A Few Talks, Some Podcasts, and a Magazine

A rounding up of recent fun

Bore da, pawb – Good morning everyone!

It’s been an exciting few weeks for me book-wise, as promotion for ‘Son of Prophecy: The Rise of Henry Tudor’,  continues. Since my last newsletter, I have been busy.

On 23 July, I once more had the pleasure of debating my good friends Nicola Tallis and Matthew Lewis on the Princes in the Tower at the wonderful Harvington Hall History Festival, as well as deliver my own talk, the new but unimaginatively titled ‘Son of Prophecy’. Both seemed to go down well.

On 3 August, I travelled to beautiful Gloucester to give a talk in the Cathedral and the following night up to equally historic Ludlow to talk in the charming Castle Books. Both hugely enjoyable talks with brilliant audiences.

On the morning of 4 August, I also had the huge honour of being a guest in the BBC Wales studios for an appearance on the widely respected Sunday Supplement political programme, discussing the Welsh aspect of Henry VII and the Tudors’ origins. UK TV licence holders can listen to the full interview here, at minute 39.

Elsewhere, I was pleased to join the lovely Carol Ann Lloyd once more on her ‘Royals, Rebels, and Romantics’ podcast, which can be watched on YouTube HERE, and the legendary comedian Charlie Higson on his Willy Willy Harry Ste podcast, which can be listened to HERE or wherever you podcast.

Finally, I have the cover feature of this month’s BBC History Magazine, with an article titled ‘Henry VII’s Battle for Survival’, looking at his death-defying path to power. Available from all good newsagents now!

Whew – busy, busy, but its not every month you release a book!

---

A Momentous Landing

Anyway, on a brief history note, today is 7 August. It was on this day in history, back in 1485, that Henry Tudor and his army landed in West Wales, ready to challenge Richard III for his crown. The alighting point was a sheltered inlet of Milford Haven waterway, today known as Mill Bay. I am sure that upon stepping onto land, or sand even, that after seven days at sea, Henry could not betray the swell of emotion inside him. For fourteen years, he had been away from his home, his friends, and his mother. He had left a frightened boy on a small barque carrying just a few souls, and now returned a man who stood at the head of an army numbering thousands.

Taking in the scene around him and breathing deeply, we are told that Henry dropped to his knees, bent forward, and with a ‘meek countenance and pure devotion’, kissed the ground. He then began Psalm 43, uttering ‘Judge me o God, and distinguish my cause’, imploring the lord to help him overcome what he and his followers professed to be godless tyranny. Making the sign of the cross and taking a deep breath, Henry opened his eyes and returned to his feet. He perhaps delivered a speech intended to rouse his men’s spirits after an arduous voyage, and then turned to embark on another lengthy journey, this time through Wales, into England, and towards immortality.

Speak to you all soon!