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Who was Mother Shipton? -

Ursula Southeil, aka Mother Shipton, was a soothsayer and prophetess born circa 1488 in a cave outside the town of Knaresborough in North Yorkshire, England.

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Tourist attraction -

The cave where Mother Shipton lived is actually England's oldest tourist attraction. It has been open to visitors since 1630.

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Birth -

Legend has it that her mother was a 15-year-old orphan named Agatha. Ursula Southeil was born with a crooked nose, crooked legs, and suffered from a hunchback.

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The Mother Shipton moth -

Fun fact: the Mother Shipton moth (Callistege mi) is actually named after her. This is because the wing pattern resembles the profile of a hag's head.

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Name -

Ursula Southeil became known as Mother Shipton after marrying local carpenter Toby Shipton. She gained a reputation as a herbalist, for making potions, and was considered a witch by some.

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Prophecies -

Shipton's prophecies were first published in 1641, eight years after she died. A woman named Joanne Walker supposedly transcribed them.

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Notable prophecies -

Mother Shipton is said to have prophesied about numerous things, including the dissolution of the Catholic Church under Henry VIII. Now, let’s look at some of her other predictions, and what they might mean. Disclaimer: these are all, of course, open to interpretation.

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Mother Shipton knew the prophecies would be discovered -

“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.”

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Trains, cars (and car accidents), and the formation of the Church of England -

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

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Emancipation of women -

“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.”

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Telecommunications and hydroelectric power -

“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.”

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Skyscrapers and submarines -

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

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Modern aircraft -

“And in the air men shall be seen, In white and black and even green.”

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Incurable diseases... or perhaps COVID-19? -

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

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The planning of World War II by Hitler -

"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."

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Agricultural machinery and the rural exodus -

“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.”

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Napoleon I, II and III, and the French Revolution -

“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.”

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England and France as allies in World War II -

“England and France shall be as one.”

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USA vs. China and Russia -

"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."

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Wars and politicians' false promises -

“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.”

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Television, submarines, aircraft, and war -

“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.”

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Decline in marriages and birth rates -

“Then love shall die and marriage cease And nations wane as babes decrease.”

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The Crystal Palace exhibition hall in London, which was destroyed by fire -

“A house of glass shall come to pass, In England. But alas, alas!”

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The American Civil War -

“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.”

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The creation of Israel -

“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."

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Modern ships and the gold rush in America -

“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.”

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The printing press -

“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.”

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An asteroid or other celestial body will dictate the end of the Earth -

“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.”

Sources: ('Mother Shipton's Wonderful Prophecies') (Listverse) (Biblioteca Pléyades) (Deseret News)

See also: Fantastic films based on ancient Greek legends

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