CHAP. I.

MOTHER SHIPTON (as all Histori [...] agee) was a Yorkshire woman; b [...] the particular place is very mu [...] disputed, because several Towns have prete [...] ­ded to the honour of her Birth; But the m [...] credible and received opinion ascribes it [...] Nascborough, near the dropping Well, in the Cou [...] ­ty aforesaid: concerning her Pedigree or Pare [...] ­tage there is likewise very various Report [...] Some say, that her Father was a Necromanc [...] and that skill in the Black Art thereby becam [...] intail'd upon her by inheritance; but the co [...] ­mon [Page 2]Story (which therefore I shall follow, yet [...]ithout forcing the Reader to believe it whe­ [...]er he will or no) is, That she never had any [...]ther of humane Race, or mortal wight, but [...] as begot (as the great Welsh Prophet Merlin [...] as of old) by the Phantasm of Apollo, or some [...]anton Airial Doemon, in manner following.

Her Mother (whom some Records call A­ [...]atha, and others Emmatha) being left an Or­ [...]an about the Age of sixteen, very poor, and [...]uch troubled with that grievous, but com­ [...]on disease, called by some Idleness, and by [...]thers Sloth; as she was once upon a time sit­ [...]ng, bemoning her self on a shady bank by the [...]ighway side, this spirit appear'd to her in the [...]ape of a very handsom young man, & smi­ [...]ng on her, Pretty maid, quoth he, why dost [...]ou sit so sad? Thou art not old enough to have [...]y Head pestered with the cares of the World; [...]ithee tell me the business, and doubt not but I [...]ill help thee out of all thy troubles. The Maid [...]or Maids there were in those days at her age) [...]sting up her eyes, and not suspecting a devil [...]d in so comely a countenance, related to him [...]r wants, and that she knew not how to live; [Page 3] pish! said he, that's nothing, but be ruled by and thou shalt never lack; she hearing him p [...] ­mise so fairly, told him she would; and the [...] upon to draw her in by degrees to destructi [...] he first tempted her to Fornication, and p [...] ­vailed so far as to gain her, but his Touch [...] as she afterwards confessed to the Midwi [...] were as cold as Ice or Snow. From this ti [...] forward she was commonly once a day vi [...] ­ted by her Hellish Gallant, and never want [...] money, for still as she swept the House, s [...] should find some odd pieces, as Ninepence [...] Quarters of thirteen-pence-half-pennys, a [...] the like, sufficient to supply all her occasion.

CHAP. 2.

THe Neighbors observing Agatha witho [...] any Employ to live so handsomly, wo [...] ­dred exceedingly how she came by it, but w [...] more surprized shortly afterward, when th [...] perceiv'd her to be with child, which she co [...] [Page 4]not long hide, for before her delivery, she was [...] big as if she had gone with half a dozen [...]ildren at once; whereupon she was carried be­ [...]re a Justice, who chid & threatned her for her [...]continency, but he was soon silenced, for [...]s Wife and all his Family being present, A­ [...]atha said to him aloud, Mr. Justice, gravely [...]u talk now, and yet the truth is, your Wor­ [...]ip is not altogether free, for here stands Two [...] your Servant wenches, that are both at this [...]ime with Child by you; pointing to them se­ [...]erally with her finger: at which both himself [...]nd the two Girls were so blank, that his wife [...]lainly saw what she said was true, and there­ [...]re fell upon two poor Harlots like a fury, so [...]ll Mr. Justice and the Constable could do was [...]ot enough to keep the peace, and the whole [...]amily was in such confusion, that Agatha for [...]at time was dismist, and soon after was [...]ought to bed in the Month of July, in the 4. [...]ear of the Reign of K. Henry the 7th. which as in the year of our Lord, 1488. Her Travel as very grievous, and a most terrible Clap of [...]hunder hapned just as she was delivered of [Page 5]this strange birth, which afterward was so [...] ­mous by the name of Mother Shipton. N [...] could the Tempest affright the women mo [...] than the prodigious Physiognomy of t [...] Child; the body was long, but very big bone great gogling eyes, very sharp and fiery, a No [...] of unproportionable length, having in it ma [...] crooks and turnings, adorned with gre [...] pimples, which like vapours of brimstone ga [...] such a lustre in the night, that her Nurse ne [...] ­ded no other Candle to dress her by; and b [...] ­sides this uncouth shape, it was observ'd, th [...] as soon as the was born, she fell a laughi [...] and grinning after a jeering manner, and im­mediately the Tempest ceased.

CHAP. 3.

