Prophecies of Robert Nixon, Mother Shipton, and Martha, the Gypsy

by Anonymous

RELATED BY MR. JOHN WESLEY.

A little before the conclusion of the late war in Flanders, one who came from thence gave us a very strange relation; I knew not what judgment to form of this, but waited till John Haim should come over, of whose veracity I could no more doubt than of his understanding. The account he gave was this; Jonathan Pyrah was a member of our society in Flanders, I knew him some years, and knew him to be a man of an unblameable character. One day he was summoned to appear before the Board of General Officers; one of them said, What is this we hear of you? we hear you have turned Prophet, and that you foretell the downfall of the bloody house of Bourbon, and the haughty house of Austria; we should be glad if you were a real Prophet, and if your prophecies came true; but what sign do you give to convince us you are so, and that your predictions will come to pass? He readily answered, Gentlemen, I give you a sign: to-morrow, at twelve o’clock, you shall have such a storm of thunder and lightning as you never had before since you came into Flanders. I give you a second sign: as little as any of you except any such thing, as little appearance of it as there is now, you shall have a general engagement with the French within three days. I give you a third sign: I shall be ordered to advance in the first line; if I am a false Prophet I shall be shot dead at the first discharge, but if I am a true Prophet I shall only receive a musket-ball in the calf of my left leg. At twelve the next day there was such thunder and lightning as they never had in Flanders; on the third day, contrary to all expectation, was the general battle of Fontenoy; he was ordered to advance in the first line, and at the very first discharge he did receive a musket-ball in the calf of his left leg.

When the war was over he returned to England, but the story was got here before him, in consequence of which he was sent for by the countess of Stair, and several other persons of quality, who were desirous of hearing so surprising an account from his own mouth. He could not bear so much honour; it quite turned his brain. In a little time he went stark mad, and so he continues to this day, living still, as I apprehend, on Wibsey Moor Side, within a few miles of Bradford.

So much for this military Prophet. Mr. Wesley remarks in a note that he is since dead; but we are not able to ascertain whether there be any account of him and his predictions in the papers or other periodical publications of that time. If any gentleman is in possession of information on this subject, the intelligence is worth communicating to the public.

Part of this prophecy being fulfilled, the objects in view to be obtained by a publication are, what was the exact prophecy? whether the several circumstances mentioned did take place.

PROPHECIES
OF
MOTHER SHIPTON,
AND
MARTHA,
THE GIPSY.

LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE BOOKSELLERS.

THE
LIFE AND PROPHECIES
OF
MOTHER SHIPTON.

In the second year of the reign of Henry VII., which was the year 1486, there lived a woman called Agatha Shipton, at a place called Knaresborough, in Yorkshire. She came of poor parentage, who died and left her, at the age of fifteen, destitute. After their decease, she still lived in the old house; but being now deprived of those helps she formerly enjoyed, she was obliged 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, than in a humble manner to desire it.

Satan looked on her poverty to be great, and knowing her evil inclination (for you must understand that Satan is a good scholar), and 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. “Pretty maid,” said he, “why so sad? thy age is too tender for thy head to be troubled with the 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 cast up her eyes, and seeing a face so lovely, could not suspect Satan hid in that comely shape, whereupon, in a lamentable tone, she expressed all that troubled her, informing him of her great wants, and that, not knowing how to work, she could not provide what her necessities required. “Pish,” said Satan “this is nothing; be ruled by me, and all shall be well.” She told him she would. Hereupon, he 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 him for his spouse, attended by a great many gallants (as they appeared), well mounted, and in a noble equipage.

Satan’s attendants soon conveyed his mistress behind him; she not in the least doubting the reality of all she saw.

They needed neither switch nor spur to hasten them forward, the horses were fiery enough of themselves, and ran with that swiftness, that the wind could not overtake them in their full speed: soon they arrived at their journey’s end, where seemed to be a very stately house, with a pair of great gates, which, at their approach, was opened by a porter in his livery gown. Alighting, she went in, where she saw a great many servants, who seemed, at the sight of her and their master, to show much respect and obeisance.

Now did Satan command rich garments to be brought, which she was immediately clothed with; and being thus richly attired, she was ushered into a great hall, where was a long table, furnished with all the varieties the whole world could afford; at the upper end of which table she was placed, next to her intended husband: all the rest of the guests placed themselves as they thought fit. As they had the choicest cheer, so they had the best of wines, and sweetest music.

