Who Were the Cunning-Folk?

In the 13th century a group of unusual individuals were gaining prominence in the European Community. These people claimed special powers and offered their services to those of all walks of life. Popular terms for the male practitioners were “wizard and conjurer” (Davies VII) and after the 20th century the term “white witch” (Davies VIII) was used for females, where before the term “wise-women” (Davies VIII) was popular. However, the name that seems to suit these individuals best is Cunning-Folk which is derived “from the Anglo-Saxon cunnan, meaning to know”(Davies VIII). The reason these people had such great standing in medieval culture was because they appeared to have more knowledge than those around them. They mostly operated within the communities of the common people and practiced an art known has folk magic which is “characterised as a rich medley of indigenous beliefs, practices and rituals, some of them dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, perhaps even earlier, perpetuated largely through oral transmission” (Davies X).

What Were the Duties of the Cunning-Folk?

The duties of the Cunning-Folk were but not limited to:

1. Healing with Herbal Remedies
2. Breaking Curses
3. Catching Thieves
4. Fortune-Telling
5. Match-Making

With all of these professed skills Cunning-Folk formed an integral part of society whether as the village healer or a target of legal action.

The Cunning-Folk’s Detractors

The Cunning Folk faced many challenges to their activities. Such challenges were initiated by individuals such as:

• Clergy who believed that Cunning-Folk were in league with the Devil.
• Nobles who believed that Cunning-Folk were a threat to the social order.
• Commoners who had been charged with crimes by the Cunning-Folk who practiced “thief detection” (Davies 2).

Conclusion

The Cunning-Folk while existing outside the traditional norm for medieval society also formed an important part of it. They acted as healers, detectives, and counselors. While they were at times viewed with suspicion, their influence could not be ignored.

For more information see this link

Wikipedia Cunning Folk

Works Cited

Davies, Owen. Cunning-Folk: Popular Magic in English History. London: Hambledon and London, 2003.
Print.

~ by graham19 on September 8, 2012 .