Metaphysical Musings

While the Mayan, Hopi and Lakota prophecies have garnered an amazing amount of attention concerning “end days” and 2012, those of Mother Shipton are largely unknown by the general public.  While I do not wish to add to the craze currently sweeping the media in connection with 2012, I do feel that the historic aspect of her writings deserve some attention.  Please know that I am aware there is controversy over the legitimacy of her writing and even of her existence.  However . . .

Mother Shipton reputedly was born Ursula Sontheil in 1488 in Norfolk, England, and died in 1561.  She was a contemporary of Nostradamus, but, being a woman, was not allowed his level of education and lacked his medical and astrological training and the forbearance of royal friends at court to nurture and protect her.   She exhibited prophetic and psychic abilities from an early age.   At 24 married to Toby Shipton, she eventually became known as Mother Shipton. Many of her visions came true within her own lifetime and in subsequent centuries. The verses from Mother Shipton seem to have prophetic indications for our times, but, of course, are open to interpretation.  The lines known as “Mother Shipton’s Prophecy” were first published in England in 1485, before the discovery of America, and, of course, before any of the discoveries and inventions mentioned therein. Many of the events predicted have come to pass except that in the last two lines.

Carriages without horses shall go
And accidents fill the world with woe
Around the world thoughts shall fly
In the twinkling of an eye
Waters shall yet more wonders do
Now strange, yet shall be true
The world upside down shall be
And gold be found at root of tree
Through hills man shall ride
And no horse nor ass be at his side.
Under water man shall walk
Shall ride, shall sleep, shall talk
In the air men shall be seen
In white, in black, in green
Iron in the water shall float
As easy as a wooden boat.
Gold shall be found ‘mid stone
In a land that’s now unknown
Fire and water shall wonders do
England shall at last admit a Jew
And this world to an end shall come
In eighteen hundred and eighty-one
 

She correctly predicted the dissolution of the Catholic Church under Henry VIII, the fall of Cardinal Wolsey, the untimely death of Henry’s son Edward VI, the horrific reign of “Bloody” Mary I, and the ascent of Queen Elizabeth to the throne of England.  Again, many of her visions came true with specific clarity within her own lifetime and in subsequent centuries. 

Like Nostradamus, to capture the public imagination and most likely to also avoid persecution for the crime of witchcraft, she published her prophecies in rhyme and verse.  Still, she saved her penultimate work for her later years just before her death.  And so in 1559 she published an epic poem for which she would become best known down through the ages.  She died in Clifton, Yorkshire in 1591 – five years before Nostradamus.  These verses may have prophetic indications for our times, but of course are open to interpretation as noted below - Note:  These are NOT mine! -  in parenthesis ( ). 

And now a word, in uncouth rhyme of what shall be in future time:

• Then upside down the world shall be And gold found at the root of tree All England’s sons that plough the land Shall oft be seen with Book in hand The poor shall now great wisdom know Great houses stand in far flung vale All covered o’er with snow and hail.

• {The advent of the printing press and the mass distribution of books, a dearly expensive rarity in her day, seemingly to herald an age of knowledge and enlightenment even for the very poor. But this also leads to the mass migration into festering cites, leaving the great houses of the countryside bare and forlorn.}

• A carriage without horse will go, Disaster fill the world with woe. In London, Primrose Hill shall be In center hold a bishops sea.

• {Motorcars and trains and their accidents, and the formation of the Church of England by Henry VIII as its sole head.}

• Around the world men’s thoughts will fly, Quick as the twinkling of an eye. And water shall great wonders do, How strange, and yet it shall come true.

• {Telephone, radio, television and the internet. The building of massive dams and the harnessing of waterfalls, like Niagara, for hydroelectric power which then lights the world.}

• Through towering hills proud men shall ride, No horse or ass move by his side. Beneath the water, men shall walk, Shall ride, shall sleep, shall even talk.

• {Cities with canyons made of skyscrapers. Submarines, the aqua-lung and SCUBA gear allowing man to work and even live beneath the sea. Aquatic cities in our future, maybe.}

• And in the air men shall be seen, In white and black and even green. A great man, shall come and go For prophecy declares it so.

• {Modern aircraft. There have been many great men since Mother Shipton’s time. But she points to a great prophet that may be yet to come.}

• 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.