Dinner being ended, they fell to dancing; and now Satan told her he was no mortal, but spirit, immaterial, and not burdened by a body, nor hindered by any material thing; “So that I can, when I please, pierce through the earth, and ransack its treasures, and bring what precious thing 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 elements, 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 take too long to describe my power, or tell you what I can do; but I will only tell thee what thou shalt do. That being done, I will give thee power to raise hail, tempests, with lightning and thunder; the winds shall be at thy command, and shall bear thee whither thou art willing to go, though ever so far off, and shall bring thee back again when thou hast a mind to return. The hidden treasures of the earth shall be at thy disposal and pleasure, and nothing shall be wanting to complete thy happiness here. Thou shalt, moreover, heal or kill whom thou pleaseth; destroy or preserve either man or beast; know what is passed, and assuredly tell what is to come.” Here note, by the way, Satan is a liar from the beginning, and will promise more by ten millions than he knows he is capable of performing, to the intent that he may ensnare a soul.

This poor ignorant wretch easily believed what this grand deceiver of mankind told her, and being ravished with the thoughts of being so highly preferred, she condescended to all Satan would have her do, whereupon he bid her say after him in this manner: Raziel ellimiham mir amwish ziragia Psonthonphanchia Raphaelel have run a tapinot am becaz mitzphecat jarid cuman hapheah Gabriel Heydon turris dungeonis philonomostarkes sophecord hankim. After she had repeated these words after him, he bid her say after him again: Kametzeatuph Odel Pheraz Tumbag in Gall Flemmugen Victow Denmarkeonto. Having finished his last wicked speech, which even the chief of his minions understood not, and of which none but Satan himself can pick out the meaning, it thundered so horridly that every clap seemed as if the vaulted roof of heaven had cracked, and was tumbling down on her head; and withal, that stately palace, which she thought she was then in, vanished in a thrice; so did her sumptuous apparel: and now her eyes being opened, she found herself in a dark dolesome wood, a place, which, from the creation, had scarce ever enjoyed the benefit of one single sun-beam. Whilst she was thinking in what course to steer, in order to return, two flaming fiery dragons appeared before her, tied to a chariot, and as she was consulting with herself what was best to be done, she was insensibly hoisted into it, and with speed unimaginable, conveyed through the air to her own poor cottage.

Being come home, the neighbours flocked around her, having missed her for 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! Before she met Satan she looked healthy, but now that red plumpness had vanished, there was nothing to be seen but a pale shrivelled skin on her cheek, which, for want of flesh seemed to fall into her mouth, to be devoured by her hunger-starved jaws. Those about her, who were charitable-minded, pitied her, comforted, and gave her money, which, with a great deal of disdain and scorn, she threw at them, saying, she wanted not, nor stood in need of their alms, “for here,” said she, “is money enough,” plucking her hand out of her pocket; the people near her discovered that what was in her hands was nothing else but some aspen-leaves, and notwithstanding they endeavoured to persuade her that she was mistaken in supposing that to be money, yet she would not believe them, so strong a power had Satan gotten over her already.

In fine, she bid them all begone, for now she began to take little delight in human society; it was not long that they had left her, before Satan 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 dismissed; that she needed not the society of any human creature, for he would not fail to be constantly with her: always bringing with him what should not only serve for a bare livelihood, but be her delight, pleasure, and satisfaction: hereupon, by Satan’s command, there instantly seemingly appeared a complete noise of music, with a great variety of dishes of meat of the choicest and most pleasing sort, which so ravished Agatha that she fell to the ground in a profound and deep trance. One of the neighbours coming in at this time, wondered to see Agatha lying on the floor motionless; however, out of pity, she endeavoured to awaken Agatha; but using what means she could, it all signified nothing; she shook and pinched her, yet still she lay insensible. This woman being strangely amazed, ran out among the rest of the neighbours, crying out poor Agatha Shipton was suddenly struck dead, and desired them to go into the house with her, and be eye-witnesses of the truth; whereupon several went, and found what this woman said to be seemingly true; but one wiser than the rest, stooped down, and perceiving that she breathed, said, “Friends, ye are all mistaken; Agatha is not dead, but in a trance, or else she is bewitched.” She had scarcely uttered these words before Agatha began to stir, and soon after, raising herself on her legs, cried out in a very distracted tone, “What do you here, vile wretches! Cannot I enjoy my pleasures, but ye must be eaves-dropping? Get ye gone, ye have nothing to do here;” and hereupon she fell a dancing; which they wondered at because they could hear no music. At length, Agatha turned about, and seeing they were not gone, said, “If you are resolved thus to disturb me, and will not go, I will make ye.” This somewhat affrighted them, for they now verily believed she was a witch, and as they were hastening away, with all imaginable speed, a sudden strong wind hoisted them to a great height into the air, falling all to the ground again without the least harm, the men were like overgrown goats, with large horns on their heads, and the women riding on their backs, which sight, 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 country, and occasioned a great resort of people to the place where Agatha lived; which so perplexed her by their undesired visits, that she resolved within herself to be revenged on some of them; which by Satan’s help she effected: one had a horse that died suddenly, and being opened, there was found in his stomach fish-hooks and hair, instead of hay and oats; 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 ruff pulled off his neck, and the seat of a house of office clapped on in its place: he that sat next to him breaking out in a great laughter at the sight thereof, was served a little better, for his hat was invisibly conveyed away, and the kitchen pan put on instead thereof; a modest young gentlewoman, who did sit at the table at that time, and was come on no other errand but to see this young witch, which was so much talked of, looking on these two worthy spectacles of laughter, endeavouring all she could to refrain from laughing, but could not for above a quarter of an hour: this made them all laugh so extremely, that the master of the house was alarmed, and being desirous to share with his guests in their mirth, came running upstairs as fast as his legs could carry him; when 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.

