from thence gave us a very strange relation; I knew not what judgment to
form of this, but waited till John Haim should come over, of whose
veracity I could no more doubt than of his understanding. The account he
gave was this; Jonathan Pyrah was a member of our society in Flanders, I
knew him some years, and knew him to be a man of an unblameable
character. One day he was summoned to appear before the Board of General
Officers; one of them said, What is this we hear of you? we hear you have
turned Prophet, and that you foretell the downfall of the bloody house of
Bourbon, and the haughty house of Austria; we should be glad if you were
a real Prophet, and if your prophecies came true; but what sign do you
give to convince us you are so, and that your predictions will come to
pass? He readily answered, Gentlemen, I give you a sign: to-morrow, at
twelve o’clock, you shall have such a storm of thunder and lightning as
you never had before since you came into Flanders. I give you a second
sign: as little as any of you except any such thing, as little appearance
of it as there is now, you shall have a general engagement with the
French within three days. I give you a third sign: I shall be ordered to
advance in the first line; if I am a false Prophet I shall be shot dead
at the first discharge, but if I am a true Prophet I shall only receive a
musket-ball in the calf of my left leg. At twelve the next day there was
such thunder and lightning as they never had in Flanders; on the third
day, contrary to all expectation, was the general battle of Fontenoy; he
was ordered to advance in the first line, and at the very first discharge
he did receive a musket-ball in the calf of his left leg.
When the war was over he returned to England, but the story was got here
before him, in consequence of which he was sent for by the countess of
Stair, and several other persons of quality, who were desirous of hearing
so surprising an account from his own mouth. He could not bear so much
honour; it quite turned his brain. In a little time he went stark mad,
and so he continues to this day, living still, as I apprehend, on Wibsey
Moor Side, within a few miles of Bradford.
So much for this military Prophet. Mr. Wesley remarks in a note that he
is since dead; but we are not able to ascertain whether there be any
account of him and his predictions in the papers or other periodical
publications of that time. If any gentleman is in possession of
information on this subject, the intelligence is worth communicating to
the public.
Part of this prophecy being fulfilled, the objects in view to be obtained
by a publication are, what was the exact prophecy? whether the several
circumstances mentioned did take place.
PROPHECIES
OF
MOTHER SHIPTON,
AND
MARTHA,
THE GIPSY.
* * * * *
LONDON:
_PUBLISHED FOR THE BOOKSELLERS_.
THE
LIFE AND PROPHECIES
OF
MOTHER SHIPTON.
IN the second year of the reign of Henry VII., which was the year 1486,
there lived a woman called Agatha Shipton, at a place called
Knaresborough, in Yorkshire. She came of poor parentage, who died and
left her, at the age of fifteen, destitute. After their decease, she
still lived in the old house; but being now deprived of those helps she
formerly enjoyed, she was obliged to seek relief from the parish; which
she did, but with so much regret and grief, that she seemed in her
begging rather to command alms, than in a humble manner to desire it.
Satan looked on her poverty to be great, and knowing her evil inclination
(for you must understand that Satan is a good scholar), and perceiving
that she was willing to accept of any proposition to change her
condition, he, one time, as she was sitting melancholy under a tree by a
river side, accosted her in the form of a very handsome young man.
“Pretty maid,” said he, “why so sad? thy age is too tender for thy head
to be troubled with the cares of the world; come, tell me what is the
matter, and if it lie within my power to assist thee, as I am sure it
doth, thou shalt not want a friend of me.”
Agatha cast up her eyes, and seeing a face so lovely, could not suspect
Satan hid in that comely shape, whereupon, in a lamentable tone, she
expressed all that troubled her, informing him of her great wants, and
that, not knowing how to work, she could not provide what her necessities
required. “Pish,” said Satan “this is nothing; be ruled by me, and all
shall be well.” She told him she would. Hereupon, he ordered her to
meet him at the same place the next day, and he would bring some friends
along with him; for he told her he resolved to marry her. She promised
him she would; and accordingly they met. He came riding upon a stately
horse, with a pillion behind him for his spouse, attended by a great many
gallants (as they appeared), well mounted, and in a noble equipage.
Satan’s attendants soon conveyed his mistress behind him; she not in the
least doubting the reality of all she saw.
They needed neither switch nor spur to hasten them forward, the horses
were fiery enough of themselves, and ran with that swiftness, that the
wind could not overtake them in their full speed: soon they arrived at
their journey’s end, where seemed to be a very stately house, with a pair
of great gates, which, at their approach, was opened by a porter in his
livery gown. Alighting, she went in, where she saw a great many
servants, who seemed, at the sight of her and their master, to show much
respect and obeisance.
Now did Satan command rich garments to be brought, which she was
immediately clothed with; and being thus richly attired, she was ushered
into a great hall, where was a long table, furnished with all the
varieties the whole world could afford; at the upper end of which table
she was placed, next to her intended husband: all the rest of the guests
placed themselves as they thought fit. As they had the choicest cheer,
so they had the best of wines, and sweetest music.
