Mother Bunch's Closet Newly Broke Open, and the History of Mother Bunch of the West

In Short

This book is a collection of folk-divination rituals and cautionary advice, presented as the teachings of a mysterious, elderly figure named Mother Bunch. The text documents traditional English practices for foretelling the identity of future spouses—from sewing hemp-seed to interpreting dreams on St. Agnes’ Eve. Originally functioning as a chap-book for common readers, it has endured as a primary source for folklore studies. It offers a fascinating, often blunt window into the anxieties, courtship rituals, and domestic superstitions of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

The Story

The narrative arc follows the dual life of Mother Bunch, an old woman dwelling in the West Country, whose primary occupation is the study of love and fortune. In the opening sections, the text establishes her as a seasoned veteran of marriage, having successfully survived three husbands of varying trades. Her authority is not academic but experiential; she claims to have "tried" these methods herself, and she shares them now as a mentor to young men and maids who are anxious about their romantic prospects. She is a woman who values "mirth" but holds a firm grasp on the realities of laboring-class domestic life.

As the text progresses, Mother Bunch is found in various rural settings—a quiet meadow at dawn, her own home at Bonny Venter, or social gatherings like weddings. Her interactions follow a set rhythm: a young seeker approaches her, burdened by the desire for a husband or wife; Mother Bunch engages them with a mix of sharp, sometimes coarse wit; and she then provides a specific ritual, such as the St. Thomas onion trial or the washing of a smock on Midsummer Eve. She warns her pupils about the dangers of "ranters" and those who would "go astray," emphasizing that these spells require absolute silence and clean intentions.

The scope of her advice expands in the later portions of the book. She stops acting as a solitary recluse and begins hosting groups of young people. The "second part" of the history portrays her as a community matriarch, holding a "lecture" for dozens of young women, including the maltster’s maid and the miller’s daughter. She moves from offering individual charms to providing a comprehensive guide for all seasons, listing unlucky days and specific incantations for every saint's day from January to December.

The story culminates in a dramatic assembly where she addresses the men directly. She moves through a series of archetypes—the miller, the thatcher, and the plowman—scolding the lecherous and blessing the industrious. She tells them their "dooms," warning that those who betray their partners will face the consequences of a difficult marriage, while the honest will find faithful "yokemates." The narrative ends on a note of communal resolution, with the young men and women departing, satisfied that they have been granted forbidden knowledge. The final pages shift into merry songs and rhyming couplets that summarize her philosophy: be wary, work hard, and treat your spouse with enough care to keep the household intact.

How It Unfolds

The call to divination Mother Bunch introduces herself as a woman who has studied the paths of love and marriage to alleviate her own anxieties. She asserts that her advice is tested by experience, inviting others to learn how to see their future partners in their dreams.

The individual consultations She encounters young maids in quiet fields and homes, providing them with specific rituals, such as the St. Thomas onion charm or the use of pins in an apple. She emphasizes the need for silence, cleanliness, and, above all, the proper behavior when the envisioned sweetheart appears.

The second collection A new chapter opens with Mother Bunch hosting a gathering of many young women at her home. She moves from simple charms to complex, seasonal instructions, including the use of red sage and rose water to summon visions.

The moral reckoning The focus shifts to the young men, who are held accountable for their behavior toward the women of the village. Mother Bunch acts as a judge, critiquing the character of the miller and the thatcher while rewarding the honest plowman.

The final counsel The book concludes with a series of songs and verses that reiterate her warnings about love, infidelity, and the dangers of bad timing. She leaves the reader with a final, practical set of dates to avoid for marriage, ensuring her "curiosities" remain a permanent guide for the unlucky.

The People

Mother Bunch is the central, grounding figure—an aging, sharp-tongued, and deeply pragmatic woman who has outlived three husbands. She is not a mystical seer but a practical observer of human nature who uses folklore to navigate the complexities of courtship. Her desire is to see the young people of her village settle into stable, productive marriages, and she acts as a gatekeeper of "secret" knowledge that she believes will prevent them from making poor choices.

The young men and women—represented by characters like Margery Loveman, the maltster’s maid, and the plowman Robin—are defined by their anxiety and hope. They are looking for security in an uncertain world, fearing both loneliness and the prospect of a cruel or unfaithful partner. The maids are often portrayed as eager to test the limits of these charms, while the men are depicted as needing the sharp correction of Mother Bunch to steer them away from their "caterwauling" ways. Through these interactions, the characters evolve from uncertain, pining individuals into people who have been given a clear set of social and romantic expectations.

In Its Own Voice

"If you will not when you may, when you will you shall have nay."

This proverb, shared by Mother Bunch during a lesson, serves as her stern warning against the dangers of being too selective or indecisive in the pursuit of a partner.

"St. Agnes's day I have not yet blotted out of my book; but I have found a more exact way of trial than before."

In the second part of the history, the narrator introduces an updated version of her previous charms, highlighting her ongoing commitment to perfecting her "art."

"This is a good way for a young man to know his sweetheart, giving the middlemost pin the name he fancies best, putting an apple in his right handed glove, and lay it under his pillow."

This instruction illustrates the practical, domestic nature of the magic she advocates, turning everyday objects into tools for divination.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is about the human effort to exert control over the chaotic nature of romantic attraction and fate. By turning marriage—the most significant life event for these readers—into a series of solvable puzzles, Mother Bunch provides a sense of agency to those who feel vulnerable. The text explores the tension between romantic desire and economic reality, constantly reminding the reader that a "good" match is one that is industrious, faithful, and stable. It asks how one can discern the character of a potential spouse, concluding that while charms may offer a glimpse of the future, one’s own behavior and moral judgment are the ultimate determinants of a successful union.

Why Read It Today

Readers with an interest in the history of folklore, superstition, or the everyday life of the seventeenth-century English peasantry will find this book essential. It is a rare, unvarnished look at the private anxieties of a pre-modern society, capturing the specific, gritty language of the era. The text is not a polished narrative; it is a collection of fragments, lists, and rhyming instructions that feel intimate and immediate, as if you are leafing through a tattered, well-thumbed pamphlet found in a dusty attic.

You will encounter archaic phrasing and period-specific attitudes toward gender and class that may strike modern readers as blunt or antiquated. However, the warmth of the "loving friend" who compiled these secrets shines through the rough edges. It is a brief, punchy read that moves quickly from charm to charm, rarely lingering long enough to lose the reader's attention. If you appreciate the way history is preserved in the smallest, most superstitious details of human behavior, you will find this book hauntingly memorable. It stays with you not for its literary grandeur, but for its strange, enduring humanity—the voice of an old woman sitting in the west, still trying to help the young find their way.