Whilst they were gazing one on another, more than half distracted, they were reduced to the same condition they were in before; after which there followed a noise, as if a hundred persons were laughing together, but nothing at all was seen.

These persons fearing something worse might befall them if they stayed any longer, made all the haste they could to be gone. Agatha knowing their intent, resolved to take her farewell of them by serving them one trick more, which was this: As they were about to mount on horseback, they were pelted with rotten apples and filth. As they rode through the town, such as thought they rode singly, were all observed to have behind them, each man, a deformed old woman; and as their faces differed all one from another, so did their habits, which were all tattered and ragged, and patched with a hundred colours. Fear, shame, and the hooting of the people, made them put spurs to their horses, neither did they forbear the whip, nor anything that might add speed to their horses’ heels, so that it may be said, they rather flew than rode.

Coming home, they declared 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 spread, came at length to the ears of the justices, who now thought it high time to question and bring to examination a person that was so much talked of, and might, if let alone, do a great deal of mischief. Accordingly two stout fellows were despatched for her; they soon found her, and nothing daunted by her witcheries, they resolutely carried her before the justice, where being brought, she, not a jot daunted, told him that she had more authority than he, and that notwithstanding his power, she could command one that could overrule him; that she was a princess, and could have at her back 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 will procure my liberty.” Hereupon, she said, “Updraxi, call Stygician Helluox!” She had 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 justice and the 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 considerable time of respite. But she now began to be more admired than before, being discovered to be enceinte. The people could not tell what to think, or who could be the father. While people were generally passing their verdict on Agatha, she was once taken and brought before a justice, and amongst other questions, was asked, whether she was enceinte? She acknowledged it; nay, further, that the father was no mortal wight. The justice gave no credit to what she said, as looking on her as an ignorant seduced woman; and so asked her what bail she could produce, intending to defer the business until she was delivered. In this very nick of time, two gentlemen, as they appeared by their habits, voluntarily proffered themselves, but as soon as accepted for bail, vanished; however, Agatha had permission to go home.

In course of time was born, 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 person then presented, have several times confessed that they have never beheld the like: such strange and horrible noises, that the persons about her could scarcely find so much courage in themselves as to continue in the place where she was; much less when they beheld the strange and unparalleled physiognomy of the child, which was so misshapen, that it is altogether impossible to express it fully in words, or the most ingenious to describe her in colours, though many persons of eminent qualifications in that art have often attempted it, but without 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-boned; 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 and blue mixed, which, like vapours of brimstone, gave such a lustre to the affrighted spectators in the dead time of the night, that one of them confessed several times, 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 yellow jaundice, wrinkled, shrivelled and very hollow; insomuch that as the ribs of her body, so the impression of her teeth was easily to be discerned though both sides of her face, answering one side to the other, like the notches in a valley, excepting only two of them, which stood quite out of her mouth, in imitation of the tusks of a wild boar, or tooth of an elephant, a thing so strange in an infant, that no age can parallel: her chin was of the same complexion as her face, turning up her mouth; and shrieks being heard from an unknown cause, as if there had been more than an ordinary correspondence between her teeth and it. Her neck was so strangely distorted, that her right shoulder was forced to be a supporter to her hood, it being propped up by her chin, so that the right side of her body stood lower than her left, like the reeling of a ship that sails with a side wind; again, her left side was quite turned the contrary way, as if her body had been screwed together piece after piece, and not rightly placed; her left shoulder hanging just perpendicular to the bottom of the back. Her legs were very crooked and misshapen; 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 steer her course, because she never could look that way she resolved to go.

