The Life and Death of Mother Shipton Being not only a true Account of her strange Birth and most important Passages of her Life but also all her Prophesies now newly Collected and Historically Experienced from the time of her Birth in the Reign of King Henry the Seventh until this present Year 1667 Containing the most Important Passages of State during the Reign of these Kings and Queens of England following Viz. Henry the Eighth Edward the Sixth Queen Mary Queen Elizabeth King James King Charles the First King Charles the Second Strangely preserved amongst other Writings belonging to an old Monastary in York-shire and now published for the Information of Posterity LONDON Printed for B. Harris at the Stationers Arms in Sweâ—things-Ally near the Royal Exchange in Cornhill 1677. Beloved Countrey-men THe great Fame and general received Opinion of Mother Shipton with the Credit she hath obtained by those several Prophesies uttered by her which since in the greatest measure have come to pass These considerations I say put me upon a Resolution to search out by my best endeavour the Parents Place and Time wherein this Mother Shipton Flourished Many old Manuscripts and rusty Records I turned over but all in vain at last I was informed by a Gentleman whose Ancestors by the Gift of King Henry the Eighth enjoyed a Monastary in those parts that he had in his keeping some ancient Writings which would in that point satisfie my desire were they not so injured by Time as now not legible to Read however I not despairing to find out their meaning with much Importunity desired to have a sight of them which having obtained I took of the best Galls I could get beat them grosly and laid them to steep one day in good white-Wine that done I distilled them with the Wine and with the distilled Water that came off them I wetted handsomly the old Letters whereby they seemed as fresh and fair as if they had been but newly written here did I find her Life and Prophesies copied out by an impartial hand which I have in this Book presented to thy view together with an Exposition upon her Prophesies for the better understanding of them and which may serve to them whose leisure will not permit to read or want of money forbid to buy more Voluminous Authors this I say may serve to them instead of a Chronicle wherein they may find related the chiefest matters performed in each King and Queens Reign since the time wherein she flourished much more might be added but least I should exceed the bounds of an Epistle and like the Citizens of Mindium make my Gates too bigg for my City I shall here break off abruptly wishing thee as much pleasure in the Reading thereof as I had in the VVriting of it and so Farewel R. Head POSTSCRIPT COurteous Reader let me desire thee Candidly to pass over some seemingly Impossibilities in the first sheet allowing the Author Licentia Poetica in her description and some Actions performed in her Minority and only to weigh the more serious parts of her Prophesies wherein if thou bee'st rational I doubt not but thou wilt receive ample satisfaction The Contents CHAP. I. WHat her Father and Mother were and what wonderful things happen'd at her Birth as also the place of her Nativity CHAP. II. How the Devil constantly visited her in what forms and shapes what strange things she did to those that offended her harming some and making sport with others CHAP. III. How Agatha Shipton was apprehended and brought before a Justice what her Confession was her Mittimus being made to be sent to Prison how she escaped by the help of her friend the Fiend she is retaken and found with Child is bail'd CHAP. IV. What kind of shape Mother Shipton had when she was born how she was put to Nurse at the charge of the Parish and what strange things were seen in the house where she was Nurst during the space of four years CHAP. V. How Mother Shipton whilst but very young at Nurse was daily visited by Spirits in divers shapes and forms and what prancks they plaid during her abode there CHAP. VI. How Mother Shipton was put to School learning more in a day than other Children could in a Month how she was jeer'd by her School-fellows for having such a monstrous long Nose and what prancks she plaid upon them by way of Revenge she now growing very famous CHAP. VII How several persons came to Mother Shipton for her Predictions and how a rich Heiress being deceived by her Maid fell sick and dyed CHAP. VIII Mother Shipton's Prophesies concerning Henry the Eighth's journey into France of Gardinal Woolsey and other things CHAP. IX Her Prophesies to the Abbot of Beverly concerning the downfal of Abbyes Nunneries Priories c. with other things CHAP. X. Her Prophesies concerning King Edward the Sixth the Rebellion of the Commons the Death of the Duke of Somerset with other things CHAP. XI Her Prophesies concerning