previous next

Brentford — “The fat woman of,” THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, iv. 2. 63 ; “the witch of Brentford,” THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, iv. 2. 85. In the corresponding scene of the quarto she is called“Gillian of Brainford;” who appears to have been a real personage, and whose name was well known in our author's time. A black-letter tract, entitled Iyl of breyntfords testament. Newly com- piled, n. d. 4to, was written by Robert, and printed by William, Copland. The“Iyl” who figures in that coarse tract“kept an inne of ryght good lodgyng;” but no mention is made of her having dealt in witchcraft. Yet one of the characters in Dekker and Webster's Westward Ho says, “I doubt that old hag, Gillian of Brainford, has bewitched me.” Webster's Works, p. 238, ed. Dyce, 1857.

hide Dictionary Entry Lookup
Use this tool to search for dictionary entries in all lexica.
Search for in
hide Display Preferences
Greek Display:
Arabic Display:
View by Default:
Browse Bar: