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[Picture: Great skill had they in palmistry]
PROPHECIES
OF
ROBERT NIXON,
MOTHER SHIPTON,
AND
MARTHA, THE GIPSY.
* * * * *
LONDON:
_PUBLISHED FOR THE BOOKSELLERS_.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
The Life of Robert Nixon, commonly called The Cheshire 5
Prophet.
The Original predictions of Robert Nixon, as delivered by 18
himself.
The Following predictions of Robert Nixon are copied from 31
old pamphlets.
Nixon’s Cheshire prophecy at large, from Lady Cowper’s 36
copy; with historical and political remarks, and many
instances wherein it has been fulfilled.
The Editor presents his Readers with a Copy of a printed 56
Paper, which several aged Persons, residing near the
Forest, have vouched for the Authenticity of.
Prophecy of the French Revolution, from a publication by 61
the late Mr. Peter Jurieu, in 1687.
Extracts from sermons by Dr. John Gill. 69
An extraordinary prediction related by Mr. John Wesley. 95
The Life and Prophecies of Mother Shipton. 103
Prophecies of Martha, the Gipsy. 197
Remarkable fulfilment of a prediction. 250
THE LIFE OF ROBERT NIXON,
COMMONLY CALLED
THE CHESHIRE PROPHET.
THE Prophecy of Nixon has so often given a name to the productions of
authors of different principles, that it is now almost become a doubt
whether such a person ever existed. Passing through Cheshire lately,
curiosity led me to inquire what credit these legends bore among the
natives: and I was not a little surprised to find with what confidence
they related events which have come to pass within the memory of many of
the inhabitants; and how strictly they adhered to the notion that he
would not fail in the rest. Amongst his number was a namesake and
descendant of the same family with this famous idiot, who, at this time
lives not far from Vale-Royal, from whom I had mostly what follows, which
he said he had often heard his father and other ancient people in the
country relate. I also obtained a manuscript copy which seemed to bear
the appearance of antiquity.—Mr. Gerrard, Mr. Grimes and many others of
the inhabitants of the forest of Delamere very obligingly told me what
they knew, and confirmed what was past.
John, or Jonathan Nixon, the father of our prophet was a husbandman who
held the lease of a farm from the abbey of Vale-Royal, to this day known
by the name of Bark, or Bridge-house in the parish of Over near
New-Church, and not far from Vale-Royal, on the forest of Delamere, which
house is still kept up and venerated by the natives of Cheshire for
nothing else that I could hear of but this extraordinary person’s birth,
which took place Whitsuntide, and he was christened by the name of
Robert, in the year 1467, about the 7th year of Edward IV.; and from his
infancy he was remarkable for a stupidity and invincible ignorance, so
that it was with great difficulty his parents could instruct him to drive
the team, tend the cattle and such sort of rustic employments.
His parents at their decease left the farm and our Robert very young, to
the care of an elder brother with whom he first gave an instance of that
foreknowledge which renders his name so famous.
As he was driving the team one day, whilst his brother’s man guided the
plough, he pricked an ox so very cruelly with his goad that the
plough-holder threatened to acquaint his master; on which Nixon said, the
ox should not be his brother’s three days hence; which accordingly
happened for a life drooping in the estate, the lord of the manor took
the same ox for an heriot. {7}
During his residence here he was chiefly distinguished for his
simplicity, seldom spoke, and when he did it was with so rough a voice
that it was painful to hear him; he was remarkably satirical, and what he
said had generally some prophetic meaning. It was about this time that
the monk of Vale-Royal having displeased him he said in an angry tone,
When you the arrow come on high,
Soon a raven’s nest will be;
which is well known to have come to pass in the person of the last abbot
of that place, whose name was Harrow. Being called before Sir Thomas
Holcroft he was put to death for denying the supremacy of King Henry
VIII. Having suppressed the abbey the King gave the domain to this
knight and his heirs who bore a raven for their crest.
At another time he told them that Norton and Vale-Royal abbeys should
meet on Acton-bridge, a thing at that time looked upon as improbable; yet
those two abbeys being pulled down the stones were used for the purpose
of repairing the bridge; and what was more improbable still a small thorn
growing in the abbey-yard would become its door. We may easily guess no
one thought this last would ever come to pass, and especially as it was
understood by every one at that time of day that thorns never grew so
large; but this shows the uncertain meaning of a prophecy, and that what
we understand one way is possibly meant quite different; so it happened
in this case, for, at the Reformation the savage ravages under the
sanction of religion sought nothing but rapine and plunder to enrich
themselves; and under the name of banishing superstition and pulling down
idolatry, spared not even the most revered lineaments of antiquity, the
most sacred piles, the most noble structures, or most valuable records,
books written by our most venerable forefathers and heroic ancestors.
Pieces of the nicest paint and figures of the best workmanship being all
lost, irrecoverably lost in one common fit of destructive zeal which
every hue and cry is too apt to raise in the breast of a hot-headed
bigot; whilst the truly religious, honest and learned men regret to this
day the loss those destructive times have occasioned. Whilst these
reached Vale-Royal, this thorn amongst the rest, being cut down was cast
in the door-way, to prevent sheep which grazed in the court from going
in.
But the Reformation he declares in still plainer terms; for he says,
A time shall come when priests and monks
Shall have no churches nor houses,
And places where images stood,
Lined letters shall be good,
English books through churches are spread,
Where shall be no holy bread.
It is not my intention to recite every particular he is said to have
foretold, which regard either private families or past occasions—however,
it may not be amiss to mention what is fresh in every one’s memory who
lives near Delamere forest and was vouched to me by several of the oldest
inhabitants.
Thro’ Weaver-hall shall be a lone {10}
Ridley-pool shall be sown and mown,
And Darnel-Park shall be hacked and hewn.
The two wings of Weaver-hall are now standing and between them is a
cart-road; Ridley-pool is filled up and made good meadow land: and in
Darnel-Park the trees are cut down and it is made into pasture-ground.
I was also assured that he foretold the use of broad wheels, etc. and
that the town of Northwich now a considerable place of trade for salt
will be destroyed by water, which is expected to come to pass, by the
natives of Cheshire, as much as any other part of his prophecy has done;
and some urge that the navigable cuts lately made is the water meant: but
whether a prejudice against those useful improvements may not have given
rise to this notion, time only can determine.
But what rendered Nixon the most noticed was that at the time when the
battle of Bosworth-field was fought between King Richard the Third and
King Henry the Seventh, he stopped his team on a sudden and pointing with
his whip from one to the other cried, “Now, Richard! Now, Harry!”
several times; till at last, he said, “Now, Harry, get over that ditch
and you gain the day.” The plough-holder, amazed, related what had
passed when he came home, and the truth of the prediction was verified by
special messengers sent to announce the proclamation of King Henry of
England on the field of battle.
The messenger who went this circuit related on his return the prediction
of Nixon concerning the King’s success; which, though it had been
confirmed by his arrival had made it no news to the natives of those
parts; but Henry perhaps the wisest Prince of his time not willing to be
deceived, nor yet doubting the dispensations of Providence though by the
mouth of a fool, sent the same messenger back to find Nixon, and to bring
him before him. At the moment the King gave his orders our prophet was
in the town of Over, about which he ran like a madman declaring the King
had sent for him and that he must go to court and there be _clammed_:
that is, be starved to death. Such a declaration caused a great deal of
laughing in the town, to think that his Majesty so noted for his wisdom
should send for a dirty drivelling clown to court, and that being sent
for he should fear to be starved there; but how great was their surprise,
in a few days after, when the messenger passing through the town demanded
a guide to find Nixon who (then turning the spit at his brother’s at the
Bark-house) cried, “He is coming, he is now on the road for me!” but the
astonishment of the family can scarcely be imagined when, on the
messenger’s arrival he demanded Nixon in the King’s name; the people who
before scoffed at his simple appearance and odd sayings, and had pointed
to the very children to make him their sport were now confounded on
finding the most ridiculous of all he ever foretold (in their opinion)
become a truth, which was vouched to their own eyes. Whilst hurried
through the country Nixon still loudly lamented that he was going to be
starved at the court.
He had no sooner arrived there than the cautious King willing to make
trial of his foreknowledge devised the following scheme to prove it.
Having had a valuable diamond ring which he commonly wore after the most
seemingly strict inquiry made through the palace whether any one had seen
it; he sent for Nixon, telling him what a loss he had sustained, and that
if he could not help him to find it, he had no hopes left. But how much
surprised was the King, when he got for answer that old proverb,
He who hideth can find;
On which he declared with a smile that he had done this only to try the
prophet; but ever after ordered that what he said should be carefully put
in writing.
To prevent Nixon’s being starved his Majesty gave orders for him to have
the liberty to range through the whole palace and the kitchen was to be
his more constant dwelling. Besides which, an officer was appointed to
take care that he was neither misused or affronted by the servants, nor
at loss for any necessary of life. Thus situated one would have thought
want would never have reached him; yet one day, as the King was going out
to his hunting-seat Nixon ran to him crying and begged in the most moving
terms that he might not be left, for that if he was his Majesty would
never see him again alive: that he should be starved; that now was the
time, and if he was left he must die.
The King whose thoughts were doubtless fixed on the diversion he was
going to and supposing the matter so very unlikely to come to pass, only
said that it was impossible and recommended him strongly to the officer’s
care; but scarcely was the king gone from the palace-gate when the
servants mocked and teased Nixon to such a degree, that the officer to
prevent these insults locked him up in a closet and suffered no one but
himself to attend on him thinking that he should prevent this part of his
prophecy coming true: but a message of great importance coming from the
King to this very officer, he in his readiness to obey the royal command
forgot to set poor Nixon at liberty and though he was but three days
absent when he recollected his prisoner he found him at his return, dead
as he had foretold of hunger.
Thus evidenced with what is past stands his prophecy in every mouth in
Cheshire; yet a greater affront cannot be given than to ask a copy from
the families said to be possessed of it. Every possible means it is well
known has been used to smother the truth, perplex the curious, and even
to abolish the very remembrance that such a one ever existed, but from
what reason cannot appear except that it is foretold that the heir of O—
is to meet with some ignominious death at his own gate, {16} with other
family events which, though no person or time being perfectly
distinguished may perhaps occasion this secrecy.
