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Distaff Gospels
Les Evangiles des Quenouilles, éd. Madeleine Jeay, Paris-Montréal, Paris-Presses de l'Université de Montréal, 1985. This fifteenth century anonymous work (around 1470), is a collection of more than 250 popular beliefs. An English translation was published by the editor Wynkyn de Worde around 1507 under the title: The Gospelles of Dystaues (The Distaff Gospels). These "superstitions" are told in the context and narrative pretext of conversations between country women conducted in traditional gatherings during the long winter evenings. Each night, one of these old women presents her "gospels" to the others, that is what her life experience has taught her. To each of these "chapters", another matron brings her commentary or "gloss".
First night. A man who beats his wife for whatever reason, will never obtain the mercy of the Virgin Mary even if he asks for prayers to be said for him, if he has not got his wife's forgiveness first. Gloss. Mary Ployarde comments on this chapter that a man who beats his wife commits a sin as serious as someone who wants to kill himself: "because, according to what I heard my priest say, a man and a woman joined in marriage are only a single body." The fourth chapter. It is the gospel truth that a man who does something without informing his wife is, in conscience, worse than a thief, for even a thief would not behave like that. Gloss. The old matrons maintain as truth that the children born from that marriage will never become rich in this world and will be liars. 84. The eighth chapter. Women about to be married should never eat the head of a hare for fear that, when they marry and become pregnant, they might think about it: in that case, for sure, their children might have split lips. Gloss. Margot des Blés said: "That happened not long ago to one of my cousins. Because she had eaten the head of a hare when she was pregnant, her daughter was born with four lips. 85. The thirteenth chapter. My neighbours and friends, it is gospel truth that, when a child is just born, if he is given a cooked apple to eat before sucking milk, he will never in his whole life be voracious nor glutton for eating and drinking ; and he will be most courteous with women in acts and words. Gloss. Maroie Morele said on this text that if the umbilical cord of a newborn child was brought to his head, he would have a long life, sweet breath, a good voice, and a pleasing eloquence. The fourteenth chapter. I assure you that it is as true as the gospel that if you want your children to have curly hair, you should, just after removing their baptism bonnet, wash their hair with white wine and put roots of white vine in their bath. Gloss. Lady Hermofrodita corroborated this text, saying that by having the bonnet with the holy oil dried by two young and good-looking children on the head of a sword, the newborn would be handsome, bold, and well-liked among the noblemen. 86. The seventeenth chapter. I tell you also that when you are with a married woman who could have children or who is pregnant, God and reason forbid talking about any food which could not be found at that time if needed, in order that her baby does not have a mark on the body. Gloss. Lady Abonde du Four says that if cherries, strawberries or red wine are thrown in the face of a pregnant woman, the child will have marks on the body. 88. The twenty-fourth chapter. If by chance someone steps over a small child, you should know that his or her growth will be stopped if the person who has stepped over does step back the way they came. Gloss. Indeed, said Sibyl, dwarfs and small people are caused by this.
Second night. I tell you that if someone could find a mandrake, put it between white sheets and give it something to eat and drink twice a day, even if it does not eat or drink, this person would become rich in short time without knowing how. 91. The seventh chapter. I assure you and tell you the gospel truth, that when magpies chatter on a house, it is the sign of bad news to come. But if sparrows warble and make their nests on the house, it is a sign of good fortune. Gloss. Gertrude des Blés said that when a stork makes its nest on a chimney, it is a sign that the lord of the house will be rich and have a long life. The eighth chapter. When your ears are itching, you should know as gospel truth that if it is the right one, you will receive good news, and if it is the left, the news will be bad. Gloss. Isabel de la Creste Rouge said, concerning these words, that when the nose is itching, it is the sign of drinking too much red wine. The ninth chapter. When peas or soup are still boiling when the pot is put next to the fire, you should know for certain that there are no witches in that house. Gloss. Perette Tost Vestue said that what the incubus fears most is a pot boiling next to the fire. 92. The fourteenth chapter. If a man does not have any money in his purse, he should not look at the new moon, otherwise he will not have any for the whole month. Gloss. Robinette Noire Trache comments on this chapter that if a man looks at the crescent moon with his purse full of money, he should bow devoutly, and, for certain, his money will multiply during that month. The fifteenth chapter. If you find a four-leaf clover, you should keep it with respect and, as true as the gospel, you will be happy and rich for your whole life. 93. The sixteenth chapter. When a man finds a spider on his cloth, it is a sign that he will be happy that day ; same thing if he finds the shoe of a horse or part of it: he will have good fortune. The twentieth chapter. If a man offers a knife to his mistress as a New Year's gift, you should know that their love will cool off. Gloss. Collette du Cren said to this chapter: "I assure you that if a man offers brooches with big heads to his Lady, their love will become more passionate and more lasting. 94. The twenty-second chapter. When you see a cat sitting in the sun in a window, licking her behind and not rubbing her ear with her leg, be sure that it will rain that very day. Gloss. Lady Mehault Caillotte got up and said that it is true; indeed her washing is still in the laundry vat, and she dares not wash it because her cat does not stop licking her behind.