the Death of Jane Grey the burning of the Martyrs of Wyats Rebellion the Death of Queen Mary and Cardinal Pool CHAP. XII Her Prophesies concerning the Reign of Queen Elizabeth the change of Religion the attempts of the Papists upon the Queen the Spanish Invasion the burning of Pauls Steeple the death of the Queen of Scots the reducing of Ireland the beheading the Earl of Essex c. CHAP. XIII The Prophesies of the Reign of King James his uniting England and Scotland his peaceable Reign a Learned time the Powder Treason the Marriage with the Prince Elector and Lady Elizabeth the Death of Prince Henry CHAP. XIV The Prophesies of the Reign of King Charles the First his Marriage with France the Murther of the Duke of Buckingham the Scottish troubles of the long Parliament Bloody Warr ensuing after the Execrable Murther of the King CHAP XV. The Reign of King Charles the Second the Vsurpation of Cromwel the strang Confusion of a Democratical Government the Restauration of the King the great Sickness the Burning of the City of London THE LIFE and DEATH OF MOTHER SHIPTON CHAP. I. What her Father and Mother were and what Wonderful things happened at her Birth as also the place of Her Nativity IN the Second Year of King Henry the Seventh which was in the Year of our Lord One thousand Four hundred Eighty and six there lived a Woman called Agatha Shipton at a place called Naseborough near the Dropping-Well in York-shire She came of poor Parentage who died and left her to shift for her self at the Age of fifteen After their decease she still inhabited in the Old House but being now deprived of those helps she formerly enjoyed conducible to a lively-hood she was constrained 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 then in an humble manner to desire it At length she arrived to that pass that she was upon the matter
Bard they list to wear to themselves Who with the Lillies soon shall wed Somewhat before King James his Death a marriage was concluded on betwixt Prince Charles and the Lady Henrietta Maria Daughter to that Martial Prince Henry the fourth King of France but before the Consummation thereof King James dyed not long after his Funerals were over she was brought into England and solemnly married to King Charles who is hereupon said to wed the Lillies the Lillies being the Armes of France Then shall a Peasants bloody Knife Deprive a great man of his Life This is spoken of the Duke of Buckingham the greated man in favour of those times and thereupon as it is most commonly seen most bated of the People who laid the blame of all miscariages in the State upon him right or wrong he was sure to undergo their censure Being made General for the Relief of Rochel then besteged by the French Forces before he Imbarked at Portsmouth he was most villanously Stabbed by one Felton a discontented Officer in his army who was so far from flying for the same that though be might have passed away undiscovered he holdly avowed himself to be the man that did it alledging that he had therein done his Country good service but before his Death was better Principled and made sensible of the beinousnes of the sin of Murther recanting his former erronious Principles and dying very Penitently being banged in Chains at Portsmouth Anno 1627. Forth from the North shall mischief blow And English Hob shall add thereto This Prophesie alludes to that ancient Proverb From the cold North all ill comes forth and may be understood of our troubles commencing in 1639 taking their original rise from Scotland and fomented by several Factions Spirits in England the Dagon of Presbytery beginning then to appear in its own colours the Kirk of Scotland having so high an opinion of its own purity that it participated more of Moses his Platform in the Mount than other Protestant Churches being a Reformed Reformation so that the practice thereof might be divertory to othere and she fit to give not take write not receive Copies from any neighbouring Church desiring that all others were like unto them save only in their afflictions Hereupon they stood so high upon their pantoffles that they refused the Common-prayer disclaimed their Bishops raised Lumults and under the pretence of defending the Scotish Kirk raised a War against the English State the benom of which Poyson so infected the veins of the English who followed this Scottish President that it brake forth into a most bitter War and ended not but with the deaths of many thousands of people Then shall the Council great assemble Who shall make great and small to tremble By the great Council is meant the long-lasting Parliament so known to all posterity for the remarkable transactions therein It began November the 3d 1640 and may more properly be said to be the Parliament that wrought wonders then that in the time of King Henry the Third which had