« Trésors cachés
Résumé
Hidden treasures in Early Modern Times have been mainly investigated for their rational purposes. Whereas historical interpretations study institutional control and fraud under the guise of magic, this article highlights the active role played by virgin “innocents”, children, maidens and young women in order to reveal underground riches. Thanks to the freedoms of speech provided by divination, the visionaries tried the magic of words, tested their limits and the price to be paid. These singular visions reveal that the allegedly obedient innocence could be conventional or subversive, in an authoritarian and traditional society.