• {Ships made of iron and steel and probably a description of America and its wealth. Certainly an accurate description of California in the Gold Rush days.}

• And England shall admit a Jew, Do you think this strange? But it is true! The Jew that once was led in scorn, Shall of a Christian then be born.

• {Help in creation of Israel in 1948 by the British and the United Nations.}

• A house of glass shall come to pass, In England. But alas, alas!
  A war will follow with the work Where dwells the pagan and the Turk.

• {Describes the building of a gigantic glass atrium in London called The Crystal Palace for The Great Exhibition of 1851. It was a huge iron Goliath with a million feet of glass housing over 13,000 exhibits. It was destroyed by fire November 30, 1936. The rest could describe any number of British wars or adventures in the Mid and Far East after that, and the massive expansion of the British Empire under German Queen Victoria Hapsburg. The Afghan, Indian and Boer wars.}

• These states will lock in fiercest strife, And seek to take each other’s life. When north shall thus divide the south An eagle build in lion’s mouth Then tax and blood and cruel war Shall come to every humble door.

• {Probably describes a war between the Northern & Southern countries as above, describing joint US (Eagle) and British (Lion) forces. It could also allude to the American Civil War.}

• Three times shall lovely sunny France Be led to play a bloody dance. Before the people shall be free Three tyrant rulers shall she see.

• {The different French Republics. The French Revolution under Robespierre, however Napoleon had two successors, Napoleon II and III.}

• Three rulers in succession be Each springs from different dynasty. Then when the fiercest strife is done.

• England and France shall be as one.

• {World War II – England & France as allies}

• The British olive shall next then twine, In marriage with a German vine. Men walk beneath and over streams Fulfilled shall be their wondrous dreams.

• {Queen Victoria and Prince Albertwere German Hapsburgs, who later changed their name to Windsor, supplanting the rightful heirs of the House of Stewart. Post Second World War scenario}

• For in those wondrous far off days, The women shall adopt a craze To dress like men, and trousers wear And to cut off all their locks of hair. They’ll ride astride with brazen brow, As witches do on broomsticks now.

• {Craze in women to dress like men, wearing trousers and cutting their hair, adopting various hairstyles and riding horses, and bikes straddle instead of side-saddle (Nice description J )}

• And roaring monsters with men atop, Does seem to eat the verdant crop. And men shall fly as birds do now, And give away the horse and plow.

• {Crop harvesting machines & tractors, and the mass exodus from farms into cities}

• They’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 as babes decrease.

• {Failure of marriages and divorce. Decrease in population (in Europe) and wholesale abortion in America. Could be a future time when birth rates plummet due to radiation, earth changes or volcanic ash.}

• And wives shall fondle cats and dogs And men live much the same as hogs.
  {Sounds like a very female point of view here!}

Mother Shipton’s next prophecies continue on the outer wrappings of the scrolls.

• I know I go, I know I’m free, I know that this will come to be, Secreted this, for this will be Found by later dynasty.

• {Describes how her prophecies written on scrolls will be discovered at a later date after her death.}

• A dairy maid, a bonnie lass, Shall kick this tome as she does pass And five generations she shall breed Before one male child does learn to read.

• {For five generations these scrolls will be held by a family of a girl and then the fifth generation male child will learn to read and understand them.}

• This is then held year by year, Till an iron monster trembling fear, Eats parchment, words and quill and ink, And mankind is given time to think.

• {Nice description of a printing press, which “eats” papers, “words” and ink. With the burden of manual copying of books removed, this brings about a new age of learning and enlightenment when man can devote more time to thinking.}

• And only when this comes to be Will mankind read this prophecy. But one man sweets another’s bain So I shall not have burned in vain.

• {After the invention of the printing press her prophecies will be printed and man will read this.}

Mother Shipton’s next set of prophecies are found on a scroll in another jar.

• The signs will be there for all to read;
  When man shall do most heinous deed Man will ruin kinder lives;
  By taking them as to their wives.
  And murder foul 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 And iron men the tail shall do;
  And iron cart and carriage too.

• {The greed of modern man}

• The king shall false promise make;
  And talk just for talking’s sake.
  And nations plan horrific war;
  The like as never seen before.
  And taxes rise and lively down;
  And nations wear perpetual frown.

