Hello all. I'm developing a story about a real witch who lived around the 1500-1600s (at least during a time when it would be possible for her to travel around the world). She has a Welsh mother who brought her up in the ways of the Art, an English dad whom she never met, and she'll be raised in a small English village. She's a heroine who does things like saving villages from demons and such. Sort of like a Harry Potter based much more on reality--a genuine witch.

So I'm going to need to research what her life might have been like and what practices she did. As a newbie who's only read Scott Cunningham, I have no clue about the oldest British magick that she would probably practice. (I haven't done much magick myself and am still trying to understand it).
I looked for books at the local library but didn't find much in the way of ancienct magick or British/Welsh history. There's a few books about modern magick, though. I'm broke, so any information I could get for free over the Net wouldl be wonderful!
Any tips/adivce/comments/etc. would be appreciated!
Thanks
=)

These maybe of help.
All the best with what you're doing.


http://www.karisgarden.com/cunningfolk/home.htm
http://www.sussex-academic.co.uk/titles/history/wilby.asp
http://www.tylwythteg.com/
http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1629990.stm
http://www.red4.co.uk/Folklore/trevelyan/w...ore/chapt16.htm
http://www.macha.f9.co.uk/7day-extracts/wicca-origins.html
http://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/witches.htm
http://www.walesindex.co.uk/pages/612_16.html
http://www.llgc.org.uk/drych/drych_s029.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/guide...ythsandlegends/
http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/folklore/folklore.html
http://www.welshwales.co.uk/magic_of_wales.htm

Try reading "Welsh Witch" by Allen Raine, will give you a good insight into how the welsh culture intermingled with paganism and christanity.

Also "Welsh witchcraft, charms and spells" Marie Trevelyam
"Welsh witches and warlocks" Jane Pugh
"Herbal remedies of the Physicians of Myddfai" John Pughe
" The Children of Llyr" Evangeline Walton

Not easy to find books, but worth the effort for insight into welsh pagan culture

so its my biograpthy then, im truely honoured

I would add that magic in the 1500-1600s is not ancient magic either Consider it to the magic of the village wise woman and you're more there

Lords and Ladies, by Pratchett?

any of the Witches ones, really, but this one came to mind.

Try looking up Welsh folklore on the net and see what you can dig up.
Liz

Look on google for Llanerch Press ( they do a copy of the Physicians of Myddfai), they've got loads of fantastic stuff on there

Thanks for all the replies!