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

by Anonymous

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.