and ſighs we parted be.

They were married with great ſolemnity, at Weſtminſter, February 14, Anno 1612.

The Ninth to Death his Power ſhall yield.

Death Conquers all, he wins the Field.

This is meant of Prince Henry, who is called the Ninth, in regard that if be had lived till King James dyed, he would have been the Ninth King of that name, ſince the Conqueſt: He was a Prince of moſt excellent parts, not wanting any thing wherewith Nature and Art could enrich him; of a very pious diſpoſition, never heard by any alive to ſwear an Dath, for which Arch-Biſhop Abbot commended him in his Funeral Sermon, the Prince being wont to ſay, That he knew no Game or value to be wonne or loſt, that could be worth an Oath. He died of an extraordinary burning Feaver, being generally lamented of the whole Land.

CHAP. XIV.

The Propheſies of the Reign of King Charles the Firſt, his Marriage with France, the Murther of the Duke of Buckingham, the Scottiſh Troubles, of the Long Parliament, and Bloody War enſuing after the execrable Murther of the King.

MOther Shipton having proceeded thus far in her Propheſies, broke off abruptly with a deep ſigh, the tears trickling down her Cheeks, accompanied with the wringing of her hands, as if ſome extraordinary miſchance had befallen her. The Abbot wondred greatly what ſhould be the cauſe of this ſudden alteration, having obſerved all along before a ſetled compoſedneſs in her countenance, and now to break out into ſuch exclamations: He therefore thus ſaid unto her, Mother Shipton, it is more than ſome ordinary matter which hath made you to break out into this ſudden paſſion, and if it may not be troubleſome unto you, I ſhall deſire, that as hitherto you have not been ſcrupulous in revealing thoſe ſecrets unto me, which have wrought in me both wonder and amarement, ſo that now you will not ſo abruptly break off, as to leave me in ſuſpence of the cauſe of your ſorrow; Ah Mr. Abbot (ſaid ſhe) who can with dry eyes repeat what muſt next enſue, or but think upon it without a heart full of Agony, to ſee vertue trampled on, and vice exalted; Beggars on Horſe-back, and Princes on Foot; the Innocent condemned, and the Blood-thirſty go free. But ſince my promiſe binds me to fulfil your requeſt, I ſhall proceed where I left.

The Crown then fits the White Kings Head,

Who with the Lillies ſoon ſhall wed;

Then ſhall a Peaſants bloody knife,

Deprive a great Man of his Life.

Forth from the North ſhall miſchief blow,

And Engliſh Hob ſhall add thereto.

Then ſhall the Council great Aſſemble,

Who ſhall make great and ſmall to tremble.

Mars ſhall rage as he were wood,

And Earth ſhall drunken be with blood.

The white King then (O grief to ſee)

By Wicked Hands ſhall Murdered be.

Theſe lines are ſo plain, relating to the Actions of the late times, as ſhall need no Oedipus to explain them; however, as we have all a long before made ſeveral Comments upon her Text we ſhall here likewiſe proceed in the ſame Method as we did before.

The Crown then fits the white Kings Head.

By the White King, is meant King Charles the firſt, ſo called not only in reſpect of the purity and uprightneſs of his life, ſignified by White; but alſo that at the time of his Coronation he was clothed in White, which ſome venemous tongues have ſince urged againſt him, that he was not Crowned as other Kings, as if Princes might not have the ſame liverty as meaner perſons, to aſſume what coloured Bard they liſt to wear, to themſelves.

Who with the Lillies ſoon ſhall wed.

Somewhat before King James his Death a marriage was concluded on betwixt Prince Charles, and the Lady Henrietta Maria, Daughter to that Martial Prince Henry the fourth, King of France; but before the Conſummation thereof, King James dyed, not long after his Funerals were over, ſhe was brought into England, and ſolemnly married to King Charles, who is hereupon ſaid to wed the Lillies, the Lillies being the Armes of France.

Then ſhall a Peaſants bloody Knife,

Deprive a great man of his Life.

