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Witches' Reel Gelie Duncan's Song 1591 Image Witches’ Reel Gelie Duncan’s Song 1591 Image: Newes from Scotland. Declaring the damnable Life of Doctor Fian a notable Sorcerer, who was burned at Edenbrough in Ianuarie last. 1591. Gellie Duncan was a servant of deputy bailiff of Tranant, North Berwick, David Seton, who is said to have had great capacities to help the sick. Seton became highly suspicious of the success of her cures and accused her of witchcraft, torturing her with the ‘pinniewinks’ (thumbscrews) and wrenching her head with a cord, but she would not confess. After further torture and interrogation in prison, she was found to have ‘the mark of the devil’ on her neck and was said to have confessed to witchcraft, naming many others. In May 1590 James VI had sailed to Leith with his newly wedded bride from Denmark during which the bridal boat was subjected to terrible winds whilst the rest of the fleet remained intact. This incidence was attributed to the witches who were accused of stirring up a storm on Halloween led by the devil, dancing and singing The Witches’ Reel in front of the Auld Kirk. The words of the reel were taken down in transcript in an Edinburgh court and Gellie was summonsed to sing it at Holyrood infront of the King before being sentenced and burned. Others included Agnes Simpson who was fastened to the wall with sharp iron prongs and deprived of sleep, John Fian, a learned schoolmaster was tortured with ‘bootikins’ (leg crushers) and the Earl of Bothwell – rival of King James VI – who was later tried in 1593 but found not guilty. Following this trial, James VI wrote published his treatise on Demonology in 1597 calling for the death of all witches and so began an 80 year witch hunt in which 57,000 people were killed across England and Scotland. In 2004, Gellie Duncan and many others were given an official pardon from Queen Elizabeth. The Witches’ Reel is also a Ceilidh dance. Cummer, go ye before, cummer, go ye - Cummer - girl/ godmother/ granny/ witch If ye willna go before, cummer, let me Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins - Circling anticlockwise Linkin’, lithely widdershins - linking arms Cummer, carlin, crone and queen - Carlin - Scots equiv. of Gaelic Cailleach – crone Roun’ go we Cummer, go ye before, cummer, go ye If ye willna go before, cummer, let me Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins Loupin, lightly widdershins - loupin’ - looping/ weaving Kilted coats and fleein’ hair Three times three Cummer, go ye before, cummer, go ye If ye willna go before, cummer, let me Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins Whirlin’, skirlin’ widdershins - skirlin ‘ - screaming De’il tak’ the hindmost Wha’er she be Pagan Chant We all come from the Goddess And to her we shall return Like a drop of rain Flowing to the ocean Hoof and horn, hoof and horn All who die shall be reborn Corn and grain, corn and grain Those who fall shall rise again This is a very popular Pagan/Wiccan chant that is sung at Pagan rituals particularly Harvest/Lammas/Lughnash - which can also involve dancing in widdershins etc. The hooves and horns of bulls feature as symbols of power & fertility in many cultures. The horn also represents the Green Man, Pan and the God of the Harvest. Interestingly the word Weird comes from the OE wyrd which come from old European words wurthis, weik, wert meaning that which comes to pass / fate/destiny/ to turn, and ME wys – meaning wise - which give rise to wicca - which is the root of witch/ wizard meaning a wise one/ person with knowing/ magical abilities. Extract from The Lament Of The Cailleach (Old Woman) Of Beare – 9th century trans. Gerard Murphy, Early Irish Lyrics: Eight to Twelfth Century. The Cailleach of Beare is a giant woman/ goddess in Irish and Scots mythology who was said to have formed many mountains, rivers, lakes and cairns with her hammer and the stones that fell from her apron. She features in many myths and songs featuring her mates and many children and themes of life, death and rebirth, including this lament which she said ‘when senility had aged her.’ It is riches you love, and not people; as for us, when we lived, it was people we loved. what the flood-wave brings you the ebb-wave carries out of your hand. The Cailleach is the name given to the Corn Dolly – or last sheath of corn of the harvest. Also featured – Sounds from Various Fires and a Singing Bowl Katie Rose April 2012 .
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