Strange and wonderful history and prophecies of Mother Shipton/Chapter 2

CHAP. II.

How Mother Shipton's Mother proved with Child: How she sitted the severe Justice, and what happened at her Delivery.

THE neighbours observing that Agatha, without any employ, lived so handsomely, wondered exceedingly how ge came by the money to support her in that way; but were most surprized when they soon after found her to be with child which she could not long hide, for after her delivery she was as big as if she had gone with half a dozen children at once; whereupon she was carried before a justice, who threatened and chided her for her incontinency, but he was soon silenced, for his wife and all his family being present, Agatha said to him aloud, "Mr Justice how gravely you talk now, and yet the truth is, your worship is not altogether free, for here stands two of your servant wenches, who are both at this time with child by you;" pointing to them severally with her finger: At which both himself and the two girls were so blanked that his wife plainly saw what she said was true, aad therefore fell upon the harlots like fury; for all that Mr Justice and the constables could do, was not enough to keep the peace, and the whole family was in such confusion, that Agatha at that time was dismissed; and soon after, in the month of July, in the fourth year of the reign of king Henry VII. which was in the year of our Lord 1484, was brought to bed of a daughter; her travail was very grievous, and a most terrible clap of thunder happened just as the was delivered of this strange birth, which afterwards was so famous by the name of Mother Shipton; nor could the tempest affright the woman more than the prodigious physiognomy of the child; the body was long and very sharp and fiery, a nose of unproportionable length having in it in many crooks and turnings, adorned with great pimples, and which like vapours of brimstone, gave such a lustre in the night, that her nurse needed no other candle to dress her by; and besides this uncouth shape, it was obseved, that as soon as she was born, she fell a laughing and grining after a jeering manner, and immediately after the tempest ceased.