The Witch of the Westomoreland: An Icon of Femininity

The Witch of the Westmoreland is a traditional English folk song that tells the story of a young man who encounters a powerful and enchanting witch. The song has been popularized by various artists over the years and has become a staple in the folk music genre. The song begins with the young man encountering the witch while wandering through the Westmoreland hills. The witch, with her long golden hair and eyes as green as emeralds, captivates the young man with her beauty and magic. As the song progresses, the witch seduces the young man with promises of wealth, power, and love. She offers him riches beyond his wildest dreams and tempts him with a life of luxury.

We first heard this song on a Stan Rogers album and learned his version. Later we discovered that it was written by Archie Fisher whose original words were rather different. As the words were difficult enough to learn in the first place we found it impossible to change them (Sorry Archie). The story remains intact however and it is a wonderful epic.

I seek the Witch of the West-Mer-Lands that dwells by the winding mere Then fly free your good grey hawk, to gather the goldenrod And face your horse into the clouds above yon gay green wood. Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

She offers him riches beyond his wildest dreams and tempts him with a life of luxury. However, she also warns him of the dangers that come with accepting her offer. She tells him that in exchange for these gifts, he must give up his soul and become her eternal servant.

I need wome help with these lyrics of the song "The Witch of the West-mer-lands", by Archie Fisher.

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

The following are the lyrics of the song. If you have access to
Napster you can probably download his recording of it. Stan Rogers
also did a version called the Witch of Westmoreland.

I'm fascinated by the lyrics. I'm not familiar with some of the words
(which I've retyped in CAPS). I'd appreciate any help with
"translations" and etymology of the words and phrases in capital
letters, and any other thoughts as well.

I think I know what some of the words mean but would like a second
opinion.

THE WITCH OF THE WEST-MER-LANDS

Pale was the wounded knight
That bore the ROWAN SHIELD
Loud and cruel were the raven's cries
That feasted on the field, saying:

BECK water, cold and clear,
Will never clean you wound.
There's none but the Maid of the Winding MERE
Can make thee hale and soond.

So COURSE well, my brindled hounds,
And fetch me the mountain hare
WHOSE COAT IS AS GREY AS THE WASTWATER
Or as white as the lily fair, who said

Green moss and heather bands
Will never staunch the flood.
There's none but the Witch of the WEST-MER-LANDS
Can save thy dear life's blood.

So turn, turn you stallion's head
Till his red mane flies in the wind
And the rider of the moon gaes by
And the bright star falls behind.

And clear was the PALEY moon
When his shadow passed him by;
And below the hill was the brightest star
When he heard the HOULET cry, saying

Why do you ride this way,
And wharfore cam' ye here?
I seek the Witch of the West-mer-lands
That dwells by the winding mere.

Then fly free your good grey hawk
To gather the golden rod,
And face your horse intae the clouds
Above yon gay green wood.

And it's weary by ULLSWATER
And the misty BREAK FERN
Till through the cleft o' the Kirkstane Pass
The winding water lay.

He said, Lie down, my brindled hound,
And rest my good grey hawk,
And thee, my steed, may graze thy fill,
For I must dismount and walk.

But come when you hear my horn
And answer swift the call,
For I fear e'er the sun shall rise this morn
You will serve me best of all.

And down to the water's brim
He's borne the rowan shield,
And the golden rod he has cast in
To see what the lake might yield.

And wet rose she from the lake,
And fast and fleet GAED she,
One half the form of a maiden fair
With a jet black mare's body.

And loud, long, and shrill he blew
And his steed was by his side;
High overhead his grey hawk flew
And swiftly he did ride, saying:

Course well, my brindled hounds,
And fetch me the jet black mare.
Stoop and strike, my good grey hawk,
And bring me the maiden fair. She said:

Pray sheath thy silvery sword,
Lay down thy rowan shield,
For I see by the briny blood that flows
You've been wounded in the field.

And she stood in a gown of the velvet blue,
Bound 'round with a silver chain.
She's kissed his pale lips aince and twice
And three time 'round again.

And she's bound his wound with the golden rod;
Full fast in her arms he lay,
And he has risen hale and soond
Wi' the sun high in the day. She said:

Ride with you brindled hounds at heel
And your good grey hawk in hand.
There's nane can harm a knight wha's lain
With the Witch of the West-mer-land.

