The Cunning Man

 

Was known also in varying localities as ‘Conjuror@ or ‘Wizard’.  A subject on which it is extremely difficult to obtain any information at this period.  After many enquiries in likely directions, without success, I reluctantly concluded that the Cunning Man and his doings had dropped out of living memory.  Indeed the matter had become so obscured by the mists of time that I hesitated to mention it in this record, until in Hardy’s novel ‘Tess’ I found some details which inclined me to persevere in reviving a phase of rural life which is worthy of rescue from oblivion.

In my early days the Cunning Mand was often mentioned being a sort of household word among elderly people.

For example,- in the case of some small article having disappeared a housewife might exclaim – ‘Where can it be?  I must ask the Cm about this!’  A jesting remark implying that, in earlier times, the aid of such a personage had been regarded as a recognised assistance in other, and more important difficulties.  My father, born about 1800 would tell us of one of such characters who carried on his trade in a small village near Sherborne.

This particular worthy must have been one of the ‘high lights’ of his profession for he sat apart in his sancturn while in an anteroom, a confederate mingled with waiting clients and by sympathetic enquiries elicited the main facts of each case.  Such information having been passed on to the principal the latter became well primed in all necessary details.

One old farmer, who sought advice in the matter of some missing cattle, would thus tell of his experience;-‘When I went in to see the man he called me by name and spoke about my lost cattle!  How however did he know that?’

Those ‘Cunning men’ must have possessed some qualities of tact or shrewdness to have built up their reputations also to had gained a liberal support from clients over a large area.  From many stray details I gathered that a CM made a living by preying on the credulity and superstition of country folk.  His operations were many sided;- medical man, tooth drawer, horse and cattle doctor, expert in witchcraft, diviner as to the whereabouts of missing animals and general advisor to all and sundry.  In fact his position was similar to that of the ‘medicine man’ of savage tribes except that his activities were limited by the restraints of the laws of his country.  Returning to the evidence contained in Hardy’s novel;- in the chapter containing the conversation of the maids at the dairy house, the writer gives the names of three men who practised in South Dorset where they were known as ‘Conjurors’

Those specified were Trendall of Wareham, Fall of Dorchester and Mynterne of Owlescombe.  In the chapter quoted their assistance was suggested respecting certain cows of intractable nature who ‘would not give down their milk’  a common experience among dairy cattle.  Another difficulty had occurred when a large churn of cream would not ‘come’ i.e. would not turn into butter as usual.  In both cases the aid of a conjurer was confidently recommended implying that such ‘magic’ deigned to devote their occult powers to even the insignificant problems of rural existence.  When it is remembered that the three men mentioned practised in a limited area of the county, it seems amazing that so little is now known of their doings in past times.

The Cunning Man, or men, had probably folded their tents by the year 1850, having prospered more or less for the previous hundred years.

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