This is ſpoken of the Duke of Buckingham, the greated man in favour of thoſe times, and thereupon (as it is moſt commonly ſeen) moſt bated of the People; who laid the blame of all miſcariages in the State upon him; right or wrong he was ſure to undergo their cenſure: Being made General for the Relief of Rochel) then beſteged by the French Forces (before he Imbarked at Portſmouth, he was moſt villanouſly Stabbed by one Felton a diſcontented Officer in his army; who was ſo far from flying for the ſame, that though be might have paſſed away undiſcovered, he holdly avowed himſelf to be the man that did it; alledging that he had therein done his Country good ſervice; but before his Death, was better Principled, and made ſenſible of the beinouſnes of the ſin of Murther, recanting his former erronious Principles, and dying very Penitently, being banged in Chains at Portſmouth, Anno 1627.

Forth from the North ſhall miſchief blow,

And Engliſh Hob ſhall add thereto.

This Propheſie alludes to that ancient Proverb, From the cold North all ill comes forth; and may be underſtood of our troubles commencing in 1639, taking their original riſe from Scotland, and fomented by ſeveral Factions Spirits in England, the Dagon of Presbytery beginning then to appear in its own colours, the Kirk of Scotland having ſo high an opinion of its own purity, that it participated more of Moſes his Platform in the Mount, than other Proteſtant Churches, being a Reformed Reformation; ſo that the practice thereof might be divertory to othere, and ſhe fit to give, not take, write, not receive Copies from any neighbouring Church; deſiring that all others were like unto them, ſave only in their afflictions. Hereupon they ſtood ſo high upon their pantoffles, that they refuſed the Common-prayer, diſclaimed their Biſhops, raiſed Lumults, and under the pretence of defending the Scotiſh Kirk, raiſed a War againſt the Engliſh State, the benom of which Poyſon ſo infected the veins of the Engliſh, who followed this Scottiſh Preſident, that it brake forth into a moſt bitter War, and ended not, but with the deaths of many thouſands of people.

Then ſhall the Council great aſſemble,

Who ſhall make great and ſmall to tremble.

By the great Council is meant the long-laſting Parliament, ſo known to all poſterity, for the remarkable tranſactions therein: It began November the 3d 1640, and may more properly be ſaid to be the Parliament that wrought wonders, then that in the time of King Henry the Third, which had the ſame appellation. By them ſell the wiſe Stafford, and Reverend Laud, by them was Epiſcopary voted down, and Presbytery voted up; by them was the common-prayer denyed, and the Directory exalted? they were the firſt that brought that ſtrange Kiddle into the World, that a man might fight for, and againſt his King; by them was the Dath Ex Officio condemned and the covenant (fat worſe) applauded; in ſum, by them was the Church and State turned topſey turvey; but this cannot be reported of all amongſt them, many of them hated their doings, diſſented from them, and ſuffered by them.

Mars ſhall rage as he were wood,

And Earth ſhall drunken be with blood.

To repeat all the Skirmiſhes, Fights, and Battles that have happened betwixt the Kings and Parliaments Forces) here intended by this Propheſie (would of its ſelf, require a Volume, in ſome of which, viz. that at Marſton-more eight thouſand men were killed at a time, ſo that the Earth might well be ſaid to be Drunken with their Blood; and which is the more pity, was ſhed by Engliſh men of one Country, Citizens againſt Citizens, Neighbours againſt Neighbours, nay, one Kinſman againſt another, and proſecuted with the greateſt bigor that might be, according to that of the Poet.

The higheſt fury reigns in Civil warr,

And Country men in fight moſt cruel are.

As was verified all a long during our unnaturall Civil War, none holding out with more obſtinacy, fighting more eagerly, nor in the execution more bloody than they!

The White King then (O grief to ſee)

By wicked hands ſhall Murthered be.

Spoken concerning the Execrable Murther of that Pious Prince King Charles the Firſt, the moſt Renowned for Piety, Prudence and Patience; of all his contemporary Princes throughout the whole World; of whom when all is ſaid that can be ſpoken, yet doth all come far ſhort of his deſerved praiſes: I ſhall therefore ſum up all with this Epitaph made on him by a learned Pen.