THE Child being thus brought into [...] World, under such strange circumstanc [...] was (though not without some oppositie [...], ordered at last by the Abbot of Beverly to [...] christned, which was performed by the name [Page 6] Ʋrsula Soothtell: for the later was her mo­ [...]ers, and consequently her Maiden Sirname [...]nd as for Shipton, it was the name of her hus­ [...]and, whom she afterwards married; as wi [...] [...]pear in the sequel of this History: and in this [...]articular most of the Authors I've Read have [...]een fouly mistaken. But to proceed, When [...]e was about two years old, her Mother co­ [...]ing to be sensible of her evil, in holding a cor­ [...]spondency with a wicked spirit, applying her If to several Religious men of great note in [...]ose times, by whose grave advice she grew [...]uly penitent, and (according to the fashion [...]f that Ages Devotion) put her self into a [...]ighbouring Monastery, having first put out [...]r Child with a piece of Money to a friend, [...]d so spent the remainder of her days in the [...]mous Covent of the order of St. Bridget, near [...]ottingham, in prayers and tears, and other acts [...] Pennance, to expiate the wickedness of her [...]uth; but wonderful it is to relate the trou­ [...]s that befel the Nurse she was put to, for her [...]ther, the foul Fiend, is reported several times [...] have visited her, particularly one day the [...]rse having been abroad, when she returned [Page 7]she found her door open, whereupon fearin [...] [...]he was Robb'd, she call'd three or four neigh­bours and their Wives to go into the hous [...] with her, but before they got well into th [...] Entry, they heard a strange noise, as if ther [...] had been a thousand Cats in consort, which s [...] dismaid them, that they all ran towards th [...] door, endeavouring to get out again, but in vai [...] for every one of them had got Yokes on thei [...] Necks, that they could not possibly return, bu [...] soon after the Yokes fell off, and then a Coul [...] staff was laid on 2 of the mens shoulders, up­on which an old woman presented her sel [...] stark naked, sometimes hanging by the heels sometimes by the Toes, anon by the middle with divers other postures, while the women having all their coats turned over their ears exposed their shame to publick view, and s [...] continued till a Fryer accidentally came to th [...] house, and then they was suddenly released but still the child having been taken out of th [...] Cradle, could not be found, till at last one of th [...] company looking by chance up the chimny, sa [...] it stark naked, sitting astride upon the Iro [...] to which the Pot-hooks was fastned, whenc [...] [Page 8]they took it down without the least hurt, and [...]o far from being frighted, that it seemed by [...]ts monstrous smiles to be very well pleased at [...]hese pleasant Exploits.

CHAP. 4.

AS our Ʋrsula grew up to riper years, she was often affronted, by reason of her de­formity, but she never fail'd to be revenged on [...]hose that did it: As one day all the chief of the Parish being together at a merry meeting, she [...]oming thither occasionally on an Errand, [...]ome of them abused her by calling her, The Devils Bastard, and Hag-face, and the like; whereupon she went away grumbling, but so [...]rdered affairs, that when they was set down [...] Dinner, one of the principal Yeomen, that [...]hought himself spruce and fine, had in an in­ [...]ant his Ruff (which in those days they wore) [...]ull'd off, and the Seat of an House of Office [...]lapt in its place; he that sate next him burst­ [...]ng out into a laughter at the sight hereof, [Page 9]was served little better, for his Hat was invi­sibly convey'd away, and the Pan of a Close [...]ool which stood in the next Room, put on instead thereof. Besides this, a modest young Gentlewoman that sate at the Table at the same time, looking at these two worthy specta­ [...]les of mirth, endeavour'd all she could to Re­ [...]rain laughing, but cou'd not, and withal con­tinued breaking of wind backward for above a quarter of an hour together, like so many broad-sides in a Sea-fight, which made all the company laugh so extreamly, that the Master of the house (being the chief Inn in the town) was alarm'd below therewith, and desirous to share with his Guests in their mirth, came running up Stairs as fast as his Legs would [...]arry him, but being about to enter the door, he could not, and no wonder, since the oldest Man living never saw a larger pair of Horns than he had on his Head: But whilst they were gazing on one another, as more than half distracted, they were all reduc'd to the same condition they were in at first, after which followed a noise, as if more than a hun­dred persons were laughing together, but no­thing was seen.

CHAP. V.

