ABSTRACT
In light of the conflicting briefs for Alison as wife and Alison as widow, it is opportune to review the evidence offered in their support. Despite Schmidt’s dismissal of purveiance, the chief prop of Professor Silvia’s argument, there are nevertheless other hints that Alison may not be a widow. Among the minority was consider Jankyn living is Daniel S. Silvia, who suggests that Alison was on pilgrimage because of her habitual purveiance of mariage, or earmarking a successor during the lifetime of her current spouse. Moreover, the Wife’s flamboyant attire as described in the General Prologue hardly suggests a widow. Detailed information on the mourning etiquette of medieval England is hard to come by, but it would appear that by the late fourteenth century black or at least sober colours were an established feature of widow’s weeds, rigorously controlled by social protocol, with rings, gloves, or silks forbidden.