He that can ſpell a Sigh, and read a Tear,

Pronounce amazement, and accent wild Fear:

Having all grief by Heart; He, only he,

Is fit to Write and Read thy Elegie.

Unvalued Charles! thou art ſo hard a Text,

Writ in one Age, not underſtood i'th Next.

CHP. XV.

The Reign of King Charles the ſecond; the Uſurpation of Cromwell; the ſtrange Confuſions of a Democrital Government; the Reſtauration of the King; the great Sickneſs; the Burning of the City of London.

THe White King dead, the Wolf ſhall then,

with blood poſſeſs the Lyons den.

But Death ſhall hurry him away,

Confuſion ſhall a while bear ſway:

But Fate to England ſhall reſtore,

A King to Reign as heretofore.

Mercy, and Juſtice too, likewiſe,

Hein his time ſhall exerciſe.

Great Death in London ſhall be though,

And Men on tops of Houſes go.

Theſe Propheſies being all fulfilled in the memory of man, and ſo well known unto the World, we ſhall be the briefer in the explanation of them.

The White King dead, the Wolf ſhall then,

With blood poſſeſs the Lyons den.

By the White King (as we ſaid before) is meant King Charles the Firſt; and by the Wolf, Oliver Cromwel, ſo termed by reaſon of his bloody diſpoſition; that beaſt being judged moſt greedy and ravenous of all others; and therefore fitly reſembled to Cromwel, whoſe ambition was ſuch, that he left no means unattempted, until he had got into the Lyons den, that is to ſay, untill he had attained the ſole Government; which being done, he then plucked the Stairs down by which he had mounted; turning the Rump out of dores, making them his Servants, who had formerly been his Maſters; exerciſing his cruelty upon Cavailiers, which he deemed double Policy, as being thereby rid of his Enemies, and enriching his Coffers with their Wealth, though it were in effect but Murther and Robbery, and Proclaimed him to be a Blood-thirſty-Lyrant.

But Death ſhall hurry him away.

Very remarkable was the day in which the Protector dyed, being the Third of September Anno 1658, wherein the wind was ſo violent, that it overthrew many Houſes, tore up many Trees by the Roots, tumbled down Chimneys, and unreav'd Barns and Stables; but as it is a very ill wind that blows none good, ſo with all the burt this wind did, it made ſome recompence, in blowing this bloody Tyrant away, which made the people ſo little ſenſible of their loſſes, that they thought their private harms not to ſtand in competition with this general good.

Confuſion ſhall a while bear ſway.

Spoken in reſpect of the Confuſion of Governments we then had: Firſt, a Rump Parliament, then a Protector, next a Rump Parliament agen, then a Fools Bauble, called a Committee of ſafety, afterwards a Rump Parliament agen; now thus, then that, a great many Governments, and none good.

But Fate to England ſhall reſtore,

A King to Reign as heretofore.

This was fulfilled in the happy Reſtoration of King Charles the Second, which put a period to all thoſe Oligarchical Confuſions, and Reſtored the Land to its Ancient priſtine Government; which till then, groaned under the preſſurers of a Company of Mechanical (and therein the worſt ſort of) Lyrants.

Mercy and Juſtice too likewiſe,

He in his time ſhall exerciſe.

Of this many are the examples which might be produced; how many, though notorious Delinquents, received to Mercy? Life given to thoſe, who would have taken his life away; few only ſuffering, but ſuch whoſe offences were ſo Capital, as could not come well within the Verge of a Pardon, or ſtood upon Iuſtification of their former execrable Actions: Such rotten members deſerving to be cut off from the body of the Common-wealth, who otherwiſe would have been very Obnoxious and prejudicial to thoſe that were found.

Great Death in London ſhall be though.