the same appellation By them sell the wise Stafford and Reverend Laud by them was Episcopary voted down and Presbytery voted up by them was the common-prayer denyed and the Directory exalted they were the first that brought that strange Kiddle into the World that a man might fight for and against his King by them was the Dath Ex Officio condemned and the covenant fat worse applauded in sum by them was the Church and State turned topsey turvey but this cannot be reported of all amongst them many of them hated their doings dissented from them and suffered by them Mars shall rage as he were wood And Earth shall drunken be with blood To repeat all the Skirmishes Fights and Battles that have happened betwixt the Kings and Parliaments Forces here intended by this Prophesie would of its self require a Volume in some of which viz. that at Marston-more eight thousand men were killed at a time so that the Earth might well be said to be Drunken with their Blood and which is the more pity was shed by English men of one Country Citizens against Citizens Neighbours against Neighbours nay one Kinsman against another and prosecuted with the greatest bigor that might be according to that of the Poet. The highest fury reigns in Civil warr And Country men in fight most cruel are As was verified all a long during our unnaturall Civil War none holding out with more obstinacy fighting more eagerly nor in the execution more bloody than they The White King then O grief to see By wicked hands shall Murthered be Spoken concerning the Execrable Murther of that Pious Prince King Charles the First the most Renowned for Piety Prudence and Patience of all his contemporary Princes throughout the whole World of whom when all is said that can be spoken yet doth all come far short of his deserved praises I shall therefore sum up all with this Epitaph made on him by a learned Pen. He that can spell a Sigh and read a Tear Pronounce amazement and accent wild Fear Having all grief by Heart He only he Is fit to Write and Read thy Elegie Unvalued Charles thou art so hard a Text Writ in one Age not understood i' th Next CHP. XV. The Reign of King Charles the second the Usurpation of Cromwell the strange Confusions of a Democrital Government the Restauration of the King the great Sickness the Burning of the City of London THe White King dead the Wolf shall then with blood possess the Lyons den But Death shall hurry him away Confusion shall a while bear sway But Fate to England shall restore A King to Reign as heretofore Mercy and Justice too likewise Hein his time shall exercise Great Death in London shall be though And Men on tops of Houses go These Prophesies being all fulfilled in the memory of man and so well known unto the World we shall be the briefer in the explanation of them The White King dead the Wolf shall then With blood possess the Lyons den By the White King as we said before is meant King Charles the First and by the Wolf Oliver Cromwel so termed by reason of his bloody disposition that beast being judged most greedy and ravenous of all others and therefore fitly resembled to Cromwel whose ambition was such that he left no means unattempted until he had got into the Lyons den that is to say untill he had attained the sole Government which being done he then plucked the Stairs down by which he had mounted turning the Rump out of dores making them his Servants who had formerly been his Masters exercising his cruelty upon Cavailiers which he deemed double Policy as being thereby rid of his Enemies and enriching his Coffers with their Wealth though it were in effect but Murther and Robbery and Proclaimed him to be a Blood-thirsty-Lyrant But Death shall hurry him away Very remarkable was the day in which the Protector dyed being the Third
notwithstanding though she were maliciously Poysoned she was miraculously preserved and died in peace maugre all the malice of her enemies The Western Monarchs Wooden Horses Shall be destroy'd by the Drakes Forces By the Western Monarchs Wooden Horses is meant the King of Spains great Armado in the year 1588 by them termed Invincible though the success of it answered not the name being by Sr. Francis Drake and others brave Sons of Neptune and Soldiers of Mars met withal fought with and really vanquisht most of them sook and the rest destitute and scatter'd being chased by our Ships past the 57 degree of Northern Latitude and there left to be pursued by hunger and cold a victory so remarkable that time nor age will ever weare the remembrance thereof away Troy novant's Triumphant spire Shall be consum'd with Flames of Fire By Troy novant is meant London which in ancient writings is called Troy novant and the Triumphant Spire signifies Pauls-steeple which in the year 1561 the fourth of June strangly fell on fire burning for the space of five full hours