Known famously to us as Mother Shipton but many believed her real name was Ursula Sontheil in 1488. Very little is known about Ursula’s parents but local legend says she was born during a violent thunderstorm in a cave on the banks of the River Nidd in Knaresborough in the UK. Her mother, Agatha, was just fifteen years old when she gave birth, and despite being dragged before the local magistrate, she would not reveal who the father was.Agatha raised Ursula by herself in a cave on her own for two years.
It’s said that, Abbott of Beverley took pity on them and a local family took Ursula in. Agatha was taken to a nunnery far away, where she died some years later and she never saw her daughter again.
Ursula appeared different from most of the other children growing up in Knaresborough at the time. It was said that her nose was large and crooked, her back bent and her legs twisted and because of her appearance, she was often tensed.Over the years, after much abuse from the locals, Ursula learnt that the best company to surround herself with was nature and just herself. She spent most of her days around the cave where she was born and studied the forest, the flowers and herbs and made remedies and potions with them.
When she was 24, it is said she met a man by the name of Tobias Shipton. He was a carpenter from the city of York. After only a few years of being together, Tobias died but Ursula always kept his second name. The mother nickname came as Ursula got older.Ursula lived a very long life and died in 1553, aged 73 years.
Her predictions.
Mother Shipton’s prophecies, didn’t appear documented anywhere until 1641, 80 years after her reported death.
It was said she predicted the great fire of London, the plague and the end of the world!It was a common occurrence for those in politics to use prophecies to predict future events and its said Old Mother Shipton ability was used to predict such things especially amoung uprisers against Henry VII.
Many of her written predictions were confirmed as forgeries, created to sell greater numbers of chapbooks and almanacs. Her 1684 “biographer” spun spooky details of her birth and existence; the 1881 end-of-the-world prophecy was debunked when the Victorian editor Charles Hindley publicly confessed to concocting the verses himself.
However, there is some evidence to back up the legend in the 1500s written by Henry VII. He speaks of a lady nicknamed ‘The York Witch’.Henry VIII, who wanted action taken against the rebels, dictated the following letter to Norfolk in response:
“We approve of your proceedings in the displaying of our banner, which being now spread, till it is closed again the course of our laws must give place to martial law; and before you close it up again, you must cause such dreadful execution upon a good number of inhabitants, hanging them on trees, quartering them, and setting their heads and quarters in every town, as shall be a fearful warning, whereby shall ensue the preservation of a great multitude… You shall send up to us the traitors Bigod, the friar of Knareborough, Leche, if he may be taken, the vicar of Penrith and Towneley, late chancellor to the bishop of Carlise, who has been a great promoter of these rebellions, the witch of York and one Dr. Pykering, a canon. You are to see to the lands and goods of such as shall now be attainted, that we may have them in safety, to be given, if we be so disposed, to those who have truly served us…”
Was Henry VII, referring to some women who acted outline as a witch or was he making reference to Old Mother Shipton?
Mother Shipton’s Full Prophecies
Mother Shipton was reputedly born Ursula Sontheil in1488 in Norfolk, England, and was burned to death in 1561, after being accused of being a “witch” (a woman who performs evil religious practices).
Her mother died when she was born, and a cave where she was born, became her home for much of her life, and is known today as “Mother Shipton’s Cave.”
Mother Shipton exhibited prophetic and psychic abilities from an early age, and when she was 24 years old, she married a Mr. Toby Shipton, and eventually became known as “Mother Shipton.” Her prophecies were written in the form of verse (poetry), and came true within her own lifetime and in the centuries that followed.
Whilst all prophecies are open to interpretation, Mother Shipton’s verses are easy to understand, and seem to have prophetic indications for our times, in view of recent world events.
In approximately 1970 an Australian lady copied the verses and smuggled them out of the Mitchell Library in Sydney Australia; – (now the State Library of the State of New South Wales in Australia.) The originals were kept in a locked room, along with many other volumes of prophetic writings, which the government deemed, (considered) as unsuitable for the general public to read.
The Main Prophetic Prophecies
1. A carriage without horse will go Disaster fill the world with woe (Sadness), In London, Primrose Hill Shall be in centre hold a Bishop’s See (Meeting Place).