Verified by the great Plague in London 1665 (which for number) was the greateſt that hath been known in theſe latter Centuries of years, and which (if not any thing elſe) might convince our Sectaries, how neceſſary that prayer in the Letany is for to be uſed, From Plague, Peſtilence and Famine, good Lord deliver us.

Illustration [Image not included in the transcription.]

And Men on tops of Houſes go.

This was ſuddenly fulfilled in that great Conflagration of Fire, which happened in London, Sept. 2. 3. and 4. Anno 1666. by which ſo many Houſes were deſtroyed, that men afterwards in the Kuins went on the tops of thoſe Houſes, whoſe lofty Structures not long before ſeemed to brave the Skie, and which would dazle weak eyes to look up and behold the tops of them.

The Fiery year as ſoon as o're,

Peace ſhall then be as before.

A Phenix City in ſtrange wiſe,

Shall out of fatal Aſhes riſe.

Theſe predictions were exactly accompliſht by the Peace concluded with the Dutch ſoon after 1666, called here properly the Fiery year, and the wonderful Rebuilding of the City of London to greater Magnificence than ever in ſo ſhort a ſpace.

When Mars again unſheaths his Sword,

Your Treacherous Friends ſmall Aid afford:

Great noiſe there ſhall be heard, great ſhouts and cries,

And Seas ſhall thunder louder than the Skies.

This alludes to the ſecond Dutch War, wherein the French pretended to be Friends to the Engliſh, but afforded them ſmall Aid, but in truth baſely deſerted them in the Engagements at Sea, where the Canons were louder than Thunder.

A Boat a Boat, look twart the Thames,

The Southern Pile is all on Flames.

This can be underſtood of nothing but the great Fire in Southwark, wherein the beſt part of the Burrough, which She calls the Southern Pile, was Conſumed.

The World's in Arms, and ill at eaſe,

Another World looks on in Peace.

The happy Iſle ſhall freely Trade,

While Blood and horror mighty Realms invade.

This was happily as to England verified in the year 1677. when ſhe only ſtood looking on in Peace, and enjoyed freedom of Trade, whilſt all the reſt of Europe were fiercely engaged in War.

Here follow other Propheſtes ſhe uttered, which ſeem to foretel the overthrow of the French, or ſome great diſaſter to that Nation, with ſeveral other Revolutions; but becauſe they concern future times, we ſhall leave the Interpretation to Time and the Intelliligent Reader.

I.

The Eagle Droops, and Moults his Wings,

And fewds ſhall grow between Northern Kings.

Holland is threatned, Spain doth pine,

And Blood ſhall ſwell the Rapid Rhyne.

II.

When once the Orange and the Roſe

Unite, beware old Englands Foes.

III.

'Tis done, no more ſhall Monſteurs pride

Triumphant over Nations Ride.

The Meteor falls, and ſcarce ſhall have

A mourning Tear, or Chriſtian Grave.

IIII.

The Lillies now bewail their loſs,

And ſerve but to Adorn the Croſs.

V.

The work's begun, but would you ſee

The Harveſt Ripe, joyn eight to three.

The Northern Star at laſt appears,

And an All-conquering Banner rears.

VI.

Howl, howl, you miſcreants, all your deeds

Shall now receive their worthy Meeds;

But long e're this poor Shipton Sleeps

In her ſafe Grave, and Europe weeps.

This Mother Shipton, the Authoreſs of theſe and the foregoing Propheſies, lived till ſhe was of an extraordinary Age, and though ſhe was generally believed to be a Witch, yet all perſons whatſoever that either read or heard her Propheſtes, have eſteemed them little leſs than Oraculous, and her Memory to this day is much Honoured by thoſe of her own Country.

FINIS.

Cite this text

The Life and Death of Mother Shipton. London, 1677. Hermetic Cloud, https://hermeticcloud.com/library/life-and-death-of-mother-shipton/. Public-domain edition reproduced from the TCP transcription; its gaps and missing figures are marked.

Transcription

Text Creation Partnership, TCP A43162, released under CC0 1.0. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Unreadable characters, unavailable passages and figures absent from the transcription remain marked.