“Around the world, men’s thoughts will fly, Quick as the twinkling of an eye".

According to various internet sources, (and there you have it. . .) Mother Shipton was one of the most famous English seers. She was believed to have successfully predicted the dissolution of the Church in the reign of Henry VIII, the fall of Cardinal Wolsey, as well as the premature death of Henry Edward VI’s son.

While most of us are familiar with the prophecies of Nostradamus and Edgar Cayce, those of Mother Shipton are not as well known. Ursula Southeil better known as Mother Shipton, was born in July 1488 in England. As an illegitimate daughter, she was given up for adoption by her biological mother at the age of two and, from a very young age, was said to manifest the psychic gifts of divination and prophecy. She died in 1561.

Residents in Lawrence County learned of her prophecies in December 1880 thanks to new Rural Republican editor, Sam Day. He published that Mother Shipton prophesied that the world would come to an end in 1881.  He further noted that all the events she predicted had come to pass but he alleged, however, that her last predictions were a hoax.

It is now generally acknowledged that Mother Shipton was largely a myth, and that many of her prophecies were composed by others after her death, and after the events they predicted. Her prophecies were apparently recorded in a series of diaries, but the first published book of her work did not appear until 1641 and the most noted work, by Richard Head, came out in 1684. Head later admitted to inventing almost all Shipton's biographical details.

Granted WE know the world didn’t end in 1881, but let’s review those predictions published in 1880 BUT SUPPOSEDLY WRITTEN IN 1684 and declared by Mr. Day in 1880 to be a hoax.

“Carriages without horses shall go and accidents fill the world with woe.”

Possible Interpretation: today’s automobiles

“Around the world, men’s thoughts will fly, Quick as the twinkling of an eye. And water shall great wonders do, How strange, and yet it shall come true.”

Possible Interpretation: Cell phones, radio, television, and the internet. The building of massive dams and the harnessing of waterfalls, like Niagara, for hydroelectric power which then lights the world.

“Through towering hills, proud men shall ride, No horse or ass move by his side. Beneath the water, men shall walk, Shall ride, shall sleep, shall even talk.”

Possible Interpretation: Cities with canyons made of skyscrapers. Submarines and SCUBA gear allowing man to work beneath the sea.

“And in the air men shall be seen, In white and black and even green. A great man, shall come and go For prophecy declares it so.”

Possible Interpretation: Modern aircraft and astronauts. There have been many great men since that time….

“In water, iron then shall float As easy as a wooden boat. Gold shall be seen in stream and stone, In a land that is yet unknown.”

Possible Interpretation: Ships made of iron and steel and perhaps a description of California in the Gold Rush days.

Now before you go all crazy on me and start texting me your thoughts concerning these predictions, STOP.  I am just the blog writer, reporting what local history recorded in 1880.