Abstract
In England between 1200 and 1500, a large proportion of the charms in circulation were devoted to healing.2 These healing charms ranged widely. Latin medical texts include rituals with charms for gathering medicinal plants, amulets with charms for conception, secret charms to prevent ‘cramp’ and charms to staunch bleeding.3 In vernacular remedy books, charms are provided as cures for medical conditions and against thieves. Charms to cure or protect livestock — to cure sick pigs, chickens, sheep, and cows as well as to protect their food — are also common. These often appear as addenda to remedies for humans, or in manuscripts with miscellaneous contents.4
An earlier version of this chapter was presented at the Charms, Charmers, and Charming Conference held at the Warburg Institute, London, 24 September 2005; some parts were presented at the 41st International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, 6 May 2006.
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Olsan, L. (2009). The Corpus of Charms in the Middle English Leechcraft Remedy Books. In: Roper, J. (eds) Charms, Charmers and Charming. Palgrave Historical Studies in Witchcraft and Magic. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230583535_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230583535_15
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