Mother Shipton of Knaresborough

I recently came across this little booklet (probably from the 1960s) about Mother Shipton - a woman who, it was said, had the power to tell what the future would hold.  We often went to Knaresborough, Harrogate and York for our holidays when I was little, and I remember being fascinated, and slightly terrified by stories about Mother Shipton.

It is believed that she was born in 1488 and had the power to tell what the future would hold.  Girls would seek her advice about who they would marry and people would come from miles around to consult her on all sorts of matters.  She even gave the date and hour of her own death - 1561 at the age of 73.

She saw many things that would eventually come true - "carriages without horses" - which could mean cars or the railway.

Edited - Several people have pointed out that the lines -

"Around the world thoughts shall fly

In the twinkling of an eye."

could refer to fax and email!  How amazing is that!

"Iron in the water shall float" - iron ships and the gold rush in Australia and America?

There's a fabulous site here where you can read so much more about the life and times of Ursula Sontheil, or as she is better known, Mother Shipton.

Love, Liz