• {False promises by politicians, wars between nations, increase in taxes and perpetual tension among nations.}

• Yet greater sign there be to see;
  As man nears latter century.
  Three sleeping mountains gather breath, And spew out mud, ice and death. An earthquake swallow town and town;
  In lands as yet to me unknown. And Christian one fights Christian two And nations sigh, yet nothing do. And yellow men great power gain;
  From a mighty bear with whom they’ve lain.

• {Volcanoes, earthquakes (in unknown land – America?) destroying town after town, fighting between nations. Speaks of a Chinese (yellow) – Russian (bear) alliance against the west. Most of China’s current weapons have come in deals with Russia.}

• These mighty tyrants will fail to do, They fail to split the world in two. But from their acts a danger bred;
  An ague, leaving many dead.

• {Failure of this Russian/Chinese alliance, indication of war leaving many dead. The word “Ague” means flu plague or epidemic of disease.}

• And physics find no remedy;
  For this is worse than leprosy.
  Oh many signs for all to see;
  The truth of this true prophecy.

• {No remedy in science for this coming plague.}

Mother Shipton’s last prophecy:

• In nineteen hundred and twenty-six Build houses light of straw and sticks. For then shall mighty wars be planned And fire and swords shall sweep the land.

• {Mis-timed prophecy for World War I or WWII? Of course she may still be correct, as this is the period of time in which the NEXT great war is being PLANNED. In this same approximate time-frame, Hitler and Rudolph Hess are in jail together writing MEIN KAMPF.}

• When pictures seem alive with movements free, When boats like fishes swim beneath the sea. When men like birds shall scour the sky. Then half the world, deep drenched in blood shall die.

• {Television - Submarines, aircraft and then death through War.}

The following are prophecies on our future:

• For those who live the century through In fear and trembling this shall do. Flee to the mountains and the dens To bog and forest and wild fens.

• {After the 20th century is over, people will live in fear and flee to mountains, dens & forests for refuge.}

• For storms will rage and oceans roar When Gabriel stands on sea and shore, And as he blows his wondrous horn Old worlds die and new be born.

• {The Last Trumpet. The Biblical Revelation. The destruction of this civilization and creation of a new one – the so called “End Of The World”.}

• A fiery dragon will cross the sky Six times before the earth shall die. Mankind will tremble and frightened be For the six heralds in this prophecy.

• {Appearance of a series of six comets and a probable collision with earth as indicated in the Bible and by Nostradamus. In the last 20 years alone we have seen at least four spectacular comets or “fiery dragons”: Halley’s, Kahoutek (a bit of a dud), Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp. But it appears here that she is referring to a SINGLE OBJECT that grazes the atmosphere before a collision.}

• For seven days and seven nights Man will watch this awesome sight. The tides will rise beyond their ken. To bite away the shores and then The mountains will begin to roar And earthquakes split the plain to shore.

• {After asteroid hits in the oceans, huge tidal waves will strike followed by awakening of volcanoes and earthquakes.}

• And flooding waters rushing in, Will flood the lands with such a din That mankind cowers in muddy fen And snarls about his fellow men.

• {Tidal waves and wars continue.}

• He bares his teeth and fights and kills And secrets food in secret hills And ugly in his fear, he lies To kill marauders, thieves and spies.

• {Continuation of wars in spite of disasters. The storing up of secret food supplies in underground bases.}

• Man flees in terror from the floods And kills, and rapes and lies in blood And spilling blood by mankind’s hand Will stain and bitter many lands.

• {Continuation of the World War}

• And when the dragon’s tail is gone Man forgets and smiles and carries on. To apply himself – too late, too late For mankind has earned deserved fate.

• {War and natural disasters will abate for a brief period of time after the dragon’s tail of a comet or asteroid disappears from the heavens. Peace will seemingly return but man’s fate is already sealed.}

• His masked smile, his false grandeur, Will serve the gods their anger stir And they will send the dragon back To light the sky—his tail will crack. Upon the earth and rend the earth And man shall flee, king, lord and serf.

• {When peace has returned and man is complacent, suddenly an even greater disaster happens. }

• But slowly they are routed out To seek diminishing water spout And men will die of thirst before The oceans rise to mount to the shore. And lands will crack and rend anew Do you think it strange? It will come true!