in which time it melted all the Lead off the Church only the Stone Archer escaping the fury thereof sundry causes were attributed by sundry persons of this fire some that it was casually blasted with Lightning others that it was mischievously done by Art Magick and others which was most likely done by the negligence of a Plummer carelesly leaving his coals therein The Queen was much grieved for this mischance but by her bounty the Cities liberality and a Contribution from the Clergy it was afterwards repaired only the blunt Tower had not the top thereof sharpened into a spire as before More wonders yet a Widowed Queen In England shall be headless seen The Widowed Queen signifies the Queen of Scots the Mother of king James who was beheaded at Fotheringhay-Castle some say by the privity others to the great discontent of Queen Elizabeth A Lany of a sharp wit undaunted spirit comely person Beautiful face Majestick presence a fluent Orator and an excellent Poet as may appear by several things now extant amongst others of her Verses this was one which she wrote with a pointed Diamond in a window during her Imprisonment in Fortheringhay-Castle From the top of all my trust Mishap hath laid me in the Dust She was beheaded the _____ day of _____ Anno 1587 and was first buried in the Quire of Peterborough afterwards by her Son King James solemnly removed from thence to Westminster where in the South side of the Chappel of King Henry the seventh be exected a stately monument to her Memory The Harp shall give a better Sound The Harp signifies Ireland as being the Armes of that Country which Queen Elizabeth by reducing to a better obedience made it give a better Sound that is made it more civilized and profitable to the Exchequer then ever before An Earl without a Head be found This was spoken of the Earl of Essex one who was the favourite of the Queen and darling of the poeple two things which seldome come together and yet could not both of them protect him from the Scaffold but that thereon he left his Head Soon after shall the English Rose Unto a Male her place Dispose By the English Rose is meant Queen Elizabeth as we said before by whose Death the Right and Title to the Crown came to James the sirth King of Scotland as lineally descended from Margaret the Eldest Daughter to King Henry the seventh the issue Male failing by the death of Queen Elizabeth and here is to be remembred the Policy of King Henry the seventh who having two Daughters Married the oldest of them to the King of Scotland and the Youngest to the King of France that if his issue Male should happen'd to fail as it afterwards did then Scotland might wait upon England as the greater Kingdom and not England upon France as the lesser Besides there was an old Prophecy which intimated King James his coming to the English Crown for when King Edward the first baraced Scotland amongst other things he brought from thence their Ropal Chair still preserved at the Abby in Westminster upon which Chair these verses were writ If Fates go right where ere this Chair is Pight The Regal Race of Scots shall rule that Place Which by the Coronation of King James there performed made good the words of the Prophecy CHAP. XIII The Prophesies of the Reign of King Iames his uniting England and Scotland his Peaceable Reign a learned time the Powder Treason the Marriage with the Prince Elector and Lady Elizabeth the Death of Prince Henry THe Northern Lyon over Tweed The Maiden Queen shall then succeed And joyn in one two mighty States Ianus then shall shut his Gates Mars shall yeild to Mercury All things tend to Prosperity Hells power by a fatall blow Shall seek the Land to overthrow Which by mistake shall be reverst And heads from shoulders be disperst The British Olive next shall twine In mariage with the German Vine The Ninth to Death his power shall yeild Death Conquers all he winns the Feild Next follows the remarkable actions of King James's Reign predicted in the foregoing lines which may be thus explained The Northern Lyon over Tweed The Maiden Queen shall then succeed And joyn in one two mighty States By the Northern Lyon is meant King James and by the Maiden Queen Queen Elizabeth whom King James being King of Scotland succeeded in the English Crown joyned thereby the two Nations of England and Scotland which had been often attempted before not only by Conquest but by Marriage once by Conquest by King Edward the first who subdued their Armies took their strong places and made their Nobles yield him obeisance yet what they thus lost by him they recovered of his Son King Edward the second the other of Marriage was by King Henry the Eighth who endeavoured to have matched his Son Prince Edward with the Heiress of Scotland and had proceeded very far therein when Death cut him off and though afterwards attempted by the