I must also observe that the cross on Delamere forest, that is, three
steps and the socket in which the cross formerly stood are now sunk
within a few inches of the ground, though all remember to have seen it
within the memory of man nearly six feet above, the cross itself having
been destroyed long since. It is also remarkable that Headlets cross is
mentioned by Merlin de Rymer and most other English and Scotch prophets
as the last place in England on which it is supposed a decisive action
will happen; but as to any fixed period when the things will come to pass
I cannot learn, being all mentioned with the greatest uncertainty.
THE ORIGINAL PREDICTIONS
OF
ROBERT NIXON,
AS DELIVERED BY HIMSELF.
When a raven shall build in a stone lion’s mouth,
On a church top beside the grey forest,
Then shall a king of England be drove from his crown,
And return no more.
When an eagle shall sit on the top of Vale-Royal house,
Then shall an heir be born, who shall live to see great troubles in
England.
There shall be a miller nam’d Peter,
With two heels on one foot,
Who shall distinguish himself bravely,
And shall be knighted by the victor:
For foreign nations shall invade England;
But the invader shall be killed,
And laid across a horse’s back,
And led in triumph.
A boy shall be born with three thumbs on one hand,
Who shall hold three King’s horses,
Whilst England three times is won and lost in one day.
But after this shall be happy days,
A new set of people of virtuous manners shall live in peace.
But the wall of Vale-Royal near the pond shall be the token of its
truth,
For it shall fall:
If it fall downwards,
Then shall the church be sunk for ever:
But if it fall upwards against a hill,
Then shall the church and honest men live still.
Under this wall shall be found the bones of a British King.
Peckforton-mill shall be removed to Ludington hill,
And three days blood shall turn Noginshire-mill.
But beware of a chance to the lord of Oulton,
Lest he should be hanged at his own door.
A crow shall sit on the top of Headless cross,
In the forest so grey,
And drink of the nobles’ gentle blood so free;
Twenty hundred horses shall want masters,
Till their girths shall rot under their bellies.
Thro’ our own money and our own men,
Shall a dreadful war begin;
Between the sickle and the suck,
All England shall have a pluck;
And be several times forsworn,
And put to their wits’ end,
That it shall not be known, whether to reap their corn,
Bury their dead, or go to the field to fight.
A great scarcity of bread corn.
Foreign nations shall invade England with snow on their helmets,
And shall bring plague, famine, and murder in the skirts of their
garments.
A great tax will be granted but never gathered.
Between a rick and two trees,
A famous battle fought shall be.
London street shall run with blood
And at last shall sink,
So that it shall be fulfilled,
Lincoln was, London is, and York shall be
The finest city of the three.
There will be three gates to London of imprisoned men for cowsters.
Then if you have three cows, at the first gate fell one, and keep thee
at home,
At the second gate fell the other two, and keep thee at home.
At the last gate all shall be done.
When summer in winter shall come,
And peace is made at every man’s home,
Then shall be danger of war;
For tho’ with peace at night the nation ring,
Men shall rise to war in the morning.
There will be a winter Council, a careful Christmas, and a bloody
Lent.
In those days there shall be hatred and bloodshed,
The father against the son, and the son against his father,
That one may have a house for lifting the latch of the door.
Landlords shall stand, with hats in their hands,
To desire tenants to hold their lands.
Great wars and pressing of soldiers,
But at last clubs and clouted shoes shall carry the day.
It will be good in these days for a man to sell his goods, and keep
close at home.
Then forty pounds in hand
Will be better than forty pounds a year in land.
The cock of the North shall be made to flee,
And his feathers be plucked for his pride;
That he shall almost curse the day that he was born.
One asked Nixon, where he might be safe in those days? he answered,
In God’s croft, between the rivers Mersey and Dee.
Scotland shall stand more or less,
Till it has brought England to a piteous case.
The Scots shall rule England one whole year.
Three years of great wars,
And in all countries great uproars.
The first is terrible, the second worse, but the third unbearable.
Three great battles;
One at Northumberland-bridge,
One at Cumberland-bridge,
And the other the south side of Trent.
Crows shall drink the blood of many nobles.
East shall rise against West, and North against South.
Then take this for good,
Noginshire-mill shall run with blood,
And many shall fly down Wanslow-lane.
A man shall come into England,
But the son of a king crown’d with thorns
Shall take from him the victory.
Many nobles shall fight,
But a bastard Duke shall win the day,
And so without delay,
Set England in a right way.
A wolf from the East shall right eagerly come,
On the South side of Sandford, on a grey Monday morn,
Where groves shall grow upon a green,
Beside green grey they shall flee
Into rocks, and many die.
They shall flee into Salt strand,
And twenty thousand, without sword, shall die each man.
The dark dragon over Sudsbrown,
Shall bring with him a royal band;
But their lives shall be forlorn,
His head shall be in Stafford town,
His tail in Ireland.
He boldly shall bring his men, thinking to win renown:
Beside a wall in forest fair he shall be beaten down.
On Hine’s heath they shall begin this bloody fight,
And with train’d steed shall hew each others’ helmet bright:
But who shall win that day no one can tell.
