Media library

A vivid woodcut illustration depicts a famous scene when the soothsayer was reputedly confronted by nobles sent to her cottage by the powerful Cardinal Wolsey, who was furious she had made the treasonous prediction that he would never set foot inside the city of York. Under threat of being burned at the stake, a defiant Mother Shipton was said to have plucked a handkerchief from her head and thrown it into the fire, proclaiming that if it did not burn, then neither would she.

Other texts to be found in the library’s collection include a copy of The Discoverie of Witches, first published in 1584, which attempted to debunk popular and scholarly beliefs about witchcraft, magic and other superstitions with rational explanations. Also included is a copy of Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft published in 1830, which covers a range of histories and beliefs on spirits, demonology and witchcraft from a variety of sources.

Librarian Sally Hughes with a vivid woodcut illustration that depicts a famous scene when the soothsayer Mother Shipton was reputedly confronted by nobles sent to her cottage by the powerful Cardinal Wolsey, who was furious she had made the treasonous prediction that he would never set foot inside the city of York. Under threat of being burned at the stake, a defiant Mother Shipton was said to have plucked a handkerchief from her head and thrown it into the fire, proclaiming that if it did not burn, then neither would she.

A vivid woodcut illustration depicts a famous scene when the soothsayer was reputedly confronted by nobles sent to her cottage by the powerful Cardinal Wolsey, who was furious she had made the treasonous prediction that he would never set foot inside the city of York. Under threat of being burned at the stake, a defiant Mother Shipton was said to have plucked a handkerchief from her head and thrown it into the fire, proclaiming that if it did not burn, then neither would she.

Librarian Sally Hughes with a vivid woodcut illustration that depicts a famous scene when the soothsayer Mother Shipton was reputedly confronted by nobles sent to her cottage by the powerful Cardinal Wolsey, who was furious she had made the treasonous prediction that he would never set foot inside the city of York. Under threat of being burned at the stake, a defiant Mother Shipton was said to have plucked a handkerchief from her head and thrown it into the fire, proclaiming that if it did not burn, then neither would she.

Librarian Sally Hughes with a vivid woodcut illustration that depicts a famous scene when the soothsayer Mother Shipton was reputedly confronted by nobles sent to her cottage by the powerful Cardinal Wolsey, who was furious she had made the treasonous prediction that he would never set foot inside the city of York. Under threat of being burned at the stake, a defiant Mother Shipton was said to have plucked a handkerchief from her head and thrown it into the fire, proclaiming that if it did not burn, then neither would she.

The book, held here by librarian Sally Hughes, also contains a detailed record of some of Mother Shipton’s most famous predictions, many of them written in verse, including one of her most famous, which has been interpreted as a foretelling of The Plague and The Great Fire of London in 1666.

The book also contains a detailed record of some of Mother Shipton’s most famous predictions, many of them written in verse, including one of her most famous, which has been interpreted as a foretelling of The Plague and The Great Fire of London in 1666. As the author notes, she foretold: “Triumphant death rides London thro’ And men on tops of houses go,” which was thought to reference both the horrifying death toll of The Plague and people running on rooftops as they fled the devastating blaze which ravaged the capital.

Under threat of being burned at the stake, a defiant Mother Shipton was said to have plucked a handkerchief from her head and thrown it into the fire, proclaiming that if it did not burn, then neither would she. Sure enough, the hankie survived unburned and suitably impressed, the cardinal’s representatives left her unharmed.

Librarian Sally Hughes with a vivid woodcut illustration that depicts a famous scene when the soothsayer Mother Shipton was reputedly confronted by nobles sent to her cottage by the powerful Cardinal Wolsey, who was furious she had made the treasonous prediction that he would never set foot inside the city of York. Under threat of being burned at the stake, a defiant Mother Shipton was said to have plucked a handkerchief from her head and thrown it into the fire, proclaiming that if it did not burn, then neither would she.

People across Leeds are being urged to protect themselves and their families this winter by taking up the offer of free vaccinations against flu and Covid-19. Image: Adobe Stock

A computer-generated image showing how St Matthew's Community Centre in Holbeck could look following a proposed renovation scheme. Subject to planning approval, the renovation will be carried out as part of the Heart of Holbeck regeneration programme.