Page:Strange and wonderful history and prophecies of Mother Shipton.pdf/19

This page has been validated.

19

II: PROPHECY.

For a ſweet pious prince make room,

And in a church prepare each broom.

EXPLANATION.

This was meant by king Edward VI. in whoſe time the Proteſtant religion was eſtabliſhed, and the Popiſh ſuperftitions ſwept out of the kirk, an old word uſed ſtill in Scotland for church.

III. PROPHECY.

Alecto next aſſumes the crown,

And ſtreams of blood ſhall Smithfield

run down.

EXPLANATION.

Theſe lines decypher queen Mary, called Alecto, the name of one of the furies for her cruelty to the Proteſtants, of whom great numbers were then burnt in Smithfield.

IV. PROPHECY.

A maiden queen full many a year,

Shall England's warlike ſceptre bear.

EXPLANATION.

Spoken to queen Elizabeth, who reigned extremely beloved by her ſubjects, and dreaded by her enemies, above forty years.

V. PROPHECY.

The weſtern monarch's wooden

horſes,

Shall be deſtroyed by Drake's forces.