Duke of Somerset Lord Protector and the Scots beaten at Musselborough-field yet all would not prevail God having decreed their union to be afterwards in a more peaceable manner Janus then shall shut his Gates Janus was one of the gods belonging to the ancient Romans whose Temple was never shut but in the days of Peace which happened not above twice in the space of two thousand years King James his Reign being a very peaceable time when Swords rusted in their Sheaths for want of using them Mother Shipton in her Prophesse alludes thereto Mars shall yield to Mercury All things tend to prosperity War shall give place to Peace Fighting to pleading the Sword to the Gown the Pike to the Pen Barbarism to Learning c. this Peace shall cause Plenty Plenty work prosperity c. Hells power by a fatal Blow Shall seek the Land to overthrow Which by mistake shall be reverst
absence of her Husband King Philip and others again for Calice taken not long before and that she should say if after she was dead they ripped her up they would find Calice written on her heart The Pontificial Priest signified Cardinal Pool who expired within sew hours after the death of Queen Mary This prelate was of princely extraction his Mother Margaret being Daughter to George Duke of Clarence when he was young be was brought up together with Queen Mary and being a zealous Catholick during King Edwards Reign suffered a voluntary exile for the same when the marriage with Prince Philip and Queen Mary was made up be returned into England was made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury more moderate than some othes of his fellow Bishops having a favourable inclination towards the Protestants He survived the Queen but few hours and was buried in his own Cathedral at Canterbury with this short and modest Epitaph on his Monument DE POSITUM CARDINALIS POLI. CHAP. XII Her Prophecys concerning the Reign of Queen Elizabeth the change of Religion the attempts of the Papists upon the Queen the Spanish Invasion the burning of Pauls Steeple the death of the Queen of Scots the reducing Ireland the beheading the Earl of Esser c. THe Lyon fierce being dead and gone A Maiden Queen shall Reign anon Those who sighed then shall sing And the Bells shall Changes Ring The Papal power shall bear no sway Roms trash shall hence be swept away The Locusts sent from the seven Hills The English Rose shall seek to kill The Western Monarks Wooden Horses Shall be destroyed by the Drakes forces Troy novant's Triumphant Spirâ— Shall be consum'd with flames of Fire More wonders yet a Widowed Queen In England shall be headless seen The Harp shall give a better Sound An Earle without a Head be found Soon after shall the English Rose Unto a Male her place dispose These lines being a Prophecy of the most remarkable Actions during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth are to be interpreted after this manner The Lyon fierce being dead and gone A Maiden Queen shall Reign anon Queen Mary is here meant by the fierce Lyon so called not so much for the Cruelty done by Her as by the Bishops and Priests was done under her for take her in her self secluded from bloody Counsellors and she was a most Merciful Pious Iust Princess but in respect of the Blood that was shed and the persecutions then suffered she is here Termed a fierce Lyon After whom is said A Maiden Queen to Reign Anon meant by Queen Elizabeth one who was the Mirrour of her Set and Age who for above forty years to the admitation of enby it self mannaged the affairs of this Kingdom having when she began few friends that durst help and leaving no Foes when she died that could hurt her acting her part so well whilest here she Reigned that History canscarcely afford us one Prince to be matched to her Fame in all considerable particulars Those who sighed then shall sing And the Bells shall changes Ring Many who sat and sighed in the daies of Queen Mary by reason of the hot persecution being forced to forsake their Houses because they should not forsake their Religion now that Queen Elizabeth began to Reign their mourning was turned into joy their sighing into singing returning from their etile with Psalmes of thanksgiving in their mouthes where their Bells rang such Changes in Religion that the Mass was put down and the Common prayer set up Popery banished and reformation established the Ministers of the Bospel advanced and the Schaveling Priests Monks and Fryers depressed The Papal Power shall bear no sway Roomes trash shall hence be swept away Soon after the Queens coming to the Crown a Parliament began at Westminster wherein the Laws of King Henry the eighth against the See of Rome were renewed and those of King Edward the sixth in favour of the Protestants revived and the Laws by Queen Mary made against them repealed Uniformity of Prayer and Administration