prophecies
prophecies were, during the medieval and early modern periods, a source of interest and concern throughout the political and social hierarchies. They could involve exact predictions, but were also frequently ambiguous statements, often taking the form of an ‘ancient’ piece of verse or quasi-proverbial wisdom, usually attributed to a past person, either real or mythical (prophecies attributed to Merlin surfaced regularly). The genre was wide ranging, and acquired added credibility from its association with biblical prophecy. Prophecies were numerous, and (like proverbs) could be reworded or reinterpreted to suit changing circumstances or local conditions.
Prophecies assumed a serious political dimension under the Tudors, when they were frequently interpreted by central government as bearing on political or dynastic changes. Henry VIII, Mary Tudor, and Elizabeth I all included prophecies as a species of seditious words in their treason legislation, while the closing months of Edward VI's reign saw intense anxiety over prophecies as the regime crumbled.
The political instability of the 1640s and 1650s gave new life to political prophecies, but, as with so many aspects of the ‘magical’ world, interest in prophecies among the educated had dwindled by 1700, although prophecy still retained its hold among the less educated.
Prophecies assumed a serious political dimension under the Tudors, when they were frequently interpreted by central government as bearing on political or dynastic changes. Henry VIII, Mary Tudor, and Elizabeth I all included prophecies as a species of seditious words in their treason legislation, while the closing months of Edward VI's reign saw intense anxiety over prophecies as the regime crumbled.
The political instability of the 1640s and 1650s gave new life to political prophecies, but, as with so many aspects of the ‘magical’ world, interest in prophecies among the educated had dwindled by 1700, although prophecy still retained its hold among the less educated.
J. A. Sharpe
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prophecies