A Duke out of Denmark shall him dight,
On a day in England, and make many a lord full low to light,
And the ladies cry, ‘Well away,’
And the black fleet with main and might
Their enemies full boldly their assail.
In Britain’s land shall be a knight,
On them shall make a cruel fight,
A bitter boar with main and might
Shall bring a royal rout that day.
There shall die many a worthy knight,
And be driven into the fields green and grey,
They shall lose both field and fight.
The weary eagle shall to an island in the sea retire
Where leaves and herbs grow fresh and green.
There shall he meet a lady fair,
Who shall say, ‘Go help thy friend in battle slain:’
Then by the counsel of that fair,
He eagerly will make to flee
Twenty-six standard of the enemy,
A rampant lion in silver set, in armour fair,
Shall help the eagle in that tide,
When many a knight shall die.
The bear that hath been long tied to a stake shall shake his chains,
That every man shall hear, and shall cause much debate.
The bull and red rose shall stand in strife,
That shall turn England to much woe,
And cause many a man to lose his life.
In a forest stand oaks three,
Beside a headless cross.
A well of blood shall run and ree,
Its cover shall be brass,
Which shall ne’er appear,
Till horses’ feet have trod it bare;
Who wins it will declare,
The eagle shall so fight that day,
That ne’er a friend’s from him away.
A hound without delay shall run the chase far and near.
The dark dragon shall die in fight.
A lofty head the bear shall rear,
The wide wolf so shall light,
The bridled steed against his enemies will fiercely fight.
A fleet shall come out of the North,
Riding on a horse of trees,
A white hind beareth he,
And there wreaths so free,
That day the eagle shall him slay,
And on a hill set his banner straightway.
That lion who’s forsaken been and forced to flee,
Shall hear a woman shrilly say,
‘Thy friends are killed on yonder hill,’
Death to many a knight this day.
With that the lion bears his banner to a hill,
Within a forest that’s so plain,
Beside a headless cross of stone,
There shall the eagle die that day,
And the red lion get renown.
A great battle shall be fought by crowned Kings three;
One shall die and a bastard Duke will win the day.
In Sandyford there lies a stone,
A crowned King shall lose his head on.
In those dreadful days, five wicked priests’ heads shall be sold for a
penny.
Slaughter shall rage to such a degree,
And infants left by those that are slain,
That damsels shall with fear and glee,
Cry, ‘Mother, mother, I’ve seen a man!’
Between seven, eight, and nine,
In England wonders shall be seen.
Between nine and thirteen
All sorrow shall be done.
Then rise up Richard, son of Richard,
And bless the happy reign,
Thrice happy he who sees this time to come
When England shall know rest and peace again.
* * * * *
_End of the Original Prophecies_.
* * * * *
THE FOLLOWING PREDICTIONS
OF
ROBERT NIXON
ARE COPIED FROM OLD PAMPHLETS.
The famous Cheshire prophet Nixon, besides his prophecies relative to the
fate of private families, also predicted much of public affairs, which we
find literally verified by the sequel.
On the Christmas before he went to court, being among the servants at Mr.
Cholmondeley’s house, to the surprise of them all he suddenly started up
and said,
“I must prophecy.” He went on, the favourite {32a} of a King shall be
slain. “If the master’s neck shall be cleft in twain. And the men of
the North {32b} shall sell precious blood; yea their own blood. And they
shall sacrifice a noble warrior {32c} to the idol, and hang up his flesh
in the high places; and a storm shall come out of the North, which shall
blow down the steeples of the South: and the labourer shall rise above
his lord, and the harvest shall in part be trampled down by horses, and
the remainder lie waste to be devoured by birds.
“When an oak tree shall be softer than men’s hearts, then look for better
times but they be but beginning.
“The departure of a great man’s {33a} soul shall trouble a river hard by,
and overthrow trees, houses, and estates. From that part of the house
from whence the mischief came you must look for the cure. First comes
joy, then sorrow; after mirth comes mourning.
“I see men, women, and children, spotted {33b} like beasts, and their
nearest and dearest friends affrighted at them. I see towns on fire, and
innocent blood shed; but when men and horses walk upon the water, then
shall be peace and plenty to the people, but trouble is preparing for
Kings; and the _great yellow fruit_ {33c} shall come over to this
country, and flourish: and I see this tree take deep root and spread into
a thousand branches, which shall afterwards be at strife one with
another, because of their numbers: and there shall come a wind from the
South, and the West, which shall shake the tree. I see multitudes of
people running to and fro, and talking in a strange tongue. And there
shall be a famine {34} in the midst of great plenty, and earthquakes and
storms shall level and purify the earth.”
After these sayings, which every one, with the slightest knowledge of our
history will instantly apply to those events which they so wonderfully
foretold, Nixon was silent, and relapsed into his wonted stupidity: from
which he did not recover until many weeks after, when he became again
inspired, and gave vent to those remarkable predictions which were
recollected by Mr. Oldmixon. Those which we have just now related were
taken down from the prophet’s mouth by the steward, in pursuance of the
orders of Mr. Cholmondeley himself; and the original manuscript is now in
the hands of a gentleman in Shropshire.