OUr Ʋrsula was now arrived at the Fou [...] and twentieth year of her age, and th [...] she was none of the prettiest Maids in th [...] Town, as you may remember by her descrip­tion, yet she long'd for an husband as much a [...] the best of them, & at last obtained her desir [...] For whether she used any Love-powder o [...] charms to enamour him, or whether the hop [...] of getting some money, which she was repor­ted to have, tho' no body could tell how sh [...] should come by it, caused him to court her, (a [...] some men there are that would not only mar­ry the Devils daughter, but his dam too fo [...] mony) I cannot certainly inform the Reader [...] but a Sweetheart she had, named Toby Shipton [...]y Trade a Carpenter, to whom she was short [...] [...]y after married, and very comfortably they [...]ved together, but never had any children▪ It hapned about a Month after her marriag [...] [...]ne of her Neighbours leaving her door care­lesly [Page 11]open, lost a new Smock and Petticoat, [...]oln away while she was telling a Gossips [...]ale of an hour long at next door, whither she [...]ent to fetch Fire; which misfortune much [...]oubling her, she made her moan to our Mo­ [...]her Shipton, who did not go about like our lit­ [...]le silly Conjurers, with their Schemes and [...]igures to give a blind description of she knew [...]ot whom, but roundly told her such a Wo­ [...]an by name had stoln the things, adding, [...]hat she would make her restore them with a [...]ame to her; and so indeed she did; for the [...]xt Market day before all the people this Woman could not avoid putting on the [...]mock over her other clothes, and the Petti­ [...]oat in her hand, and so marched through the [...]oud into the Market-cross, where the other [...]as by Mother Shiptons directions to receive [...]hem, dancing all the way, and singing these [...]ords:

And so when she came to the owner, pull'd [...]ff the Smock, and gave her her own with a [...] [...]everend courtesie, and so departed.

CHAP. 6.

BY these and several the like exploits, Mo­ther Shipton had got a name far and nea [...] for a cunning woman, or a woman of the for [...] ­sight, so that her words began to be counte [...] Oracles, nor did she meddle only with privat [...] persons, but was advised with concerned peo­ple of the greatest Quality; among which num­ber at that time was Cardinal Woolsey, whe [...] it was reported, that he intended to live at York▪ she publickly said, He should never come thither▪ which coming to his ear, and being much of­fended, he caused three Lords to go to her▪ who came disguised to Ring-house near York where leaving their men, they took a Guid [...] and came to Mother Shipton's, where knock­ing at her door, she cryed out within, Come [...] Mr. Beasly (their Guide) and those No [...] Lords with you. Which much surprized the [...] that she should know them, for when the [...] came in, she called each of them by their nam [...] and treated them with Ale and Cakes, where­upon [Page 13]upon said one of the Lords, If you knew ou [...] Errand you would not make so much of us, you sai [...] the Cardinal should never see York. No, sai [...] [...]he, I said he might see York, but never come a [...] [...]t; Well, saies the Lord, when he does com [...] [...]hou shalt be burnt. Then taking off her Lin­ [...]en Kerchief from her head, saies she, If thi [...] [...]urn, then I may burn; and immediately flung [...] into the fire before them, but it would not burn, so that after it had lain▪ in the flames [...] [...]rter of an hour, she took it out again not so much as singed. Hereupon one of the Lords [...]skt her what she thought of him, My Lord, said she, the time is coming when your Grace will be as low as I am, and that is a low one in­ [...]ed. Which proved true, for shortly after [...]he was beheaded.

Nor was her speech of the Cardinal less ve­ [...]ified, for he coming to Cawood, went to the [...]p of the Tower, & askt where York was, which [...]eing shewn him, he enquired how far it was [...]hither, For (qd. he) there was a Witch said, I [...]hould never see York. Nay, says one present. [...]our Eminence is misinformed, she said you should [...]ee it, but not come at it. Then he vow'd to burn [...] [Page 14]her when he came there, which was but eight [...]iles distant, but behold, immediately he was [...]ent for back by the King, and dyed of a vio­ [...]ent Loosness at Leicester.

CHAP. 7.

AT divers other times, when persons of Qua­lity came to visit her, she delivered the se­ [...]eral prophecies following, that is to say,

1 Prophecy.

‘Before Owse-bridge and Trinity-Church meet, [...]hey shall build in the day, and it shall fall in the night, [...]ntil they get the highest stone of Trinity-Church the [...]swest stone of Owse-bridge.’

Explanation.

This came to pass: for Trinity Steeple in York was [...]own down with a Tempest, and Owse-bridge bro­ [...]en down with a Flood, and what they did in the [...]ay-time in repairing the Bridge, fell down in the [...]ight, till at last they laid the highest Stone of the [...]eeple for the Foundation of the Bridge.

2. Prophecy.

3 Prophecy.

‘You shall have a year of pining Hunger, & shall no [...] [...]now of the Wars over-night, yet shall you have it i [...] the Morning, and when it happens, it shall last thre [...] years, then will come a woman with one Eye, and sh [...] shall tread in many mens blood up to the Knee.’

