Prophecies of Robert Nixon, Mother Shipton, and Martha, the Gypsy. Anonymous

Lady Cowper in the year 1670, by Dr. Patrick late Bishop of Ely then chaplain to Sir Walter St. John; and that lady had the following further particulars relating to this prophecy and the fulfilling of many parts of it from Mrs. Chute, sister to Mrs. Cholmondeley of Vale-Royal, who affirmed that a multitude of people gathered together to see the eagle before-mentioned and the bird was frightened from her young; that she herself was one of them and the cry among the people was, Nixon’s prophecy is fulfilled and we have a foreign King. She declared that she read over the prophecy many times when her sister was with child of the heir who now enjoys the estate. She particularly remembers that King James the Second was plainly pointed at and that it was foretold he should endeavour to subvert the laws and religion of this kingdom, for which reason they would rise and turn him out: that the eagle of which Nixon prophecied perched in one of the windows all the time her sister was in labour. She says it was the biggest bird she ever saw; that it was in a deep snow and it perched on the edge of a great bow-window, which had a large border on the outside and that she and many others opened the window to try to scare it away, but it would not stir till Mrs. Cholmondeley was delivered; after which it took flight to a great tree over against the room her sister lay in, where having stayed about three days it flew away in the night. She affirmed further to the Lady Cowper, that the falling of the garden wall was a thing not to be questioned, it being in so many people’s memory that it was foretold that the heir of Vale-Royal should live to see England invaded by foreigners and that he should fight bravely for his King and Country: that the miller mentioned is now alive and expects to be knighted and is in the very mill that is foretold: that he should kill two invaders who should come in, the one from the West and the other from the North: that he from the North should bring with him of all nations, Swedes, Danes, Germans, and Dutch; and that in the folds of his garments he should bring fire and famine, plague and murder: that many great battles should be fought in England, one upon London-bridge, which should be so bloody, that people will ride in London streets up to their horses’ bellies in blood; that several other battles should be fought up and down most parts of Cheshire; and that the last that ever would be fought in England should be on Delamere forest: that the heir of Oulston, whose name is E— and has married Earl Cholmondeley’s sister, should be hanged up at his own gate.

      Lastly, Nixon foretells great glory and prosperity to those who stand up in defence of their laws and liberties; and ruin and misery to those who should betray them. He says, the year before this would happen, bread corn would be very dear and that the year following more troubles should begin which would last three years; that the first would be moderate, the second bloody, and the third intolerable; that unless they were shortened no mortal could bear them; and that there were no mischiefs but what poor England would feel at that time. But that GEORGE the SON of GEORGE, [51] should put an end to all. That afterwards the church should flourish, and England be the most glorious nation on earth.

      Lady Cowper was not content to take these particulars from Mrs. Chute, but she enquired of Sir Thomas Aston, of the truth of this prophecy and he attested it was in great reputation in Cheshire and that the facts were known by every one to have happened as Nixon said they would; adding, that the morning before the garden wall fell, his neighbour Mr. Cholmondeley, going to ride out a hunting, said “Nixon seldom fails but now I think he will; for he foretold that this day my garden wall would fall and I think it looks as if it would stand these forty years;” that he had not been gone above a quarter of an hour before the wall split and fell upwards against the rising of the hill, which as Nixon would have it, was the presage of a flourishing church.

      As to the removal of Peckforton-mill, it was done by Sir John Crew, the mill having lost its trade there, for which he ordered it to be set upon Ludington hill; and being asked if he did it to fulfil the prophecy, he declared he never thought of it. I myself have inquired of a person who knows Mr. Cholmondeley’s pond as well as Rosamond’s in St. James’s Park and he assured me the falling of the wall and the pond running blood, (as they call it) are facts which in Cheshire any one would be reckoned mad for making the least question of them. As there are several particulars in this prophecy which remain unfulfilled; so when they come to pass, some other circumstances may be added, which are not convenient to be told until accomplished.

      If I had a mind to look into the antiquities of this county, I might find that prodigies and prophecies are no unusual things there. Camden tells us that at Brereton not many miles from Vale-Royal which gave name to a famous, ancient, numerous, and knightly family, there is a thing as strange as that of the eagle, or the falling of the wall, which he says was attested to him by many persons and was commonly believed; that before any heir of this family dies there are seen, in a lake adjoining the bodies of trees swimming upon the water for several days together. He likewise adds that near the abbey of St. Maurice in Burgundy there is a fish-pond in which a number of fish are put equal to the number of monks of that place; and if any one of them happens to be sick, there is a fish seen floating on the surface of the water; and in case the fit of sickness proves fatal to the monk, the fish foretells it by its death some days before. This the learned Camden relates in his description of Cheshire and the opinion of the trees swimming in the lake near Brereton, prevails all about the county to the present day, only with this difference, that some say it is one log only that swims and some say many.

      Lancashire, which is not far off, has been famous for witches and I am afraid Cheshire is a little infected by its neighbourhood. Those that will not believe our prophecy may leave it alone; but if hope is a good help to faith, I shall not be long among the incredulous.