2. Around the world men’s thoughts will fly Quick as the twinkling (blinking) of an eye (Internet) And water shall great wonders (Work) do how strange. And yet it shall come true.
3. Through towering hills proud men shall ride No horse or ass move by his side. Beneath the water men shall walk (Undersea Divers) shall ride, shall sleep, shall even talk. And in the air men shall be seen in white and black, and even green (Men in Flying Suits or Aliens?).
4. A great man then shall come and go (US President JF Kennedy?) For prophecy (prediction) declares it so
5. In water iron then shall float as easy as a wooden boat, Gold shall be seen in stream and stone in land that is yet unknown (America or Australia?).
6. And England shall admit a Jew You think this strange, but it is true. The Jew that once was held in scorn (disrespect) Shall of a Christian then be born.
7. A house of glass shall come to pass [Great Exhibition Building in London in England], But alas, alas, A war will follow with the work Where dwells the Pagan and the Turk.
8. These states will lock in fiercest strife (war) and seek to take each others life. When north shall thus divide the south (American Civil War) And Eagle build in Lion’s mouth (American War of Independence against England) Then tax and blood and cruel war shall come to every humble door
9. Three times shall lovely sunny France Be led to play a bloody dance Before the people shall be free Three tyrant (dictator) rulers shall she see.
10. Three rulers in succession be then when the fiercest strife (war) is done each springs from different dynasty (ruling family). England and France shall be as one (European Union?)
11. The British olive (UK) then next then twine in marriage with a German vine (Germany). Men walk beneath and over streams Fulfilled shall be their wondrous (wonderful) dreams.
12. Women shall adopt a craze (custom) to dress like men, and trousers wear And to cut off their locks of hair (long hair). They’ll ride astride with brazen (ugly) brow (Motorcycle Helmets) as witches do on broomstick now (Motorcycle Riders).
13. And roaring monsters with man atop (Vegetable Harvesters) does seem to eat the verdant (ripened) crop. And men shall fly as birds do now, and give away the horse and plough.
14. There’ll be a sign for all to see be sure that it will certain be, Then love shall die and marriage cease and nations wane (cease) as babes (children) decrease. And wives shall fondle (play with) cats and dogs and men live much the same as hogs (pigs) —— (The Result of Divorce Court Laws in Western Societies)
15. In nineteen hundred and twenty six (1926) Build houses light of straw and sticks (wooden houses with thatched straw roofs) For then shall mighty wars be planned and fire and sword (destruction & war) shall sweep the land.
16. When pictures seem alive with movements free (TV, Etc). When boats like fishes swim beneath the sea (Submarines). When men like birds shall scour the sky (Air Warfare). Then half the world, deep drenched in blood shall die
17. For those who live the century through (Year 2000?). In fear and trembling this shall do. Flee to the mountains and the dens (caves) to bog (swamps) and forest and wild fens (valleys).
18. For storms will rage and oceans roar When “Gabriel” (one of four angels, who guard the world), Stands on sea and shore And as he blows his wondrous horn Old worlds die and new be born.
19. A fiery Dragon (comet or meteor ?) will cross the sky Six times before this Earth shall die Mankind will tremble and frightened be For the sixth heralds (stories) in this prophecy.
20. For seven days and seven nights Man will watch this awesome sight. The tides will rise beyond their ken (normal level) To bite away the shores, and then The Mountains will begin to roar (volcanos) and earthquakes split the plain to shore.
21. And flooding waters rushing in Will flood the lands with such a din (loud noise) That mankind cowers (hides) in muddy fen (valley) And snarls (growls) about his fellow men.
22. He bares his teeth and fights and kills And secrets (hides) food in secret (hidden) hills And ugly (violent) in his fear he lies To kill marauders (invaders), thieves and spies.
23. Man flees in terror from the floods And kills and rapes and lies in blood And spilling blood by mankind’s hands Will stain and bitter (cause hatred) many lands.
24. And when the Dragon’s tail (comet or meteor?) is gone Man forgets, and smiles, and carries on To apply himself - too late, too late For mankind has earned deserved fate.
25. His masked smile, his false grandeur (pride) Will serve the Gods their anger stir (make them angry). And they will send the Dragon (comet or meteor ?) back To light the sky - his tail will crack (make a loud, sharp noise) Upon the Earth and rend (break open) the Earth And man shall flee, King, Lord, and serf (poor farm labourer).