Matti Lamprhey

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

The words evoke the English county of Westmorland (no second 'e' -- a
common mistake). It forms part of the English Lake District, and the
present administrative county of Cumbria. I'll try to explain your
capitalized bits below.

>
> Thanks.
>
> .
>
>
> THE WITCH OF THE WEST-MER-LANDS
>
> Pale was the wounded knight
> That bore the ROWAN SHIELD

"Rowan" is a name for the tree also called the Mountain Ash. I don't know
why a shield should be so called, though.

> Loud and cruel were the raven's cries
> That feasted on the field, saying:
>
> BECK water, cold and clear,

In that locality the mountain streams are called becks.

> Will never clean you wound.
> There's none but the Maid of the Winding MERE

. and the lakes are called meres. The largest is Windermere, and "Winding
Mere" probably alludes to that.

> Can make thee hale and soond.
>
> So COURSE well, my brindled hounds,

Hare hunting with hounds is usually known as "hare coursing".

> And fetch me the mountain hare
> WHOSE COAT IS AS GREY AS THE WASTWATER

Wastwater is another of the lakes -- said to be the deepest in England.

> Or as white as the lily fair, who said
>
> Green moss and heather bands
> Will never staunch the flood.
> There's none but the Witch of the WEST-MER-LANDS

You know Westmorland now -- I don't think West-mer-land is etymologically
valuable.

> Can save thy dear life's blood.
>
> So turn, turn you stallion's head
> Till his red mane flies in the wind
> And the rider of the moon gaes by
> And the bright star falls behind.
>
> And clear was the PALEY moon

> When his shadow passed him by;
> And below the hill was the brightest star
> When he heard the HOULET cry, saying

Don't know "houlet" at all.

>
> Why do you ride this way,
> And wharfore cam' ye here?
> I seek the Witch of the West-mer-lands
> That dwells by the winding mere.
>
> Then fly free your good grey hawk
> To gather the golden rod,
> And face your horse intae the clouds
> Above yon gay green wood.
>
> And it's weary by ULLSWATER

Ullswater is another large lake there.

> And the misty BREAK FERN

Probably a reference to bracken.

> Till through the cleft o' the Kirkstane Pass
> The winding water lay.
>
> He said, Lie down, my brindled hound,
> And rest my good grey hawk,
> And thee, my steed, may graze thy fill,
> For I must dismount and walk.
>
> But come when you hear my horn
> And answer swift the call,
> For I fear e'er the sun shall rise this morn
> You will serve me best of all.
>
> And down to the water's brim
> He's borne the rowan shield,
> And the golden rod he has cast in
> To see what the lake might yield.
>
> And wet rose she from the lake,
> And fast and fleet GAED she,

A Scottish word meaning "went"

You could try posting this to uk.local.cumbria, Suzanne.

Tom Deveson

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

I would guess it's meant to be 'howlet' -- a version of 'owlet' meaning
a baby owl, a little owl or just an owl.

The Witches in *Macbeth* put a 'howlet's wing' into the cauldron.

Tom Deveson

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

>That bore the ROWAN SHIELD
>
>"Rowan" is a name for the tree also called the Mountain Ash. I don't know
>why a shield should be so called, though.

Rowan was thought to be the tree that offered the best protection
against enchantment and witchcraft. There was an old Scots rhyme:

"Rowan, lamer [amber] and red threid
Pits witches to their speed [drive witches away]."

These are all reddish things -- rowan berries are red. Rowan staffs and
crosses were considered effective too. Rowan trees were often planted
outside Highland homes for protection.

There's information on this in *A Dictionary of Fairies* by Katherine
Briggs (1976). She was a great expert on folklore.

[PS Matti, this sounds as if I'm offering pedantic correction to your
already very helpful glosses. No such intention, I only saw the original
questions just now.]
--
Tom Deveson

Franke

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

Matti Lamprhey wrote:

Probably just a way to add a syllable to "pale".

> > When his shadow passed him by;
> > And below the hill was the brightest star
> > When he heard the HOULET cry, saying
>
> Don't know "houlet" at all.

Probably "owlet" -- baby owl. Checking the OED, "houlet" is an obsolete form of
"howlet", which means "owl, baby owl".