of Sacraments was enacted with a Restitution of first Fruits and Tenths to the Crown and the Queen acknowledged to be the only and Supream Governour of her Kingdomes The people in each place beating down Superstitious Pictures and Images which blind and misguided zeal had set up The Locusts sent from the seven Hill The English Rose shall seek to kill By the Locusts are meant the Priests Fryars and Iesuits who spread all the World over in greater numbers than the Locust did in the Land of Egypt and by the seven Hills is meant Rome which is built upon seven Hills and by the English Rose is signified Queen Elizabeth whom the Priest and Iesuits by their Instruments did often attempt to kill so that if we seriously consider her Reign we shall scarcely find any Prince whose life was so often attempted as hers of which to give you some examples would not be impertinent to our purpose and first in her Sisters Reign Stephen Gardiner Bishoy of Winchester and other Romanists offended with her Religion so wrought with Queen Mary suggesting that she was consenting to Wyats insurrection that she was sent prisoner to the Tower and as it is said a Warrant intended to be sealed for her execution had not king Philip interceeded After she came to the Crown she was as incident to troubles as the Month April is to showres Spain France and Scotland combining against her Pope Plus Quintus by his Bull deposes her in prosecution whereof the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland rise up in Rebellion being to have been assisted by the Duke D'alva out of the Low-Countries but out of these troubles she was delivered by their Confussion After these Leonard Dakers second San to William Lord Dakers of Gellesland endeavoured to bring her into trouble being intrusted by her with competent forces which he intending to have imployed to her detriment failed in his hopes and Power and brought both shame and ruine to himselfe Next did Thomas and Edward Stanley younger Sons to the Earl of Darbey with several others plot against her all which ended in their Ruine and her safety These failing Captain Stukley promised to perform wonders against her but his mountaines proved not so much as mole-bills he being stain in Barberry his design failed But to speak of personal attempts against her one Somervile drew his Sword in the Court to have slain her Doctor Parry a Spaniolized Italian intended to have Pistoled her as she walked in her privy Garden Savage Windsor Salisbury Tilney and others conspired to kill her the which they waited several times to effect one William Stafford by the instigation of the French Ambastador undertook to kill her Doctor Laper one of her sworn Physicians for a sum of money engaged to Poyson her and to conclude all one Edward Squire formerly belonging to her Stable with a mortifferous confection Poysoned the Pomel of her Saddle when she was riding out from all which
And heads from Shoulders be disperst These Lines have reference to the horrid Powder Plat which was to have been acted by some desperate Papists to have blown up the Parliament House with Gun-powder and therein our Religion Laws King Prince Peers Bishops Iudges Knights and Burgesses all designed to Destruction The chief actors herein were Robert Catesby Thomas Perey Sir Everard Digby Francis Thresham Robert Winster Thomas Winter John Wright Chris Wright Ambrose Bookwood Robert Key John Graunt Guido Faux and Bates Catesbies man Gentlemen most of Ancient Families some of plentiful Fortunes but all of resolute Spirits These being suggested by the Devil and seconded by his Agents the Iesuits to bring their purpose about hired a Vault under the Parliament House wherein they stowed Thirty six Barrels of Powder with several Iron Barrs to make the force of the fire more effectual all which they covered with Billets thinking thereby to have covered their Design from being Discovered On the Fifth of November the day of the Parliaments first sitting was the time appointed to put their Design in execution but Providence had ordered it otherwise that those who intended mischief should taste the effects of it on the Evening before came to the Lord Monteagle a strange Letter from a strange hand by a strange Messenger without Date to it name at it and to outward appearance sense in it A Letter which when it was opened was even still Sealed such the affected obscurity therein The Letter contained these words My Lord OUt of the Love I bear to some of your Friends I have a care of your preservation therefore I would advise you as you tender your Life to devise some excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament For God and Man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this time And think not slightly of this Advertisement but retire your self into your Country where you may expect