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.