NIXON’S CHESHIRE PROPHECY AT LARGE,
FROM LADY COWPER’S COPY;
WITH HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL REMARKS, AND MANY INSTANCES
WHEREIN IT HAS BEEN FULFILLED.
INTRODUCTION.
This remarkable Prophecy has been carefully revised, corrected, and
improved; also some account given of our author, Robert Nixon, who was
but a kind of idiot, and used to be employed in following the plough. He
had lived in some farmers’ families, and was their drudge and their jest.
At last, Thomas Cholmondeley, of Vale-Royal, Esq., took him into his
house, where he lived when he composed this prophecy, which he delivered
with as much gravity and solemnity as if he had been an oracle; and it
was observed that though the fool was a driveller, and could not speak
common sense when uninspired, yet in delivering his prophecies, he spoke
plainly and sensibly; how truly will be seen in the following pages.
As to the credit of this prophecy I dare say it is as well attested as
any of Nostradamus’s or Merlin’s, and will come to pass as well as the
best of Squire Bickerstaff’s; it is plain enough that great men in all
ages had recourse to prophecy as well as the vulgar. I would not have
all grave persons despise the inspiration of Nixon. The late French King
gave audience to an inspired farrier, and rewarded him with an hundred
pistoles for his prophetical intelligence; though by what I can learn he
did not come near our Nixon for gifts.
The simplicity, the circumstances, and the history of the Cheshire
Prophecy are so remarkable that I hope the public will be as much
delighted as I was myself.
By the way, this is not a prophecy of to-day; ’tis as old as the
powder-plot, and the story will make it appear that there is as little
imposture in it as the Jacobites pretend there is in the person it seems
to have an eye to; but whether they are both impostures alike or not I
leave the reader to determine.
J. OLDMIXON.
THE PROPHECY.
IN the reign of King James the First there lived a man generally reputed
a fool, whose name was Nixon. One day, when he returned home from
ploughing, he laid the things down which he had in his hands, and
continued for some time in a seemingly deep and thoughtful meditation, at
length he pronounced in a loud hoarse voice, ‘Now I will prophecy;’ and
spoke as follows;
“When a raven shall build in a stone lion’s mouth on the top of a church
in Cheshire, then a King of England shall be driven out of his kingdom,
and never return more.
“When an eagle shall sit on the top of the house, then an heir shall be
born to the Cholmondeley family, and this heir shall live to see England
invaded by foreigners, who shall proceed as far as a town in Cheshire;
but a miller, named Peter, shall be born with two heels on one foot, and
at that time living in a mill of Mr. Cholmondeley’s he shall be
instrumental in delivering the nation.
“The person who then governs the nation will be in great trouble, and
skulk about:—The invading King shall be killed, laid across a horse’s
back like a calf, and led in triumph. The miller having been
instrumental in it, shall bring forth the person that then governs the
kingdom, and be knighted for what he has done; and after that England
shall see happy days. A new set of young men, of virtuous manners, shall
come, who shall prosper, and make a flourishing church for two hundred
years.
“As a token of the truth of all this a wall of Mr. Cholmondeley’s shall
fall, if it falls downwards, the church shall be oppressed, and rise no
more; but if it fall upwards, next the rising hill on the side of it,
then shall it flourish again. Under this wall shall be found the bones
of a British King.
“A pond shall run with blood three days, and the Cross stone Pillar in
the forest sink so low into the ground, that a crow from the top of it
shall drink of the best blood in England.
“A boy shall be born with three thumbs, and shall hold three kings’
horses, while England shall be three times won and lost in one day.”
* * * * *
The original may be seen in several families in the county, and in
particular in the hands of Mr. Egerton, of Oulton, with many other
remarkable things; as that Peckforton wind-mill should be removed to
Ludington hill and that horses saddled should run about while their
girths rotted away. But this is sufficient to prove Nixon as great a
prophet as Partridge; and we shall give other proofs of it before we have
done with him.
I know your prophets are generally for Raw-head and bloody-bones and
therefore do not mind it much; or I might add that of Oulton mill shall
be driven with blood instead of water, but these soothsayers are great
butchers and every hall is with them a slaughter-house.
Now as for authorities to prove this prophecy to be genuine and how it
has hitherto been accomplished, I might refer myself to the whole country
of Chester, where it is in every one’s mouth and has been so these forty
years. As much as I have of the manuscript was sent me by a person of
sense and veracity and as little partial to visions as any body. For my
own part I build nothing on this or any other prophecy; only there is
something so very odd in the story and so pat in the wording of it that I
cannot help giving it as I found it.
The family of the Cholmondeleys is very ancient in this county and takes
its name from a place so called near Nantwich; there are also Cholmton
and Cholmondeston; but the seat of that branch of the family which kept
our prophet Nixon is at Vale-Royal, on the river Weave in Delamere
forest. It was formerly an abbey, {43} founded by Edward I. and came to
the Cholmondeleys from the famous family of the Holcrofts. When Nixon
prophesied this family was near being extinct, the heir having married
Sir Walter St. John’s daughter, a lady not esteemed very young, who,
notwithstanding, being with child, fell in labour and continued so for
many days, during which time an eagle sat upon the house-top and flew
away when she was delivered of a son.