• {More earthquakes, floods and death.}

• And in some far—off distant land Some men—Oh, such a tiny band Will have to leave their solid mount And span the earth, those few to count.

• {Survivors coming out from their hiding places underground – the Biblical phrase “dead will come out of their graves.”}

• Who survives this (unreadable) and then Begin the human race again.
  But not on land already there, But on ocean beds, stark, dry and bare.

• {Survivors start a new civilization, not on lands which are poisoned due to war and nuclear radiation but on lands rising out of the sea after the Great Tribulation.}

• Not every soul on earth will die, As the dragon’s tail goes sweeping by, Not every land on earth will sink, But these will wallow in stench and stink, Of rotting bodies of beast and man, Of vegetation crisped on land.

• {The existing lands will be littered with bodies of humans, animals and burned vegetation, although all humans will not die during the “Judgement Day”.}

• But the land that rises from the sea Will be dry and clean and soft and free. Of mankind’s dirt and therefore be, The source of man’s new dynasty. And those that live will ever fear The dragon’s tail for many year But time erases memory You think it strange? But it will be!

• {Land rising from the sea will be clean and free of all these and this is where the new civilizations will be started. Slowly the memory of the disasters will fade away as time passes and fear will subside.}

• And before the race is built anew, A silver serpent comes to view And spew out men of like unknown. To mingle with the earth now grown Cold from its heat and these men can Enlighten the minds of future man. To intermingle and show them how To live and love and thus endow The children with the second sight A natural thing so that they might Grow graceful, humble and when they do The Golden Age will start anew.

• {Possibly the arrival of extraterrestrials in their space ships who will enlighten the men starting the new civilization. Children will be gifted with special (mental) powers which becomes a naturally occurring phenomenon. Then The Golden Age of man will begin again.}

• The dragon’s tail is but a sign For mankind’s fall and man’s decline. And before this prophecy is done I shall be burned at the stake, at One. My body singed and my soul set free.
  You think I utter blasphemy? You’re wrong! These things have come to me THIS PROPHECY WILL COME TO BE!

• {Asserts that this prophecy will come true even though people might think of her prophecy as blasphemy

Verses in their entirety (for ease of reading):

A carriage without horse will go,
disaster fill the world with woe.
In London, Primrose Hill shall be
in center hold a bishops sea.

Around the world men’s thoughts will fly,
quick as the twinkling of an eye.
And water shall great wonders do,
How strange, and yet it shall come true.

Through towering hills proud men shall ride,
no horse or ass move by his side.
Beneath the water, men shall walk,
shall ride, shall sleep, shall even talk.
And in the air men shall be seen,
In white and black and even green.
A great man, shall come and go
for prophecy declares it so.

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.

And England shall admit a Jew,
Do you think this strange, but it is true.
The Jew that once was led in scorn,
shall of a christian then be born.

A house of glass shall come to pass,
In England. But alas, alas,
a war will follow with the work
where dwells the pagan and the turk.

These states will lock in fiercest strife,
and seek to take each other’s life.
When north shall thus divide the south
an eagle build in lion’s mouth
then tax and blood and cruel war
shall come to every humble door.

Three times shall lovely sunny France
be led to play a bloody dance.
Before the people shall be free
three tyrant rulers shall she see.

Three rulers in succession be
each springs from different dynasty.
Then when the fiercest strife is done.
England and France shall be as one.

The British olive shall next then twine,
in marriage with a German vine.
Men walk beneath and over streams
fulfilled shall be their wondrous dreams.

For in those wondrous far off days,
the women shall adopt a craze
to dress like men, and trousers wear
and to cut off their locks of hair.

They’ll ride astride with brazen brow,
as witches do on broomsticks now.

And roaring monsters with men atop,
does seem to eat the verdent crop.
And men shall fly as birds do now,
and give away the horse and plow.

They’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 as babes decrease.

And wives shall fondle cats and dogs
and men live much the same as hogs.

THESE VERSES WERE ON THE OUTER WRAPPINGS OF THE SCROLLS

I know I go, I know I’m free,
I know that this will come to be,
Secreted this, for this will be
found by later dynasty.

A dairy maid, a bonnie lass,
shall kick this tome as she does pass
And five generations she shall breed
before one male child does learn to read.