After she had remained under the care of the nurse for a space of a month or thereabouts, 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 thereabouts, the house not being in any way disturbed at all, till at last her nurse having been abroad with the chief of the parishioners, either to procure something of their charity for her subsistence and the maintenance 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 door wide open, at which she, much amazed and affrighted, ran to her next neighbour and acquainted her she was quite undone, for her house was broken open and robbed. The man immediately rose from his dinner, accompanied by his wife and also a labouring man. Approaching the door, they endeavoured to enter, but before they could all get in a very strange noise was heard in the next room to them, as if it had been a concert of cats, which so affrighted them that they all ran towards the door, endeavouring to get out again, but in vain; for at their approach there were great long yokes put about their necks, in the form of a cross or turnstile, so that they could not possibly return; and while they were thus striving and crying out for help, their yokes at last fell off, and a staff was laid upon the men’s shoulders, upon which an old woman presented herself, sometimes hanging by the heels and sometimes by the toes. These sports continued for the space of half an hour, so that the poor men were never more tired nor less pleased at anything than in being constrained to humour this piece of activity.

After they had got a discharge from this their new employment, the house being now quiet, and they had a little recovered their senses, missing the woman they ran further into the house, where they found them in a room in which stood a pair of yarwingles made in the form of a cross. The two women were forced to take the four ends thereof in their hands, and so danced round about one after the other until they were almost tired to death, carrying upon their shoulders an imp in the likeness of a monkey or ape, which hung close upon them; and whenever they slacked their pace, these spirits pricked them forward, continuing this for a considerable time, till at length they vanished quite out of sight, leaving these poor wretches no less weary than astonished, and who, perceiving themselves at liberty, ran to several of the neighbours, acquainting them with what had happened, and causing great amazement amongst them; and immediately the whole town was in an uproar. The minister and several of the most eminent of the inhabitants consulted together upon the occasion what to do in the business; some of them threatening 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 dispute who should first enter, which at last was agreed upon; and the parson, with his congregation attending him in the rear, entered the door quivering and shaking, whereupon there was suddenly a noise like the treading of people on stones, though the house had no other but an earthen floor; and very sweet musical harmony of several notes was heard, and all presently vanished again. The minister and inhabitants entered, and searching the house, missed the child; one of them looking up the chimney, saw the cradle wonderfully hanging up, three yards high, without any support; this was as strangely conveyed down again. They encouraged the nurse, left her in the house (though affrighted), and departed.

Mother Shipton’s nurse was, after this, sometimes in great perplexity, not knowing what was become of her for days together; but when she was in her greatest scare after her, she saw her oftentimes drop suddenly through the roof of the house. Going out, upon her return she many times found her child stretched out to a prodigious length, taller than the tallest living, and at other times as much shortened. The poor woman’s work for the major part, was only to rectify what these spirits disordered about her house. The chairs and stools would frequently march up stairs and down, and they usually played at bowls with the trenches and dishes: sometimes at dinner the meat would be removed before she could touch a bit; which things, as they much troubled the nurse, so they gave great satisfaction to Mother Shipton, as it appeared by her monstrous smiles. Now and then, to pacify her nurse, when she saw her much vexed, she would say, “Be contented; there is nothing here that will harm you.”

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

By this time Mother Shipton was 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. Coming to school her mistress began to instruct her as other children, beginning with three or four letters at first; but to the amazement and astonishment of her mistress, she exactly pronounced every letter in the alphabet without teaching; her mistress then showed her a primer, which she read at first sight as well as any in the school, and so on with every book that was shown her.

As this produced wonder in her schoolmistress, so it caused hatred and envy in her comrades; some flouted her for her monstrous long nose, others endeavoured to beat her, and all strove to harm her; but she valued them not, revenging herself on every one of them that intended her harm. Some were pinched, 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; none escaped from being served one scurvy trick or other. This so enraged the parents of these children, looking on Mother Shipton as the sole cause thereof, that she was discharged from the school, and so left to the wide world. The singularities of Mother Shipton now began to be talked of everywhere; she was often seen, when alone, to laugh heartily; at other times to talk to herself; 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 that required the most serious consideration. And now it was that people flocked far and near (her fame was so great), to be resolved of their doubts, all returning wonderfully satisfied in the explanations she gave to their questions.

