The New Murrey and Blue blog

“Today it is hard to credit the importance that the Middle Ages attached to prophecies, at that time taken so seriously that King Henry VII was to declare them against the law on the grounds of political danger.”

The above quote is taken from The Usurper King by Marie Louise Bruce, the usurper of the title being Henry IV. That Henry Tudor should see such a law passed is a demonstration of his barefaced gall. He, who benefited so very much from calling upon Welsh prophecies from the time of Merlin, suddenly found them less appealing. A man of double standards from beginning to end.

I’ve been reminded that another Lancastrian usurper, Henry IV, was keen to use prophecies when it suited him, but then to ditch them pdq when he was in power and such things were no longer quite as comfortable as they had been.

Is it a habit for usurping Henrys of the Lancastrian persuasion to follow this pattern?

If you are up to it, read the following to see the extent of help Henry VII received from prophecies: see this British Library article The Royal Image and Diplomacy: Henry VII’s Book of Astrology. (British Library, Arundel MS. 66)

And for more information on Henry IV’s acquisition of the throne, read this.