Agnes

from Hamnet
Chloé Zhao : 2025

We are in the forest, an ancient woodland, long ago. Below us a young woman lies asleep, cradled amid the roots of the trees. There is a strong sense of belonging, of origin, of lineage. We are drawn by this image and begin to experience its perfect harmony, its gentle power; a power held tightly, ready for needs as yet unknown. Agnes awakens. She now lies on the forest floor where her mother gave birth to her, many years before. She was born of a forest witch – a wise-woman, a seer, a healer. But also of the forest itself. Behind her we glimpse the dark and mysterious cavern beneath the tree's roots, with the understanding that this is also the womb of her mother, and of her mother's mother. It is the source of the lives of these women – their origin, their pasts and their futures. Immediately fully awake, she stands. She has heard the call of a bird, a hawk. Answering him, she hurries along a path. Looking up to where he waits on a branch, they are now in full view of each other. Putting on her old leather falconry glove, she holds out her left arm and calls-in the bird, welcoming his return. This is how they meet every time. The hawk leaves the tree and in a long, graceful glide, descends gently and soundlessly to settle upon the gloved hand. He was hungry. She feeds him as a token of her love – that he will continue his life with her; that she may continue to sustain him; that each may share in the company of the other.

As children, Agnes and Bartholomew would take part in their mother's work with the growing and harvesting of medicinal herbs and also in the preparation of medicines and remedies from the plants and her extensive knowledge of their uses. As their mother would prepare the salve, together they would recite the galdor, an early mediæval healing spell, part of the ancient Nine Plants Spell. During the incantation the plant Mugwort is told to remember what it revealed at the mythical Regenmeld, which is central to the magical narrative, and will thus activate its powers. Great joy would be felt by all taking part in this incantation.

Remember, Mugwort,
what you brought to pass,
what you readied at Regenmeld.

You're called Una, that most ancient plant.
You defy three, you defy thirty,
you defy venom, you defy air-illness;
you defy the horror that stalks the land.

At Hewlands Farm a young man, Will, is tutoring three students in Latin. He idly gazes out of a window while the children recite from the texts before them, their voices producing a fast rhythmic harmony not unlike the chanting of young monks. He watches as Agnes returns with her hawk to the house where her family lives. Leaving the boys to themselves, he walks out across the garden to find Agnes with the bird in an outbuilding. Whilst each has been aware of the other's presence for some time, they have not made an encounter until now. The attraction between them whilst significant, is concealed and awkward. Agnes has more control of where their exchanges might lead. Will, although an educated man of letters, is young, inexperienced and finds social conversation with others difficult. He stutters and stumbles over his words and seems unable to find a way to substantiate his presence before her. Agnes, knowing she has the advantage over him, takes things gently and with care, helping him find his way without his realising. He then turns to the hawk, Agnes warning him to go carefully since the bird does not know him. He asks her for her name but she playfully refuses to tell him; again and again she refuses. Despite the slow progress at conversation, he advances to kiss her and to his surprise she takes his left hand in hers, squeezing it tightly and pressing it hard to her body. He senses something happening but is unclear as to what it is. It's not like any expected invitation or rejection. Their kiss is deep and meaningful and she speaks her name, "Agnes" into his mouth. Her name given, she then runs from him into the house where he cannot follow.

Agnes's family consists of a father, remarried after her mother's death, a brother Bartholomew, a stepmother who despises Agnes, and the young children, including the Latin scholars, of the new family. The family is of the prosperous yeoman farmer status but Agnes does not belong in their world and is at best treated like a housemaid by the stepmother. Whilst she allows this relationship because it supports her, she knows she has to move on, and away from their direct influence in her life. Her brother, Bartholomew, knows this too, but unable to intervene to really help her, he merely does his best to appear empathetic.

Soon Agnes is with child. She knows that progress on the path forward will be difficult, this is all she can expect and really, it is everything that she now wants. Will announces his desire that they be handfasted – he requests it, in an almost out-of-character, yet undemanding way. She offers no refusal or disagreement. Agnes is banished from the home by her stepmother. Will is asked by his mother if the child is his and he tells his family that it is and that Agnes and he are handfasted. Many objections and threats are thrown at him and Agnes, but it seems that if consent is given by her brother Bartholomew then they will be free to legally marry. Agnes easily gains this, convincing her brother that Will is her chosen husband, she asks him what their mother would have said if they were unsure of something. Bartholomew replies "To live with our hearts open. To shut it not in the dark, but turn it to the sun." Agnes adds, "He loves me for what I am, not what I ought to be." Her brother responds, "Then marry him you shall." They marry in a church – for Agnes a necessary formality, "I will enter your church, but I will not speak."

When the baby is ready, Agnes leaves Will in bed and returns with her hawk to the forest. There she goes through labour alone and her child is born. Susanna. Will arrives with Bartholomew, who helps the exhausted Agnes leave the forest. Holding their daughter, Will stares into the cavern beneath the tree where each of the female line have come into the world from this forest.

Dedication. This blog and especially this post—
to Su (1955-2024), my wife—with whom I shared half a lifetime. For her constant love and friendship and for partnering me within the magical realms. Blessèd be.
to Andæg, my daughter and to Tean, my daughter's daughter. Blessèd be.
to Tülay, my dearest friend, for her love, support and inspiration. Blessèd be.