medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Madeleine Gray wrote:
> I think what my student is hoping to focus on is the idea of the village
> wise woman - did they exist or were they a fantasy? Her big problem is
> that for a dissertation she really ought to be looking at primary sources
> and the whole point as I understand it about the concept of the village
> wise woman is that there aren't any - not documentary sources, at any
> rate.
Shakespeare (and his audience) thought they existed:
MARIA
La you, and you speak ill of the devil, how he takes it at heart! Pray God,
he be not bewitched!
FABIAN
Carry his water to the wise woman.
MARIA
Marry, and it shall be done to-morrow morning, if I live. My lady would not
lose him for more than I'll say.
Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 4.
John Briggs
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