medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Cate Gunn's quote from the Ancrene Wisse is very relevant, I
think. There was obviously some late med/early Ren. stereotype
of hermits that inspired Henry's costumers, and that may date
back quite far. I'll be interested to find more on this.
BTW hermits became quite fashionable, in England at least, about
the 18C. Grottoes were one of the landscape elements on large
properties and hermits were encouraged in some fashion--or at
least someone dressed as a hermit was to be on hand when
visitors toured the grounds. Such a grotto was often called
"Merlin's Cave." One was in the original design of Kew Gardens.
While it was removed by Capability Brown, it remains a minor
placename there. There were two more Merlin's Caves in tea
gardens in suburban London; Merlin Street, Islington, marks the
site of one of them.
Al Magary
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