And now Mother Shipton, beginning to grow famous in the world for her notable judgment in things to come, there resorted to her house a number of people of all sorts, both old and young, rich and poor, especially young maidens, who have always a great 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 person and time, that no sooner could a young maid get into her teens, but she would presently trot to Mother Shipton’s, to be resolved of her doubt. Now though she was not mercenary herself, but refused great gifts when proffered unto her; yet did she keep a young wench, who, rather than fail, if they forgot to open their purse to her, would remember to open her mouth to them, and tell them, that neither Dame Shipton nor she could be maintained with thanks, but that the belly required meat to feed it; and that it was money that 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 anything; whereupon he proffered the maid great store of money, if she could by any means persuade the dame to fulfil his request; the wench, greedy of money, promised him fair; that if he would come the next morning, he would be certain to be resolved; in the meantime, she importuned her dame with the most cunning rhetoric that she could invent; but she was deaf to all entreaties, and would by no means be induced thereto, whereupon the wench resolved with herself, rather than lose the money, to give him an answer of her own invention; when the next morning came she performed her part in these words:—

“The grave provided hath a room:
Prepare for death, thy hour is come.”

The young gentleman having received this answer, went away very joyful, hoping presently to reap the golden crop which his father had sown, and to be in an instant possessor of all his vast estate; but the sequel proved quite contrary; for by the 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 damp into the young heir, that he presently took to his bed, fell extremely ill, and in a short time grew so much worse that all the symptoms of a dying man appeared in him; the old man having no more children, was very desirous of his life; and to know whether he should recover, he sent to Mother Shipton, who, knowing by her art what her maid had done, severely chid her for the same, threatening to turn her out of her service. In the meantime the messenger was come to her house, who having delivered his errand returned back with this answer:—

“For other’s death who do gape out,
Their own, unlook’d for, comes about.”

The old man having received this answer, was much troubled, thinking his own death predicted thereby, not imagining what his son had done: but he was soon quieted of that suspicion, for within two days the young man died; when a servant (who knew the circumstance) informed him of the truth of the whole matter.

At divers other times, when persons of quality came to visit her, she delivered the following prophecies:

“Before the Ouse Bridge and Trinity Church meets, they shall build it in the day and it shall fall in the night, until they get the highest stone of Trinity Church the lowest stone of Ouse Bridge.”

This came to pass; for Trinity steeple in York was blown down with a tempest, and Ouse Bridge broken down with a flood, and what they did in the day time in repairing the bridge fell down in the night, till at last they laid the highest stone of the steeple for the foundation of the Bridge.

“A time shall happen when a ship shall come sailing up the Thames, till it comes against London, and the master of the ship will ask the captain why he weeps, since he has made so good a voyage. And he will say, and what a good city this was, none in the world comparable to it, and now there’s scarce a house left, that can let us drink for our money.”

These last words were sadly verified after the dreadful fire of London in 1666, when there was not a house left along the Thames side from the Tower to the Temple.

About this time, some differences arising betwixt King Henry VIII. and the French king, great preparations for war were made in England, the drums beating in every county to summon voluntary valour to express itself in defence of their king and country. Many heroic spirits who made honour their aim, not dreading dangers, now came forward, and indeed, so many appeared under Mars’ banner, that he who was furnished with limbs and an estate, and declined the service, was called 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 ice; who would kill thousands by his words, but durst not venture to do anything in deeds; this gallant being by some of his equals pricked on to make his appearance in the field of Mars, and not to lie sleeping at home, when fame summoned him forth to action, knew not what to do in this case; loath was he to lose his loved life; and yet the aspersion of a coward, even to a coward himself, is of all things most odious; he therefore promised that none should be more willing than he to spend his blood in the quarrel of that country from whence he received his dear life; but yet he resolved within 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 it was bad, he resolved by a feigned sickness to evade it; thinking it no good policy for a man to part with that life in an instant, which with great cost and care had been many years in bringing up.

Hereupon he hastened to our Northern Prophetess, acquainted her with his condition, and very earnestly desired of her (as she to whom nothing was hid) 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 sheepish courage to be very unanswerable to that of a soldier, yet foreknowing what would come to pass, returned him the following answer: which without more ado, fully satisfied him to proceed, and performed what he had promised.

“When the English Lion shall set his paw on the Gallic shore, then shall the Lilies begin to drop for fear. There shall be much weeping and wailing amongst the ladies of that country: because the princely Eagle shall join with the Lion, to tread down all that shall oppose them; and though many sagittaries shall appear in defence of the Lilies, yet shall they not prevail; because the dull animal of the North shall be put to confusion; and though it be his will, yet shall cause great shame unto them. Now shall the mitred Peacock first begin to plume, whose train shall make a great show in the world for a time, but shall afterwards vanish away, and his honour come to nothing; which shall take its end at Kingston.”