Prophecy, Politics and the People in Early Modern England

A study of prophetic traditions in early modern England, their influence and popularity.The influence of the non-Biblical vernacular prophetic traditions in early modern England was considerable; they had both a mass appeal, and a specific relevance to the conduct of politics by elites. Focussing particularly on Mother Shipton, the Cheshire prophet Nixon, and Merlin, this book considers the origins of these prophetic traditions, their growth and means of transmission, and the way various groups in society responded to them and in turn tried to control them. Dr Thornton also sheds light on areas where popular culture and politics were uneasily interlinked: the powerful political influence of those outside elite groups; the variations in political culture across the country; and the considerable continuing power of mystical, supernatural, and'non-rational'ideas in British social and political life into the nineteenth century. Dr TIM THORNTON teaches at the University of Huddersfield where he is head of department, History, English, Languages and Media. The Influence Of The Non-biblical Vernacular Prophetic Traditions In Early Modern England Was Considerable; They Had Both A Mass Appeal, And A Specific Relevance To The Conduct Of Politics By Elites. Focusing Particularly On Mother Shipton, The Cheshire Prophet Nixon, And Merlin, This Book Considers The Origins Of These Prophetic Traditions, Their Growth And Means Of Transmission, And The Way Various Groups In Society Responded To Them And In Turn Tried To Control Them. Dr. Thornton Also Sheds Light On Areas Where Popular Culture And Politics Were Uneasily Interlinked: The Powerful Political Influence Of Those Outside Elite Groups; The Variations In Political Culture Across The Country; And The Considerable Continuing Power Of Mystical, Supernatural, And 'non-rational' Ideas In British Social And Political Life Into The Nineteenth Century.--jacket. Introduction: Prophecy, Politics And The People In Late Medieval And Early Modern England -- Ancient Prophecy In The Sixteenth Century -- Prophetic Creation And Audience In Civil War England -- Prophecy And The Revolution Settlement -- The Re-rooting And Survival Of Ancient Prophecy. Tim Thornton. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 198-248) And Index. The influence of the non-Biblical vernacular prophetic traditions in early modern England was considerable; they had both a mass appeal, and a specific relevance to the conduct of politics by elites. Focussing particularly on Mother Shipton, the Cheshire prophet Nixon, and Merlin, this book considers the origins of these prophetic traditions, their growth and means of transmission, and the way various groups in society responded to them and in turn tried to control them. Dr Thornton also sheds light on areas where popular culture and politics were uneasily interlinked: the powerful political influence of those outside elite groups; the variations in political culture across the country; and the considerable continuing power of mystical, supernatural, and 'non-rational' ideas in British social and political life into the nineteenth century. Dr TIM THORNTON teaches at the University of Huddersfield where he is head of department, History, English, Languages and Media. CONTENTS ......Page 6 PREFACE ......Page 8 ABBREVIATIONS ......Page 10 Introduction: Prophecy, politics and the people in late medieval and early modern England......Page 12 1. Ancient prophecy in the sixteenth century......Page 25 2. Prophetic creation and audience in civil war England......Page 64 3. Prophecy and the Revolution settlement......Page 110 4. The re-rooting and survival of ancient prophecy......Page 156 5. Conclusions......Page 205 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......Page 209 INDEX ......Page 260