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Ursula Shipton
Ursula Sontheil was a lowly orphan, who at the age of twenty-four was courted by one Toby Shipton, a builder, of Skipton, a village four miles north of York; soon afterwards they were married. She became known as Mother Shipton, and acquired fame by means of her extraordinary predictions.
When Cardinal Wolsey intended to remove his residence to York, she announced that he would never reach that city. The Cardinal sent three lords of his retinue in disguise, to inquire whether she had made such a prediction, and to threaten her if she persisted in it. She was then living in a village called Dring Houses, a mile to the west of the city. The retainers, led by a guide named Beasly, knocked at the door.
"Come in, Mr. Beasly, and three noble lords with you," said Mother Shipton.
She then treated them civilly, by setting out cakes and ale before them.
"You gave out," said they, "the Cardinal should never see York."
"No," she replied, "I said he might see it, but never come to it."
They responded, "When he does come, he'll surely burn thee."
"If this burn," said the Reverend Mother, "so shall I."
She then cast her linen handkerchief into the fire, allowed it to remain in the flames a quarter of an hour, and took it out unsinged.
One of her awe-stricken visitors then asked what she thought of him.
She answered "The time will come, my lord, when you shall be as low as I am, and that is low indeed."
This was judged to be verified when the visitor, Thomas Lord Cromwell, was beheaded.
Cardinal Wolsey, on his arrival at Cawood, ascended the Castle Tower, and while viewing York, eight miles off, vowed he would burn the witch when he reached there. But ere he descended the stairs, a message from the King demanded his presence forthwith and, while on his journey to London, he was taken ill and died at Leicester.
She accurately foretold the destruction by tempest of the Ouse Bridge and Trinity Church, York, in the following mystical language: "Before Ouze Bridge and Trinity Church meet, what is built in the day shall fall in the night, till the highest stone of the church be the lowest stone of the bridge."
Further Biographical Information and Stories here:
https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Mother-Shipton-Prophesies/
*** Blessed be to those who serve the Great Mother and the Horned Father.
* Copyright to Coven Rochester