Dinner being ended, they fell to dancing; and now Satan told her he was
no mortal, but spirit, immaterial, and not burdened by a body, nor
hindered by any material thing; “So that I can, when I please, pierce
through the earth, and ransack its treasures, and bring what precious
thing I please from thence to bestow on those that serve me. I know all
rare arts and sciences, and can teach them to whom I please. I can
disturb the elements, stir up thunders and lightnings, destroy the best
of things which were created for the use of man, and can appear in what
shape or form I please. It will take too long to describe my power, or
tell you what I can do; but I will only tell thee what thou shalt do.
That being done, I will give thee power to raise hail, tempests, with
lightning and thunder; the winds shall be at thy command, and shall bear
thee whither thou art willing to go, though ever so far off, and shall
bring thee back again when thou hast a mind to return. The hidden
treasures of the earth shall be at thy disposal and pleasure, and nothing
shall be wanting to complete thy happiness here. Thou shalt, moreover,
heal or kill whom thou pleaseth; destroy or preserve either man or beast;
know what is passed, and assuredly tell what is to come.” Here note, by
the way, Satan is a liar from the beginning, and will promise more by ten
millions than he knows he is capable of performing, to the intent that he
may ensnare a soul.
This poor ignorant wretch easily believed what this grand deceiver of
mankind told her, and being ravished with the thoughts of being so highly
preferred, she condescended to all Satan would have her do, whereupon he
bid her say after him in this manner: _Raziel ellimiham mir amwish
ziragia Psonthonphanchia Raphaelel have run a tapinot am becaz mitzphecat
jarid cuman hapheah Gabriel Heydon turris dungeonis philonomostarkes
sophecord hankim_. After she had repeated these words after him, he bid
her say after him again: _Kametzeatuph Odel Pheraz Tumbag in Gall
Flemmugen Victow Denmarkeonto_. Having finished his last wicked speech,
which even the chief of his minions understood not, and of which none but
Satan himself can pick out the meaning, it thundered so horridly that
every clap seemed as if the vaulted roof of heaven had cracked, and was
tumbling down on her head; and withal, that stately palace, which she
thought she was then in, vanished in a thrice; so did her sumptuous
apparel: and now her eyes being opened, she found herself in a dark
dolesome wood, a place, which, from the creation, had scarce ever enjoyed
the benefit of one single sun-beam. Whilst she was thinking in what
course to steer, in order to return, two flaming fiery dragons appeared
before her, tied to a chariot, and as she was consulting with herself
what was best to be done, she was insensibly hoisted into it, and with
speed unimaginable, conveyed through the air to her own poor cottage.
Being come home, the neighbours flocked around her, having missed her for
two or three days, shrewdly suspecting some mischief had befallen her;
but when they beheld her face, they were all amazed to see such a strange
alteration in her countenance in so short a time! Before she met Satan
she looked healthy, but now that red plumpness had vanished, there was
nothing to be seen but a pale shrivelled skin on her cheek, which, for
want of flesh seemed to fall into her mouth, to be devoured by her
hunger-starved jaws. Those about her, who were charitable-minded, pitied
her, comforted, and gave her money, which, with a great deal of disdain
and scorn, she threw at them, saying, she wanted not, nor stood in need
of their alms, “for here,” said she, “is money enough,” plucking her hand
out of her pocket; the people near her discovered that what was in her
hands was nothing else but some aspen-leaves, and notwithstanding they
endeavoured to persuade her that she was mistaken in supposing that to be
money, yet she would not believe them, so strong a power had Satan gotten
over her already.
In fine, she bid them all begone, for now she began to take little
delight in human society; it was not long that they had left her, before
Satan came in to see her, in the same handsome young form as he first
appeared unto her, telling her that he came to supply the company of
those she had wisely dismissed; that she needed not the society of any
human creature, for he would not fail to be constantly with her: always
bringing with him what should not only serve for a bare livelihood, but
be her delight, pleasure, and satisfaction: hereupon, by Satan’s command,
there instantly seemingly appeared a complete noise of music, with a
great variety of dishes of meat of the choicest and most pleasing sort,
which so ravished Agatha that she fell to the ground in a profound and
deep trance. One of the neighbours coming in at this time, wondered to
see Agatha lying on the floor motionless; however, out of pity, she
endeavoured to awaken Agatha; but using what means she could, it all
signified nothing; she shook and pinched her, yet still she lay
insensible. This woman being strangely amazed, ran out among the rest of
the neighbours, crying out poor Agatha Shipton was suddenly struck dead,
and desired them to go into the house with her, and be eye-witnesses of
the truth; whereupon several went, and found what this woman said to be
seemingly true; but one wiser than the rest, stooped down, and perceiving
that she breathed, said, “Friends, ye are all mistaken; Agatha is not
dead, but in a trance, or else she is bewitched.” She had scarcely
uttered these words before Agatha began to stir, and soon after, raising
herself on her legs, cried out in a very distracted tone, “What do you
here, vile wretches! Cannot I enjoy my pleasures, but ye must be
eaves-dropping? Get ye gone, ye have nothing to do here;” and hereupon
she fell a dancing; which they wondered at because they could hear no
music. At length, Agatha turned about, and seeing they were not gone,
said, “If you are resolved thus to disturb me, and will not go, I will
make ye.” This somewhat affrighted them, for they now verily believed
she was a witch, and as they were hastening away, with all imaginable
speed, a sudden strong wind hoisted them to a great height into the air,
falling all to the ground again without the least harm, the men were like
overgrown goats, with large horns on their heads, and the women riding on
their backs, which sight, as they produced inexpressible wonder, so
amidst their amazement they could not but burst out into excessive
laughter.
