You are dropped penniless into a village in the middle of England in the year 1500. You maintain all your current knowledge. How would you make your way to the top?

“The top” for a woman in that era would be to marry the local landowner. I’m probably too old to do that, as men of that time period were interested in having male heirs. I guess I would become “the wise woman” of the village. I know many methods to keep people healthy, from boiling things to prevent germs, to chewing on willow bark for headaches. I would have cats to keep the rats and mice from my home and food storage. I know how to spin wool, knit, weave, and sew clothing, so that makes me useful. I’ve read a lot, so I could advise on topics like military maneuvers, suitability of protective armour and clothing, and education of young people. Now, I would just have to be careful not to rile up the clergy who might think I am trying to usurp their authority over the peasants. Guess I really have described myself as a 16th century “witch”.