Part 5

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.”

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:—