This is then held year by year,
till an iron monster trembling fear,
eats parchment, words and quill and ink,
and mankind is given time to think.

And only when this comes to be
will mankind read this prophecy.
But one man sweets anothers bain
so I shall not have burned in vein.

THE FOLLOWING VERSES WERE FOUND ON A SCROLL IN ANOTHER JAR

The signs will be there for all to read;
when man shall do most heinous deed
man will ruin kinder lives;
by taking them as to their wives.
And murder foul 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
And iron men the tail shall do;
and iron cart and carriage too.

The king shall false promise make;
and talk just for talking’s sake.
And nations plan horrific war;
the like as never seen before.
and taxes rise and lively down;
and nations wear perpetual frown.

yet greater sign there be to see;
as man nears latter century.
three sleeping mountains gather breath,
and spew out mud, ice and death.
an earthquake swallow town and town;
in lands as yet to me unknown
And Christian one fights Christian two
and nations sigh, yet nothing do.
And yellow men great power gain;
from mighty bear with whom they’ve lain.

These mightly tyrants will fail to do,
they fail to split the world in two.
But from their acts a danger bred;
an ague, leaving many dead.

And physics find no remedy;
for this is worse than lepresy.
Oh many signs for all to see;
the truth of this true prophecy.

THE LAST PROPHECY

In nineteen hundred and twenty-six
build houses light of straw and sticks.
For then shall mighty wars be planned
and fire and swords shall sweep the land.

When pictures seem alive with movements free,
when boats like fishes swim beneath the sea.
When men like birds shall scour the sky.
Then half the world, deep drenched in blood shall die.

For those who live the century through
in fear and trembling this shall do.
Flee to the mountains and the dens
to bog and forest and wild fens.

For storms will rage and oceans roar
when Gabriel stands on sea and shore,
and as he blows his wondrous horn
old worlds die and new be born.

A fiery dragon will cross the sky
six times before the earth shall die.
Mankind will tremble and frightened be
for the six heralds in this prophecy.

For seven days and seven nights
man will watch this awesome sight.
The tides will rise beyond their ken.
To bite away the shores and then
the mountains will begin to roar
and earthquakes split the plain to shore.

And flooding waters rushing in,
will flood the lands with such a din
that mankind cowers in muddy fen
and snarls about his fellow men.

He bares his teeth and fights and kills
and secrets food in secret hill
and ugly in his fear, he lies
to kill marauders, thieves and spies.

Man flees in terror from the floods
and kills, and rapes and lies in blood
and spilling blood by mankind’s hand
will stain and bitter many lands.

And when the dragon’s tail is gone
man forgets and smiles and carries on.
To apply himself – too late, too late
for mankind has earned deserved fate.

His masked smile, his false grandeur,
will serve the gods their anger stir
and they will send the dragon back
to light the sky – his tail will crack.
Upon the earth and rend the earth
and man shall flee, king, lord and serf.

But slowly they are routed out
to seek diminishing water spout
and men will die of thirst before
the oceans rise to mount to the shore.
And lands will crack and rend anew
do you think it strange, it will come true.

And in some far – off distant land
some men – oh such a tiny band
will have to leave their solid mount
and span the earth, those few to count.

Who survives this (unreadable) and then
begin the human race again.
But not on land already there,
but on ocean beds, stark, dry and bare.

Not every soul on earth will die,
as the dragon’s tail goes sweeping by,
not every land on earth will sink,
but these will wallow in stench and stink,
of rotting bodies of beast and man,
of vegetation crisped on land.

But the land that rises from the sea
will be dry and clean and soft and free.
Of mankinds dirt and therefore be,
the source of man’s new dynasty.
and those that live will ever fear
the dragon’s tail for many year
but time erases memory
You think it strange. but it will be.

And before the race is built anew,
a silver serpent comes to view
and spew out men of like unknown
to mingle with the earth now grown
cold from its heat and these men can
enlighten the minds of future man
to intermingle and show them how
to live and love and thus endow.
the children with the second sight.
a natural thing so that they might
grow graceful, humble and when they do
the golden age will start anew.

The dragon’s tail is but a sign
for mankind’s fall and man’s decline.
and before this prophecy is done
I shall be burned at the stake, at l
My body cinged and my soul set free
You think I utter blastphemy
your wrong. These things have come to me
this prophecy will come to be.