This wonderful and unexpected exploit was instantly noised all about the
country, and occasioned a great resort of people to the place where
Agatha lived; which so perplexed her by their undesired visits, that she
resolved within herself to be revenged on some of them; which by Satan’s
help she effected: one had a horse that died suddenly, and being opened,
there was found in his stomach fish-hooks and hair, instead of hay and
oats; another going to sit down at table with persons of good quality, at
dinner-time, and thinking himself very spruce and fine, had in an instant
his ruff pulled off his neck, and the seat of a house of office clapped
on in its place: he that sat next to him breaking out in a great laughter
at the sight thereof, was served a little better, for his hat was
invisibly conveyed away, and the kitchen pan put on instead thereof; a
modest young gentlewoman, who did sit at the table at that time, and was
come on no other errand but to see this young witch, which was so much
talked of, looking on these two worthy spectacles of laughter,
endeavouring all she could to refrain from laughing, but could not for
above a quarter of an hour: this made them all laugh so extremely, that
the master of the house was alarmed, and being desirous to share with his
guests in their mirth, came running upstairs as fast as his legs could
carry him; when about to enter the door, he could not, and no wonder,
since the oldest man living never saw a larger pair of horns than he had
on his head.
Whilst they were gazing one on another, more than half distracted, they
were reduced to the same condition they were in before; after which there
followed a noise, as if a hundred persons were laughing together, but
nothing at all was seen.
These persons fearing something worse might befall them if they stayed
any longer, made all the haste they could to be gone. Agatha knowing
their intent, resolved to take her farewell of them by serving them one
trick more, which was this: As they were about to mount on horseback,
they were pelted with rotten apples and filth. As they rode through the
town, such as thought they rode singly, were all observed to have behind
them, each man, a deformed old woman; and as their faces differed all one
from another, so did their habits, which were all tattered and ragged,
and patched with a hundred colours. Fear, shame, and the hooting of the
people, made them put spurs to their horses, neither did they forbear the
whip, nor anything that might add speed to their horses’ heels, so that
it may be said, they rather flew than rode.
Coming home, they declared what wonderful things they had seen performed,
though by a young one, yet as they believed, the greatest witch in the
world. This news being so generally spread, came at length to the ears
of the justices, who now thought it high time to question and bring to
examination a person that was so much talked of, and might, if let alone,
do a great deal of mischief. Accordingly two stout fellows were
despatched for her; they soon found her, and nothing daunted by her
witcheries, they resolutely carried her before the justice, where being
brought, she, not a jot daunted, told him that she had more authority
than he, and that notwithstanding his power, she could command one that
could overrule him; that she was a princess, and could have at her back a
thousand spirits of the air, and as many of the earth and water; that she
could raise a tempest presently that should overturn his house about his
ears, “and that you may know it lies not in your power to detain me,
three words will procure my liberty.” Hereupon, she said, “Updraxi, call
Stygician Helluox!” She had scarce uttered the last word, before there
came in a horrid winged dragon, which immediately took her up, and
carried her away from the amazed justice and the attendants about him,
half dead with fear.
This so affrighted all that heard of it, that none would undertake to
meddle with her more, so that she had a considerable time of respite.
But she now began to be more admired than before, being discovered to be
enceinte. The people could not tell what to think, or who could be the
father. While people were generally passing their verdict on Agatha, she
was once taken and brought before a justice, and amongst other questions,
was asked, whether she was enceinte? She acknowledged it; nay, further,
that the father was no mortal wight. The justice gave no credit to what
she said, as looking on her as an ignorant seduced woman; and so asked
her what bail she could produce, intending to defer the business until
she was delivered. In this very nick of time, two gentlemen, as they
appeared by their habits, voluntarily proffered themselves, but as soon
as accepted for bail, vanished; however, Agatha had permission to go
home.
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.