“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.”
Explanation.
By the “English Lion” was meant the King of England; and by setting his “paw on the Gallic shore,” the landing of his army in France; by the “Lily beginning to drop for fear,” was signified the great trouble and perplexity of the French, the Lilies being the arms of France; the “weeping and wailing amongst the ladies of that country,” denotes the miseries and destruction incident to war; by the “princely Eagle joining with the Lion, and treading down all that shall oppose them,” is meant the German Emperor (whose arms were the Eagle) who joined in amity with King Henry, and served him in his wars; by the “sagittaries that appeared in defence of the Lilies,” were meant the French cavalry, the chief strength of France, consisting of horsemen, who appeared like sagittaries, that is to say, half men and half horses; and whereas it was said, “yet they should not prevail,” it fell out so accordingly; for notwithstanding all the opposition of the French armies, King Henry proceeded on vigorously, conquering and taking several towns of importance. But to come to that which most nearly concerns the matter, viz., the success of our young heir in his 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 soldier, 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 at the head of the battle, just before the charge, somebody striking his horse, he carried him upon the enemy with such violence, as put their front in some disorder, which being perceived by our men, they presently so seconded him that the French ran away, leaving the English a glorious victory, purchased with little cost.
By this means was Mother Shipton’s predictions fulfilled, to the disgrace of the French, and great praise to the young gallant; for the rest of the Prophecy the interpretation runs thus:—
By the “mitred Peacock,” was intended Cardinal Wolsey, signified by that bird, because of his great pride, who, being but a poor butcher’s son of Ipswich, in Suffolk, grew to such a height, that he thought himself superior to the chief nobles of the land, living in such splendour as not to be paralleled; according to the new Prophecy, “whose train shall make a great show in the world;” and whereas it is said, “the peacock should then begin to plume,” so it was, that when King Henry had taken the city of Tournay, 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 says) “vanished away, and his great honour came to nothing.” And lastly, whereas it said, he should “have his end at Kingston.” The cardinal being told of this prophecy, would never pass through the town of Kingston, though lying directly in the road from his own house to the court; but afterwards being arrested for high treason, by the Earl of Northumberland, and Sir Anthony Kingston, the Lieutenant of the Tower, sent unto him, his very name (remembering the prophecy) struck such a terror to his heart that he soon after expired.
Mother Shipton had now got a name far and near for a cunning woman, or a woman of foresight, that her words were counted oracles, nor was she visited only by private persons, but advised with by people of the greatest quality. Among which number at that time was Cardinal Wolsey; when it was reported that he intended to live at York, she publicly said, “He should never come thither,” which, coming to his ears, and being offended, he caused three lords to go to her, who came disguised to Dringhouses, near York, where leaving their men, they took a guide to Mother Shipton’s, and knocking at the door, she called from within, “Come in, Mr. Besley (the guide), and these noble lords with you,” which surprised them, that she should know them; for when they came in she called each of them by their names, and treated them with ale and cakes; whereupon, said one of the lords, “If you knew our errand you would not make so much of us; you said the cardinal should never see York.” “No,” said she, “I said he might see York but never come at it.” “Well,” said the lords, “when he does come thou shalt be burnt.” Then, taking off her linen handkerchief from her head, she said, “If this burns,” and immediately flung it into the fire, but it did not burn; and after it had laid in the flames a quarter of an hour, she took it out again not so much as singed. One of the lords then asked her what she thought of him. “My lord, the time will come when your lordship will be as low as I am, and that is low indeed,” which proved true, for shortly after he was beheaded.
Nor was her speech of the cardinal less verified; for coming to Cawood, he went to the top of the tower and asked where York was, which being shown him, he inquired how far it was thither. For, quoth he, “There was a witch said I should never see York.” “Nay,” said one present, “your eminence is misinformed; she said, you might see it, but never come at it.” Then he vowed to burn her when he came there, which was but eight miles distant; but, behold, he was immediately sent for back by the king, and never returned.
Mother Shipton’s prediction coming thus effectually to pass, spread her fame far wider than it was; insomuch that many who before looked upon her as a crack-brained woman, now began to admire her, and to esteem her words as oracles. And as the nature of English people is rather to desire to know what is to come, than to seek to rectify aught that is done amiss, so the greatest part of her visitants came only to be acquainted with what she knew would come to pass; of which number was the Abbot of Beverley, who fearing the downfall of religious houses, and a change of the religion then professed, putting on counterfeit clothes, came to Mother Shipton’s, 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 fox may be seen through the sheep’s skin. Come take a stool and sit down, for you shall not go away unsatisfied of what you desire,” and thereupon she began to utter forth her Prophecies in this sort:—
“When the cow doth wive the bull,
Then, oh! priest, beware thy skull!
And when the lower shrubs do fall,
The great trees quickly follow shall.
The mitred Peacock’s lofty pride
Shall to his master be a guide.
And one great court to pass shall bring
What was ne’er 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 prophecies were thus explained: by the “Cow,” was made King Henry, by reason of the Earldom of Richmond, which was his inheritance; and the “Bull,” betokened Anne Boleyn, whom the king took to wife in the room of Queen Catherine; her father gave the black bull’s head in his cognizance; and when the king had married Queen Anne, then was fulfilled the second line of the prophecy, viz., “Then, oh! priest, beware thy skull!” for what a number of priests, religious and secular, lost their heads, for offending against the laws, made to bring this matter to pass.