the Event in safety for though there be no appearance of any stir yet I say they shall receive a terrible blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurts them This counsel is not to be Contemned because it may do you good and can do you no harm for the danger is past so soon as you have burnt the Letter and I hope God will give you the grace to make good use of it to whose holy Protection I commend you This Letter being communicated to the King he expounds the mystical Blow to be meant by Gun-powder and thereupon commanded the Rooms under the Parliament House to be searcht where the Mystery of Iniquity was quickly discovered some of the Traytors taken in London others in the Country the hands of Iustice overtaking them they became examples of Iustice and tasted of that Cup though not with that Cruelty which they intended others should have drank of The British Olive next shall twine In Marriage with the German Vine By the British Olive is meant the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to king James and by the German Vine the most Illustrious Prince Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine this Lady Elizabeth was enriched with all the endowments both of Body and mind which make to the compleating of a Princess most dearly beloved of the English as one that deserved well of all hear a wit of that age thus complaining Most sweet Elixabeth that happy Name If we lost nothing else by losing thee So dear to England is we are too blame If without tears and sighs we parted be They were married with great solemnity at Westminster February 14 Anno 1612. The Ninth to Death his Power shall yield Death Conquers all he wins the Field This is meant of Prince Henry who is called the Ninth in regard that if be had lived till King James dyed he would have been the Ninth King of that name since the Conquest He was a Prince of most excellent parts not wanting any thing wherewith Nature and Art could enrich him of a very pious disposition never heard by any alive to swear an Dath for which Arch-Bishop Abbot commended him in his Funeral Sermon the Prince being wont to say That he knew no Game or value to be wonne or lost that could be worth an Oath He died of an extraordinary burning Feaver being generally lamented of the whole Land CHAP. XIV The Prophesies of the Reign of King Charles the First his Marriage with France the Murther of the Duke of Buckingham the Scottish Troubles of the Long Parliament and Bloody War ensuing after the execrable Murther of the King MOther Shipton having proceeded thus far in her Prophesies broke off abruptly with a deep sigh the tears trickling down her Cheeks accompanied with the wringing of her hands as if some extraordinary mischance had befallen her The Abbot wondred greatly what should be the cause of this sudden alteration having observed all along before a setled composedness in her countenance and now to break out into such exclamations He therefore thus said unto her Mother Shipton it is more than some ordinary matter which hath made you to break out into this sudden passion and if it may not be troublesome unto you I shall desire that as hitherto you have not been scrupulous in revealing those secrets unto me which have wrought in me both wonder and amarement so that now you will not so abruptly break off as to leave me in suspence of the cause of your sorrow Ah Mr. Abbot said she who can with dry eyes repeat what must next ensue or but think upon it without a heart full of Agony to see vertue trampled on and vice exalted Beggars on Horse-back and Princes on Foot the Innocent condemned and the Blood-thirsty go free But since my promise binds me to fulfil your request I shall proceed where I left The Crown then fits the White Kings Head Who with the Lillies soon shall wed Then shall a Peasants bloody knife Deprive a great Man of his Life Forth from the North shall mischief blow And English Hob shall add thereto Then shall the Council great Assemble Who shall make great and small to tremble Mars shall rage as he were wood And Earth shall drunken be with blood The white King then O grief to see By Wicked Hands shall Murdered be These lines are so plain relating to the Actions of the late times as shall need no Oedipus to explain them however as we have all a long before made several Comments upon her Text we shall here likewise proceed in the same Method as we did before The Crown then fits the white Kings Head By the White King is meant King Charles the first so called not only in respect of the purity and uprightness of his life signified by White but also that at the time of his Coronation he was clothed in White which some venemous tongues have since urged against him that he was not Crowned as other Kings as if Princes might not have the same liverty as meaner persons to assume what coloured