SCOTTISH WITCHCRAFT VI

SCOTTISH WITCHCRAFT VI 🔥I can still hear their voices... I hear the crackling of the fire and them singing, now it's the voice of one of them that takes the lead, the others are silent while she begins to recite, I can hear her changing the tone of her voice while she imitates the sound of the different animals, the strength that she prints to her words.And so she says:

Cunning and art he did not lack

But aye her whistle would fetch him back.

Oh, I shall go into the hare

With sorrow and sighing and mickle care,

And I shall go into the Devil’s name

Aye, till I be fetchèd hame.

– Hare, take heed of a bitch greyhound

Will harry thee all these fells around,

For here come I in Our Lady’s name

All but for to fetch thee hame.

Cunning and art he did not lack

But aye her whistle would fetch him back.

Yet, I shall go into a trout

With sorrow and sighing and mickle doubt,

And show thee many a crooked game

Ere that I be fetchèd hame.

– Trout, take heed of an otter lank

Will harry the close from bank to bank,

For here comes I in Our Lady’s name

All but for to fetch thee hame.

Cunning and art he did not lack

But aye her whistle would fetch him back.

Yet I shall go into a bee

With a mickle horror and dread of thee

And flit to hive in the Devil’s name

Ere that I be fetchèd hame.

– Bee, take heed of a swallow hen

Will harry thee close, both butt and ben,

For here come I in Our Lady’s Name

All but for to fetch thee hame.

Cunning and art he did not lack

But aye her whistle would fetch him back.

Yet I shall go into a mouse

And haste me unto the miller’s house,

There in his corn to have good game

Ere that I be fetchèd hame.

– Mouse, take heed of a white tib-cat

That never was baulked of mouse or rat,

For I’ll crack thy bones in Our Lady’s name:

Thus shalt thou be fetchèd hame.

Cunning and art he did not lack

But aye her whistle would fetch him back.

This little English ballad known as 'Coal Black Smith' is quoted in several witchcraft trials since 1662, believed to be part of the covens they practiced in the middle of the forest and I thought it's the best way to end this series of posts on witchcraft. Wild day 🖤

Text by @fornleidh

Pic by @josemiguelviejo_fotografo

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