A raven is also known to have built in a stone lion’s mouth in the
steeple of the church of Over, in the forest of Delamere. Not long
before the abdication of King James the wall spoken of fell down and fell
upwards and in removing the rubbish were found the bones of a man of more
than ordinary size. A pond at the same time ran with water that had a
reddish tincture and was never known to have done so before or since.
Headless cross in the forest, which in the memory of man was several feet
high, is now only half a foot from the ground.
In the parish of Budworth a boy was born about eighteen years ago with
three thumbs; the youth is still living there and the miller Peter lives
in Noginshire mill in expectation of fulfilling this prophecy on the
person of Perkin: he hath also two heels on one foot and I find he
intends to make use of them in the interest of King George, for he is a
bold Briton and a loyal subject, zealous for the Protestant succession in
the illustrious House of Hanover, has a vote for the knights of the shire
and never fails to give it on the right side: in a word, Peter will prate
or box for the good cause that Nixon had lifted him in and if he does not
do the business, this must be said of him, that no man will bid fairer
for it; which the Lady Egerton was so apprehensive of, that wishing well
to another restoration, she often instigated her husband to turn him out
of the mill; but he looked upon it as whimsical and so Peter still
continues there, in hopes of being as good a knight as Sir Philip his
landlord was.
Of this Peter I have been told, that the Lady Narcliff of Chelsea and the
Lady St. John of Battersea, together with several other persons of credit
and fashion, have often been heard to talk and that they all asserted
their knowledge of the truth of our prophecy and its accomplishment, with
many particulars that are more extraordinary than any I have yet
mentioned.
The noise of Nixon’s Predictions reaching the ears of King James the
First, he would needs see this fool, who cried and made ado that he might
not go to court and the reason that he gave was, that he should there be
STARVED.—(A very whimsical fancy of his, courts not being places where
people are used to starve in, when they once come there, whatever they
may have done before.)—The King being informed of Nixon’s refusing to
come, said he would take particular care that he should not be starved
and ordered him to be brought up. Nixon cried out, that he was sent for
again; and soon after the messenger arrived, who brought him up from
Cheshire.
How or whether he prophecied to his Majesty, no person can tell; but he
is not the first fool that has made a good court prophet.
That Nixon might be well provided for it was ordered that he should be
kept in the kitchen, where he grew so troublesome in licking and picking
the meat, that the cooks locked him up in a hole; and the King going on a
sudden from Hampton Court to London in their hurry they forgot the fool
and he was really starved to death.
There are a great many passages of this fool-prophet’s life and sayings
transmitted in tradition from father to son in this county palatine; as,
that when he lived with a farmer before he was taken into Mr.
Cholmondeley’s family, he goaded an ox so cruelly that one of the
ploughmen threatened to beat him for abusing his master’s beast—Nixon
said, “My master’s beast will not be his three days.” A life in an
estate dropping in at that time, the lord of the manor took the same ox
for a heriot. This account whimsical and romantic as it is was told to
the Lady Cowper in the year 1670, by Dr. Patrick late Bishop of Ely then
chaplain to Sir Walter St. John; and that lady had the following further
particulars relating to this prophecy and the fulfilling of many parts of
it from Mrs. Chute, sister to Mrs. Cholmondeley of Vale-Royal, who
affirmed that a multitude of people gathered together to see the eagle
before-mentioned and the bird was frightened from her young; that she
herself was one of them and the cry among the people was, Nixon’s
prophecy is fulfilled and we have a foreign King. She declared that she
read over the prophecy many times when her sister was with child of the
heir who now enjoys the estate. She particularly remembers that King
James the Second was plainly pointed at and that it was foretold he
should endeavour to subvert the laws and religion of this kingdom, for
which reason they would rise and turn him out: that the eagle of which
Nixon prophecied perched in one of the windows all the time her sister
was in labour. She says it was the biggest bird she ever saw; that it
was in a deep snow and it perched on the edge of a great bow-window,
which had a large border on the outside and that she and many others
opened the window to try to scare it away, but it would not stir till
Mrs. Cholmondeley was delivered; after which it took flight to a great
tree over against the room her sister lay in, where having stayed about
three days it flew away in the night. She affirmed further to the Lady
Cowper, that the falling of the garden wall was a thing not to be
questioned, it being in so many people’s memory that it was foretold that
the heir of Vale-Royal should live to see England invaded by foreigners
and that he should fight bravely for his King and Country: that the
miller mentioned is now alive and expects to be knighted and is in the
very mill that is foretold: that he should kill two invaders who should
come in, the one from the West and the other from the North: that he from
the North should bring with him of all nations, Swedes, Danes, Germans,
and Dutch; and that in the folds of his garments he should bring fire and
famine, plague and murder: that many great battles should be fought in
England, one upon London-bridge, which should be so bloody, that people
will ride in London streets up to their horses’ bellies in blood; that
several other battles should be fought up and down most parts of
Cheshire; and that the last that ever would be fought in England should
be on Delamere forest: that the heir of Oulston, whose name is E— and has
married Earl Cholmondeley’s sister, should be hanged up at his own gate.
