Prophecies of Robert Nixon, Mother Shipton, and Martha, the Gypsy Part 4

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 pa.s.sed, and a.s.suredly 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 c.u.man 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 s.h.i.+pton 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 h.e.l.luox!" 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 pa.s.sing 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 s.h.i.+pton, 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 l.u.s.tre 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 a.s.sist 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 s.h.i.+p 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 s.p.a.ce 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 s.p.a.ce 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 paris.h.i.+oners, 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 s.p.a.ce 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 p.r.i.c.ked 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 s.h.i.+pton'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 s.h.i.+pton, 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 pa.s.sed, in commiseration to the almost distracted woman, they removed Mother s.h.i.+pton to another place, where she was put to school, being of an age fit for it.

By this time Mother s.h.i.+pton was grown a l.u.s.ty 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 p.r.o.nounced 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 s.h.i.+pton as the sole cause thereof, that she was discharged from the school, and so left to the wide world. The singularities of Mother s.h.i.+pton 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 pa.s.sed, 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 s.h.i.+pton, 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 s.h.i.+pton'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 s.h.i.+pton 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 s.h.i.+pton 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 s.h.i.+pton, 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 circ.u.mstance) 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 pa.s.s; 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 s.h.i.+p shall come sailing up the Thames, till it comes against London, and the master of the s.h.i.+p 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 p.r.i.c.ked 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 s.h.i.+pton, 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 s.h.i.+pton, though she perceived his sheepish courage to be very unanswerable to that of a soldier, yet foreknowing what would come to pa.s.s, 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 sh.o.r.e, 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 Peac.o.c.k 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 sh.o.r.e," 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 hors.e.m.e.n, 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 pa.s.sing 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 s.h.i.+pton'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 Peac.o.c.k," 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 n.o.bles 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 peac.o.c.k 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 pa.s.s 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 s.h.i.+pton 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 s.h.i.+pton's, and knocking at the door, she called from within, "Come in, Mr. Besley (the guide), and these n.o.ble 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 lords.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+pton's prediction coming thus effectually to pa.s.s, 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 pa.s.s; 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 s.h.i.+pton'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 Peac.o.c.k's lofty pride Shall to his master be a guide.

And one great court to pa.s.s 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 pa.s.s.

Cardinal Wolsey (who was intended by the "mitred Peac.o.c.k"), in the height of his pride and vastness of his undertakings, intending to erect two colleges, one at Ipswich, where he was born, the other at Oxford, where he was bred; and finding himself unable to endow them at his own charge, he obtained licence of Pope Clement VII. to suppress forty small monasteries in England, and to lay their old lands to his new foundations, which was done accordingly, and the poor people that lived in them were turned out of doors. Many of the clergy were very much against this action of Wolsey, especially John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, alleging for the same an apologue of aesop, that "the iron head of the axe craved a handle of the wood of oaks, only to cut off the boughs of the trees: but when it was a complete axe it felled all the wood;" applying it, that the suppressing of those smaller houses would prove destructive to all the rest, which came to pa.s.s accordingly; for King Henry, seeing the cardinal's power to extend so far as to suppress these lower shrubs, he thought his prerogative might stretch so far as to fell down the great trees; and soon after dissolved the priory of Christ Church, near Aldgate, in London (now known by the name of Duke's Place), the richest in lands and ornaments of the priories in London or Middles.e.x; which was a forerunner of the dissolution of the rest; and that not long after came to pa.s.s.

By the "Great Court," is meant the Parliament, the supremest court of England; which, in the twenty-seventh year of King Henry's reign, to support the king's states, and supply his wants, conferred on the crown all religious houses which were not able clearly to expend above two hundred pounds a year; the great ones not long after following the same fortune of the smaller, which was not done (though attempted) by any king before.

By the dissolution of these houses, many thousands were driven to seek their fortunes in the wide world, and became utterly exposed to want; when monkish profession was without possession, many a young man proved an old beggar, and many forced to fast for want of victuals, who formerly had it provided for them to their hands.