> From: Madeleine Gray [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>
> Francis Jones, *Holy Wells of Wales*, has masses of information on this -
> see esp pp 117-123 on cursing wells, 127-133 on witches and the devil in
> wells, and 6-8 on well names in general. Part of the problem is that the
> really unholy wells, the cursing wells, often had a christian history -
> this may indeed have been part of their power.
>
Excellent point. Today we tend to forget that cursing was very much
a part of Christian practice, especially but not exclusively in medieval
times. Lester Little's book, _Benedictine Maledictions_ carefully documents
how this worked in some Frankish and Irish circles, but there are other
sources as well. Indeed, cursing was one of the main weapons monk and other
clergy had over hostile (though at least nominally Christian) kings and
nobles who might be considering burning or looting a monastery or church.
As cursing became less acceptable among Christians, anything that
had been used as part of cursing ritual became tainted by association. This
could include wells.
> Names are not always a good
> guide: Ffynnon y Cythrawl, the Devil's Well, in Caerns., was in fact a
> normal healing well, while Ffynnon y Pasg, the Easter Well, in Denbs.,
> could be used for black magic and contracts with the devil.
>
Names can indeed be a good guide. If a well is called "Eye Well" or
"Tooth Well" as they sometimes are in Ireland, then one knows what they were
good for. Not all magical wells were "sained" by being rededicated to
saints.
Francine Nicholson
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