26. But slowly they are routed (pushed) out To seek diminished water spout (flowing water) And men will die of thirst before The oceans rise to mount (cover) the shore. And lands will crack and rend anew (break open again) You think it strange. It will come true.
27. And in some far off distant land Some men - oh such a tiny band (group) Will have to leave their solid mount (strong mountain) And span (cover) the Earth, those few to count.
28. Who survives this [UNREADABLE] - disaster? - and then begin the human race again. But not on land already there But on ocean beds, stark (unattractive), dry and bare.
29. Not every soul (human-being) on Earth will die As the Dragon’s tail (comet or meteor?) goes sweeping by. Not every land on Earth will sink But these will wallow in stench and stink (very bad smells) Of rotting bodies of beast (animals) and man Of vegetation crisped (burnt) on land
30. But the land that rises from the sea Will be dry and clean and soft and free Of mankind’s dirt (pollution) and therefore be The source of man’s new dynasty (new Nation or civilisation) And those that live will ever fear The Dragon’s tail (comet or meteor?) for many a year But time erases memory You think it strange. But it will be.
31. And before the race is built anew A silver serpent (space ship?) comes to view And spews out men of like unknown [Aliens] To mingle (mix) with the Earth now grown Cold from its heat, and these men can Enlighten (teach) the minds of future man To intermingle (mix with) and show them how To live and love and thus endow (pass on) The children with a second sight (psychic powers). A natural thing so that they might Grow graceful, humble, and when they do The Golden Age will start anew.
32. The Dragon’s tail (comet or meteor?) is but a sign For mankind’s fall and man’s decline. And before this prophecy (prediction) is done I shall be burned at the stake (pole fixed in the ground), at one (13.00 hours) My body singed (slightly burnt) and my soul set free You think I utter blasphemy (swearing or evil statements) You’re wrong. These things have come to pass This prophecy (predictions) will come to be.
The Following Verse Were Found On A Scroll In A Separate Jar
They appear to have been written at the same time as the other versus;
1. The signs will be there for all to read; when man shall do most heinous deed (savage acts). Man will ruin kinder (children’s) lives; by taking them as to their wives. And murder foul (terrible) and brutal deed; When man will only think of greed. And man shall walk as if asleep; He does not look - he may not peep (see). And iron men (robots) the tail (work) shall do; And iron cart and carriage too
2. The Kings shall false promise make; And talk just for talking’s sake (talk for nothing) And nations plan horrific war; The like as never seen before And taxes rise and lively down (living standards); And nations wear perpetual frown (continual sadness).
3. And Christian one fights Christian two (Ireland); And nations sigh (complain), but nothing do And yellow men (China) great power gain; From mighty bear (Russia) with whom they’ve lain. These mighty tyrants (dictators) will fail to do; They fail to split the world in two. But from their acts a danger bred; An ague (sickness), leaving many dead. And physics (doctors) find no remedy; For this is worse than leprosy (AIDS?). Oh many signs for all to see; The truth of this true prophecy.
4. Yet greater signs there be to see; As man nears latter (later) century. Three sleeping mountains gather breath (volcanoes); And spew out mud, and ice, and death. And earthquakes swallow town and town; In lands as yet to me unknown (America or Australia?).
These Verses Were On The Outer Wrapping Of The Scrolls
1. I know I go, I know I’m free I know that this will come to be. Secreted (hidden), for this will be Found by later dynasty (generations).
2. A dairy maid (farm girl), a bonny (pretty) lass Shall kick this tome (rolls of paper) as she does pass And five generations she shall breed (shall pass). Before one male child does learn to read.
3. This is then held year by year Till an iron monster trembling fear (paper shredder or garbage compactor) Eats parchment, words and quill (pen) and ink And mankind is given time to think.
4.. And only when this comes to be Will mankind read this prophecy But one man’s sweet’s (good luck) another’s bain (bad luck) So I shall not have died in vain (for nothing).
SIGNED: Mother Shipton
Note: Enclosed words the editor’s additions and/or notes of explanation because this was written over 500-years ago in the “Old English” language.
Source
Original source for 'Mother Shipton's Full Prophecies' has been lost
