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Mother Shipton investigated

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Mother Shipton investigated: the result of critical examination in the British Museum Library of the literature relating to the Yorkshire sibyl (1881)
583856Mother Shipton investigated: the result of critical examination in the British Museum Library of the literature relating to the Yorkshire sibyl1881

RESEMBLANCE OF MOTHER SHIPTON TO MISTER PUNCH OF FLEET ST.

Punch:1881Mother Shipton:1663



MOTHER SHIPTON

INVESTIGATED.


THE RESULT OF CRITICAL EXAMINATION IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM LIBRARY, OF
THE LITERATURE RELATING TO THE YORKSHIRE SIBYL,

BY

WILLIAM H. HARRISON.

LONDON: 1881.

W. H. HARRISON, 33, MUSEUM STREET.



CONTENTS


CHAPTER I.
The alleged prophecies of Mother Shipton and others, about the end of the world—The Mother Shipton of popular belief—Her prophecy in relation to Cardinal Wolsey—Her traditionary birth, marriage, life and death
Pp. 9-17
 
CHAPTER II.
The Mother Shipton of romance—Richard Head's book—How Ursula Shipton's mother married the Devil—Formula to be repeated by those who wish to ally themselves to the Evil One—The birth of Mother Shipton—Her wonderful nose—Her babyhood and schooldays— Her alleged prophecies and her death
Pp. 18-26
 
CHAPTER III.
A verbatim reprint of the earliest existing record relating to Mother Shipton—Her prophecies in relation to Cardinal Wolsey, the Duke of Suffolk, Lord Percy, and Lord D'Arcy—Master Besley's record of her sayings—Mother Shipton's prophecies in relation to national and local events
Pp. 27-35
 
CHAPTER IV.
Another ancient record relating to Mother Shipton—The version of Lilly, the astrolger—The fulfilment of Mother Shipton's prophecies
Pp. 36-41
 
CHAPTER V.
A critical examination of the Mother Shipton literature—Modern and ancient fabrications—The career and works of Richard Head, "Gentleman"—A curious experiment in distillation—The plagiarisms of Thompson the playwright—A possible origin of the first record—General agreement in the oldest versions of Mother Shipton's prophecies—Had Mother Shipton an actual existence?—The balance of probabilities
Pp. 42
 
CHAPTER VI.
The Mother Shipton of Art—An early picture of Mother Shipton and Cardinal Wolsey—The origin of "Punch"—Punch in England and Italy—Puppet-shows— Survival of Mother Shipton in Mr. Punch of Fleet Street—Mother Shipton in Westminster Abbey—A kicking effigy of Mother Shipton in Fleet Street—Mother Shipton's skull—A curious picture of Mother Shipton at Stilton—Mother Shipton in Scotland
Pp. 53