I suppose what I'm asking is what kind of explanations for matter, and objects, existed among the common people during this period. For example, I've recently been informed that Stars, and the Moon, were considered to be celestial bodies made of Aether. But would a peasant have access to this concept, or knowledge, even though it was fallacious? Surely the average peasant could neither read, nor would have had access to books even if they could. Does anyone have any interesting Historical anecdotes detailing the...ontology, or epistemological reasoning of the poor relating to such things as the moon and stars, plants, trees, animals, or anything else? What would a peasant have believed the Monn for example, was made of, in the absence of any explanation--or would they have been exposed to the Aether theory through the clergy?I'm not looking for information on Humours/Miasmas etc. I'm trying to understand the 'magical' reality of the average Elizabethan peasant (not in a Romantic sense because I fully understand how horrifically God-awful the lives of these people must have been). I'm also looking for information on the experiences of Rural manual workers moving in to the emerging metropolis of Industrializing London and would appreciate any links or pointers to relevant literature that discuss this and the aforementioned. I'm researching for a Novel which is kind of a...magical realism, format-- the emphasis being on realism. That is to say, not fantasy nor Surrealism...things that happen must have been possible, however improbable. It's important that I get things as historically accurate as possible for this reason. Any and all feedback much appreciated!