4 Prophecy.

‘Then may a Man take House or Bower, Land o [...] Tower for one and twenty years; but afterwards shal [...] be a white Harvest of Corn gotten in by Women; the [...] shall it be, that one Woman shall say to another, Mo­ther, I have seen a Man to day!’

5 Prophecy.

‘A time shall happen, when a Ship shall come sailing up the Thames, till it come against London, and the Master of the Ship shall weep, and the Mariners of the Ship shall ask him why he weeps, since he hath mad [...] so good a Voyage; and he shall say, Ah! what: goodly City this was, none in the world compa­rable to it, and now there is scarce left an House that can let us have drink for our money.’

Explanation.

These last words were sadly verified afte [...] the dreadful Fire of London, 1666. when ther [...] was not an House left all along Thames-side from the Tower to the Temple; As for th [...] [Page 16]words before, they being darkly delivered, [...]re not like to be understood, till time, that [...]oth discovers and absconds all things, shall [...]ring the matters signified to light.

CHAP. 8.

THe Abbot of Beverly giving her a Visit one day, told her, That as he had found [...]everal things that she had formerly said to be [...]xactly true, so he was perswaded she was not Ig­ [...]orant in those which for the future were to in­ [...]ue, and therefore requested her to impart some of [...]er fore-knowledge to him, for which Favour [...]tho' more than his deserts could command, yet) [...]all he neither want a Tongue to acknowledge, nor [...] Heart to endeavour a Requital for so great an [...]bligation. Mr. Abbot, saies she, leave off com­ [...]lementing, I am an old Woman, who will neither [...]tter, nor be flatter'd by any, yet shall answer our Desires as for as I may. And thereupon [...]d in mystick Verses discover to him the [...]reatest Accidents that have happen'd in [Page 17] England, from that day to this, as in the fol­lowing Explanations will appear.

Explanation.

By the Cow was meant H. 8. who gave the Cow in his Arms as Earl of Richmond, and th [...] Bull betoken'd Madam Ann of Bulloigne, no [...] only as the first syllable of her name, but be­cause her Father gave the black Bulls-Head i [...] his Crest; and when the King married her immediately after hapned the Dissolution o [...] Monasteries, and restraints laid on the Priests.

Explanation.

This is meant of King Edward the sixth, i [...] whose time the Protestant Religion wa [...] established, and the Popish Superstition swept out of the Kirk, an old word used sti [...] in Scotland for the Church.

Explanation.

These Lines decipher Q. Mary, called Alecto a name of one of the Furies) for her Cruelty [...]o the Protestants, of whom great numbers [...]ere then burnt in Smithfield.

Explanation.

Spoken of Q. Elizabeth, who Reigned, ex­ [...]eamly Beloved by her Subjects, and drea­ [...]ed by her Enemies, above Forty Years.

Explanation.

The King of Spain's mighty Navy in 88. [...]estroyed by the English Fleet under Cap­ [...]in Drake.

Explanation.

This relates to King James, who having been many Years King of Scotland, the Crown of England by Queen Elizabeths Death fell to him, whereupon he came over Tweed to take up his Residance here, and so joyned the two Kingdomes under one Government. And as for Janus shutting his Gates, you must know Janus was one of the Heathen gods, that ha [...] a Temple at Rome, the Gates of which were never shut but in times of Peace, alluding to which, our Prophetess here declares the peaceful Reign of King James.

Explanation.

This relates to our Late lamentable Civ [...] Wars.

Meaning the Execrable murther of th [...] [Page 20]most Excellent Prince, Charles the First.

These Prophecies we have seen fulfilled [...]y Cromwel's Usurpations, the Committee [...]f Safetys Confusions, and our Gracious So­ [...]eraign's Miraculous Restauration.

Explanation.

The first Line points out the great Sick­ [...]ss in London, 1665. And the second the [...]eadful Fire the Year following.

Having said this, Mother Shipton arose, and the [...]dmiring Abbot (who took all these Prophecies [...]ou must conceive, in writing) giving her many Thanks, returned home.

CHAP. 9.

THis famous Prophetess continued several years esteemed, as the Sybil or Oracle of these Times. At last, being Threescore and Thirteen [...]ears of Age, she found the time in the black Book [...]f Destiny approaching, wherein she must give a [...]nal adieu to the World, which she foretold to a [...]ay, to divers people, and at the hour predicted, [...]aving taken solemn leave of her friends, laid [...]er self down on her Bed, and dyed; on whom [...] Poet of this Age bestowed this