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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER V.

A critical examination of the Mother Shipton literature—Modern and ancient fabrications—The career and works of Richard Head, "Gentleman"—A curious experiment in distillation—The plagiarisms of Thompson the playwright—A possible origin of the first record—General agreement in the oldest versions of Mother Shipton's prophecies—Had Mother Shipton an actual existence?—The balance of probabilities
Pp. 42
 
CHAPTER VI.
The Mother Shipton of Art—An early picture of Mother Shipton and Cardinal Wolsey—The origin of "Punch"—Punch in England and Italy—Puppet-shows— Survival of Mother Shipton in Mr. Punch of Fleet Street—Mother Shipton in Westminster Abbey—A kicking effigy of Mother Shipton in Fleet Street—Mother Shipton's skull—A curious picture of Mother Shipton at Stilton—Mother Shipton in Scotland
Pp. 53