Lastly, Nixon foretells great glory and prosperity to those who stand up
in defence of their laws and liberties; and ruin and misery to those who
should betray them. He says, the year before this would happen, bread
corn would be very dear and that the year following more troubles should
begin which would last three years; that the first would be moderate, the
second bloody, and the third intolerable; that unless they were shortened
no mortal could bear them; and that there were no mischiefs but what poor
England would feel at that time. But that GEORGE the SON of GEORGE, {51}
should put an end to all. That afterwards the church should flourish,
and England be the most glorious nation on earth.
Lady Cowper was not content to take these particulars from Mrs. Chute,
but she enquired of Sir Thomas Aston, of the truth of this prophecy and
he attested it was in great reputation in Cheshire and that the facts
were known by every one to have happened as Nixon said they would;
adding, that the morning before the garden wall fell, his neighbour Mr.
Cholmondeley, going to ride out a hunting, said “Nixon seldom fails but
now I think he will; for he foretold that this day my garden wall would
fall and I think it looks as if it would stand these forty years;” that
he had not been gone above a quarter of an hour before the wall split and
fell upwards against the rising of the hill, which as Nixon would have
it, was the presage of a flourishing church.
As to the removal of Peckforton-mill, it was done by Sir John Crew, the
mill having lost its trade there, for which he ordered it to be set upon
Ludington hill; and being asked if he did it to fulfil the prophecy, he
declared he never thought of it. I myself have inquired of a person who
knows Mr. Cholmondeley’s pond as well as Rosamond’s in St. James’s Park
and he assured me the falling of the wall and the pond running blood, (as
they call it) are facts which in Cheshire any one would be reckoned mad
for making the least question of them. As there are several particulars
in this prophecy which remain unfulfilled; so when they come to pass,
some other circumstances may be added, which are not convenient to be
told until accomplished.
If I had a mind to look into the antiquities of this county, I might find
that prodigies and prophecies are no unusual things there. Camden tells
us that at Brereton not many miles from Vale-Royal which gave name to a
famous, ancient, numerous, and knightly family, there is a thing as
strange as that of the eagle, or the falling of the wall, which he says
was attested to him by many persons and was commonly believed; that
before any heir of this family dies there are seen, in a lake adjoining
the bodies of trees swimming upon the water for several days together.
He likewise adds that near the abbey of St. Maurice in Burgundy there is
a fish-pond in which a number of fish are put equal to the number of
monks of that place; and if any one of them happens to be sick, there is
a fish seen floating on the surface of the water; and in case the fit of
sickness proves fatal to the monk, the fish foretells it by its death
some days before. This the learned Camden relates in his description of
Cheshire and the opinion of the trees swimming in the lake near Brereton,
prevails all about the county to the present day, only with this
difference, that some say it is one log only that swims and some say
many.
Lancashire, which is not far off, has been famous for witches and I am
afraid Cheshire is a little infected by its neighbourhood. Those that
will not believe our prophecy may leave it alone; but if hope is a good
help to faith, I shall not be long among the incredulous.
* * * * *
_The Editor presents his Readers with a Copy of a printed Paper_, _which
several aged Persons_, _residing near the Forest_, _have vouched for the
Authenticity of_.
A true and particular Account of a strange and surprising Vision, that
was seen in the Forest of Delamere, in Cheshire, on the 4th of last
Month.
AS Nixon, in the reign of King James the First, prophesied of many
strange and wonderful things that should come to pass, such as an heir
being born to Lord Cholmondeley’s which at that time there was little
reason to expect, but which came to pass; and that the eldest son or
young Lord Cholmondeley should have the misfortune to break his neck by
riding a hunting, which accident really did happen; and several other
things already come to pass according to the said prophecy, but, in
particular, of a wonderful battle or engagement that should be fought in
the forest of Delamere; and as it is now fully expected that we shall
have an invasion from our natural and inveterate enemies the French, it
is also thought it will be in the North of England and in all probability
the said Forest of Delamere may be the place of action or engagement: and
what strengthens the belief more is the vision that was seen in the said
forest on the 4th, as follows:
As two ancient persons were walking over the said Forest, to their great
surprise, they saw at a distance before them an army rise out of the
ground drawn up with their proper officers and their commanders in front
of them, and whilst they were looking at and ruminating upon so strange a
sight, to their most wonderful surprise and amazement there arose also
another army out of the ground, at a small distance from the first, and
farther in the forest, which army was headed or commanded by a man in
royal apparel, who, after having drawn up his army, marched to meet and
engage the first; upon which a most bloody battle ensued with firearms,
and many appeared to be killed on both sides; but, being so near each
other, they laid down or grounded their arms and took to their swords,
with which great slaughter was made; and then came to such close quarters
that they put up their swords and fought with their hands; all of which
engagements continued more than three quarters of an hour, during which
time the said two ancient people were spectators; and at last the remains
of the army that first appeared retreated towards the sea, and vanished
directly out of their sight; whilst the other army which was commanded by
the man in royal apparel marched victorious out of the field as far as it
was possible to see them. These ancient people having spoken of the
above vision it came to the ears of several gentlemen, who sent for, and
examined them concerning the truth of it, which they were ready to make
oath of for their satisfaction.
