Mother Shipton’s prediction coming thus effectually to pass, spread her fame far wider than it was; insomuch that many who before looked upon her as a crack-brained woman, now began to admire her, and to esteem her words as oracles. And as the nature of English people is rather to desire to know what is to come, than to seek to rectify aught that is done amiss, so the greatest part of her visitants came only to be acquainted with what she knew would come to pass; of which number was the Abbot of Beverley, who fearing the downfall of religious houses, and a change of the religion then professed, putting on counterfeit clothes, came to Mother Shipton’s, and knocking at the door, she being within, called to him, and said: “Come in, Mr. Abbot, for you are not so much disguised but the fox may be seen through the sheep’s skin. Come take a stool and sit down, for you shall not go away unsatisfied of what you desire,” and thereupon she began to utter forth her Prophecies in this sort:— “When the cow doth wive the bull, Then, oh! priest, beware thy skull! And when the lower shrubs do fall, The great trees quickly follow shall. The mitred Peacock’s lofty pride Shall to his master be a guide. And one great court to pass shall bring What was ne’er done by any king. The poor shall grieve to see that day, And who did feast, must fast and pray. Fate so decreed their overthrow, Riches brought pride, and pride brought woe.” These prophecies were thus explained: by the “Cow,” was made King Henry, by reason of the Earldom of Richmond, which was his inheritance; and the “Bull,” betokened Anne Boleyn, whom the king took to wife in the room of Queen Catherine; her father gave the black bull’s head in his cognizance; and when the king had married Queen Anne, then was fulfilled the second line of the prophecy, viz., “Then, oh! priest, beware thy skull!” for what a number of priests, religious and secular, lost their heads, for offending against the laws, made to bring this matter to pass.