Third night. When the lord or the lady of the house is sick and a crow croaks on the chimney or the roof where the patient is lying, it is a sure sign that he or she will die of this disease. Gloss. About that, Mehault Tost Preste said that when it is a magpie, it is a good sign, and that the patient will heal. 97. The eighth chapter. When the ducks feel that a storm is brewing in the air, and they fly and scream nearby the water, it is a sign that it will rain without a storm. But when they keep quiet, they fear the thunder. Gloss. About that, Mabelie Joliette said that when swans or geese swim and are restless in the water, without fail it will rain that very day. The ninth chapter. When dogs howl, one must put one's finger in one's ears because they bring bad news. Gloss. Approving this chapter, Magnon Broquette said that when one hears wolves howling, one should settle one's business because it is a sign of great mortality to come, either by war or famine. The tenth chapter. When you see wolves looking for their prey close to towns or in the villages, you should know that it is a sign of high cost of living to come. Gloss. On that Jehanne Baguette said that when stags, does or deer graze near villages and houses, it is a good sign of prosperity. 98. The fifteenth chapter. If in the morning, when getting up, a person crosses themselves and washes their hands before leaving the house, the devil will not have the power of harming him or her. Otherwise, whatever the work is done on that day will not be profitable. Gloss. About that, Geffrine Tost Preste said that the devil sits on the table of whoever does not say grace before eating, then eats and drinks there. The sixteenth chapter. When a woman brings capons or anything else to town to sell them, if by chance she puts on her right shoe first in the morning, she will be lucky and do good business.
Fourth night. If a friar or a priest has intercourse with a nun or a religious woman, you should know that he will die with his male member stiff and in greater pain than other people. Gloss. Fillette l'Estroite said that if children come from such mating, they will be prone to many problems and misfortunes. 102. The ninth chapter. When a pregnant woman carries her child more on her right side, and she likes eating venison and poultry, and she enjoys hearing about tournaments and jousts, you should know for certain that she will have a son. Gloss. Mabelie, who has been a midwife, said that when the woman carries on the left side and enjoys dances and music, she will have a girl. 103. The fifteenth chapter. When a child is born, be careful not to hold or carry him or her on your left arm before the baptism because, for certain, he or she will be left-handed. Gloss. About that, Martine Tost Preste said that if you have your husband turn his face toward the east during intercourse, if you conceive a child, it will be a son. The eighteenth chapter. When a woman has a cock which is slow and shy, she should give him garlic to eat and rub its crest with it, and it will be stronger and sturdier and also it will better in exercising its rights over the hens. Gloss. If someone could find the herb which wakes up the shy husbands , I would give my shirt and even my bread.
Fifth night. A woman who wants her cows to produce as much milk as her neighbours' do, must rub the pail she takes for milking, every day with good herbs, picked on Midsummer's Night at midnight. Gloss. I think, said Jennette Grosse Motte, that if someone would put these herbs picked during Midsummer's Night above the door of the cowshed while pronouncing these words: "God and Saint Brigit save them!", then they will give more and more milk. 109. The ninth chapter. A woman who does not want to lose a good cat, if she has one, must rub the four legs with butter for three nights, and the cat will never leave the house. 110. The thirteenth chapter. One must not put hens' or ducks' eggs out for sitting on Friday because, for certain, the chicken would most likely be eaten by birds and wild beasts. Gloss. This is true, said Maroie du Cendrier, I have often heard that one should avoid putting eggs for sitting on the day before new moon, and the day after, because the chicken would never be any good. The eighteenth chapter. When a woman sleeps with her husband and wants to have a boy rather than a girl, she must hold her hands closed while her husband has intercourse with her, and to tell the truth, she will have a son. Gloss. Some experienced midwives maintain that for having a son, one should have intercourse by day in the morning, and a daughter by night in the evening.
Sixth night. For my first chapter, I tell you: a person who has fever must fast the first Sunday after the first day of the attack, and it will disappear for sure. 113. The third chapter. If you have a stubborn husband who does not want to give you the money you need, take a wisp of wheat straw which has been picked during Midsummer's Night while midnight is ringing, and put its first knot into the chest instead of the key, and it will open without fail. The fourth chapter. A person who has quartan fever must find a four-leaf clover and eat from it for four days at breakfast, and the fever will disappear for sure. The seventh chapter. In order to cure continuous fever, one should write the three four words of the paternoster on a sage leaf, and eat from it for three mornings, and it will be cured. 115. The fifteenth chapter. I also tell you for sure that if a man wants to drink any kind of wine without getting drunk, he should just eat a sour apple in the morning , then drink fresh water, and without fail, he will not get drunk this day. Gloss. About that, Marion Joly Treu said that her father, Mouscaille, had never been drunk, whatever the quantity of wine he had absorbed. But it was because he invoked Saint Nicholas before and after drinking. The sixteenth chapter. If at night you see a star falling, you should know that it means that a friend of yours is dead, because each person has a corresponding star in the sky, and when this person dies, it falls. The seventeenth chapter. If you dream of a wedding, you should know for certain that it means the death of a friend of yours. Gloss. About that, Ysabel, Lotard de le Braye's daughter, said that when one dreams of processions of clerics, it is a sign of death. The eighteenth chapter. If you dream that you are between horses, that you fall off a horse and die, you should know that the next day will not end without worries, problems or troubles.
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Copyright: McMaster University, 2000 |
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