On the 6th of the same month, as seven men were going to Cheshire over
the said forest, about the middle of it they saw to their astonishment, a
vision much resembling that which was on the sixth as above described;
only with this addition that the victorious army had many slain to all
appearance, yet they resumed life again and joined their own army; all
which is looked upon as a good omen, that if in case England is invaded
by her enemies though the nation be seemingly dead and in great division,
yet on the approach of the enemy they will all in one general heart and
one mind exert themselves to repel our most inveterate enemies.
As Nixon’s Prophecies are by some persons thought fables, yet by what has
come to pass it is now thought and very plainly appears that most of them
have or will prove true; for which reason we have all occasion not only
to exert our utmost might to repel by force our enemies, but to return
from our abandoned and wicked course of life, and make our continual
prayers to God for protection and safety.
PROPHECY
OF THE
FRENCH REVOLUTION,
FROM A PUBLICATION BY
THE LATE MR. PETER JURIEU,
IN 1687.
Rev. xi. 13.
_And the same hour there was a great earthquake_, _and the tenth part
of the city fell_, _and in the earthquake were slain of men seven
thousand_, _and the remnant were affrighted_, _and gave glory to
God_.
NOW what is the tenth part of the city which shall fall? in my opinion we
cannot doubt that it is France. This kingdom is the most considerable
part or piece of the ten horns, or states, which once made up the great
Babylonian city: it fell; this does not signify that the French Monarchy
shall be ruined: it may be humbled; but in all appearance Providence does
design a great elevation for her afterwards. ’Tis highly probable that
God will not let go unpunished the horrible outrages which it acts at
this day. Afterward, it must build its greatness upon the ruins of the
papal empire and enrich itself with the spoils of those who shall take
part with the papacy. They who at this day persecute the protestants
know not whither God is leading them: this is not the way by which he
will lead France to the height of glory. If she comes thither it is
because she shall shortly change her road. Her greatening will be no
damage to protestant states; on the contrary, the protestant states shall
be enriched with the spoil of others and be strengthened by the fall of
Antichrist’s empire. This tenth part of the city shall fall, with
respect to the papacy; it shall break with Rome and the Roman religion.
One thing is certain, that the Babylonian empire shall perish through the
refusal of obedience by the ten Kings, who had given their power to the
beast. This thing is already come to pass in part. The kingdoms of
Sweden, Denmark, England and several sovereign States in Germany have
withdrawn themselves from the jurisdiction of the Pope. They have
spoiled the harlot of her riches. They have eaten her flesh, i.e. seized
on her benefices, and revenues, which she had in their countries. This
must go on and be finished as it is begun. The Kings who yet remain
under the empire of Rome must break with her, leave her solitary and
desolate.
But who must begin this last revolt? it is most probable that France
shall. Not Spain, which as yet is plunged in superstition and is as much
under the tyranny of the clergy as ever. Not the Emperor, who in
temporal matters is subject to the Pope and permits that in his states
the Archbishop of Strigonium should teach that the Pope can take away the
Imperial crown from him. It cannot be any country but France, which a
long time ago hath begun to shake off the yoke of Rome. ’Tis well known
how solemnly and openly war hath been declared against the Pope by a
declaration of the King (ratified in all the parliaments) by the
decisions of the assembly of the French Clergy, by a disputation against
the authority of the Pope, managed in the Sorbonne, solemnly and by order
of the court. And to heighten the affront the theses were posted up even
upon the gates of his Nuncio. Nothing of this kind had hitherto happened
at least in a time of peace and unless the Pope had given occasion by his
insolence.
Besides this superstition and idolatry lose their credit much in
France.—There is a secret party, though well enough known, which greatly
despiseth the popular devotions, images, worship of saints, and is
convinced that these are human inventions: God is beforehand preparing
for his great work.
To this it may be objected that for the last hundred and fifty years the
Pope’s empire hath not been made up of ten Kings, because the Kings of
England, Sweden, Denmark, etc., have thrown off his government; and
consequently, France is not at this day the tenth part of the Babylonian
empire; for it is more than a tenth part of it. But this is no
difficulty; for we must know, that things retain the names which they
bore in their original (without regarding the alterations which time does
bring along.) Though at this day there are not ten kingdoms under the
Babylonian empire, it is, notwithstanding, certain, that each kingdom was
called, and ought to be called in this prophecy, the tenth part, because
the prophet having described this empire in its beginning, by its ten
horns, or ten kings, it is necessary for our clear understanding, that
every one of these Kings and kingdoms, should be called one of the ten
Kings, or of ten kingdoms, with respect to the original constitution of
the Antichristian empire.
Seeing the tenth part of the city that must fall, is France, this gives
me some hopes that the death of the two witnesses hath a particular
relation to this kingdom. It is the street or place of this city, i.e.
the most fair and eminent part of it. The witnesses must remain dead
upon the street and upon it they must be raised again. And as the death
of the witnesses and their resurrection have a relation to the kingdom of
France, it may well fall out, that we may not be far distant from the
time of the resurrection of the witnesses, seeing the three years and a
half of their death are either begun, or will begin shortly.