Folklore, Thomas More, and Herodotus

Has anyone found folklore in Thomas More's work?

Here's an example I found quoted in Albion; a guide to legendary Britain by Jennifer Westwood (1985).  

More wrote that unhappily married women appealed to St. Wigefort for relief.  Some women changed St. Wigefort's name to "saynt Vncumber bycause they rekone that ... she wyll nat fayle to vncomber thym of theyr housbondys."  Oats were offered to St. Uncumber at St. Paul's.

I'd like to find studies comparing folklore in More's work to folklore in Herodotus' Histories.  Even though Annette Carson's Maligned King does a good job of replacing More's fictions with facts, it would be good to see other authors recognizing folklore in More's writing.

I'd like to see more authors replace tiresome Shakespearean caractures with creative investigations of overlooked folklore sources.  It would be refreshing to read about More as a follower of Herodotus, rather than More as a traditional authority.

phaecilia

St Wigefort is of course a variant of Walburga (or vice versa). Iirc she was a real Saxon princess.

whitehound wrote:

St Wigefort is of course a variant of Walburga (or vice versa).  Iirc she was a real Saxon princess.

There are lots of variations on her name.  I found the heading British Folk Tales and Legends when I googled St. Wigefort.  Under that is an incomplete entry which gives lots of names and part of her story.  It's very similar to what I remember from Albion; a guide to legendary Britain.

I'm doing my best to copy the link.  I hope this works.  If it doesn't thanks for your patience.  I'll get it right eventually.  

St.Wigefort


phaecilia