18
therefore requeſted her to impart ſome of her foreknowledge to him; for which favour, though it was more than his deſerts could command, yet ſhould he never want tongue to acknowledge nor a heart to endeavour a requital of ſo great an obligation. Mr Abbot, faid ſhe, leave of complimenting, I am an old women who will not flatter nor be flattered by any, yet will anſwer deſires as faſt as I may: And therefore did in myſtic verſes diſcover to him the greateſt accidents that have happened in England from that day to this, as in the following explanation will appear.
I. PROPHECY.
When the cow doth ride the bull.
Then prieſt beware of thy ſkull.
EXPLANATION:
By the cow was meant Henry VIII, who gave the cow in his arms, as the earl of Richmond, and the bull betokened madam Ann of Boulogne, not only as the firſt ſyllable of her name but becauſe her father gave the black bull's head in his creſt; and when the king married her, immediately after happened the diſſolution of monaſteries and reſtraint laid on the prieſts.