John Varela

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

> > That bore the ROWAN SHIELD
>
> "Rowan" is a name for the tree also called the Mountain Ash. I don't know
> why a shield should be so called, though.

According to Robert Graves: [The rowan] is also the tree most widely used in
the British Isles as a prophylactic against lightning and witches' charms of
all sorts: for example, bewitched horses can be controlled only with a rowan
whip.

So if one were going to mess around with witches, a rowan shield might be a
good thing to have.

--
John Varela
McLean, VA USA

Donna Richoux

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

[referring to line in ballad:]

> > > And clear was the PALEY moon
> >
> > Typo?
>
> Probably just a way to add a syllable to "pale".

"The paley moon" occurs in "The Garthan Mother's Lullaby" which was
translated from Irish Gaelic, I believe. I assume it is just poetic
convention, but maybe it's dialect.

I see on a Web page that the song appeared in a 1909 book, "Irish
Country Songs," and there it is spelled "paly."

"the paly moon hath brimm'd her cusp in dew."

--
Best --- Donna Richoux

John Dean

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

Longshot - 'paly' is a term used in heraldry to describe an object divided
by vertical lines where the spaces between are shaded in alternate colours.
So, at a stretch, a paly moon is a heraldic device with clouds / craters /
etc. breaking up the appearance
--
John ''say, 50-1. There's also 'paly-bendy' at 66-1'' Dean -- Oxford
I am anti-spammed -- defrag me to reply

khann

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

> > Franke wrote:
> > > Matti Lamprhey wrote:
> >
> > [referring to line in ballad:]
> >
> > > > > And clear was the PALEY moon
> > > >
> > > > Typo?
> > >
> > > Probably just a way to add a syllable to "pale".
> >
> > "The paley moon" occurs in "The Garthan Mother's Lullaby" which was
> > translated from Irish Gaelic, I believe. I assume it is just poetic
> > convention, but maybe it's dialect.
> >
> > I see on a Web page that the song appeared in a 1909 book, "Irish
> > Country Songs," and there it is spelled "paly."
> >
> > "the paly moon hath brimm'd her cusp in dew."
>
> Longshot - 'paly' is a term used in heraldry to describe an object divided
> by vertical lines where the spaces between are shaded in alternate colours.
> So, at a stretch, a paly moon is a heraldic device with clouds / craters /
> etc. breaking up the appearance
>

But . how could such a "paley moon" be as "clear" as the song tells us
it is, able to cast the shadow of the knight? But I believe that you are
on the right tack with heraldic language -- consider the rest of the
song.

When I first learned the song it seemed abundantly obvious that the
"paley moon" referred to a bright quarter or half moon -- a moon per
pale, argent et sable. This interpretation would to fit nicely with
Donna's quotation, for only a partial moon would have a cusp to brim
with dew.

The "rowan shield" would seem to refer to the knight's shield marked
with a device of a rowan tree, or some part thereof.

Donna Richoux

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

> > "The paley moon" occurs in "The Garthan Mother's Lullaby" which was

> > translated from Irish Gaelic, I believe. I assume it is just poetic
> > convention, but maybe it's dialect.
> >
> > I see on a Web page that the song appeared in a 1909 book, "Irish
> > Country Songs," and there it is spelled "paly."
> >
> > "the paly moon hath brimm'd her cusp in dew."
>
> Longshot - 'paly' is a term used in heraldry to describe an object divided
> by vertical lines where the spaces between are shaded in alternate colours.
> So, at a stretch, a paly moon is a heraldic device with clouds / craters /
> etc. breaking up the appearance

The 1913 Webster's Dictionary has two separate entries for "paly":

Pal"y (?), a. [From Pale, a.] Pale; wanting color; dim. [Poetic] Shak.
Whittier.

Pal"y, a. [Cf. F. palé. See Pale a stake.] (Her.) Divided into four or
more equal parts by perpendicular lines, and of two different tinctures
disposed alternately.

John Dean

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

And here's a further thought on that :-

'' ROWAN (Sorbus aucuparia)
The Rowan tree (also called Mountain Ash) is long known for aid and
protection against enchantment. Sticks of the Rowan were used to carve Runes
on. It was also used in the art of metal divining. Rowan spays and crosses
were placed over cattle in pens and over homes for protection. Its lovely
red berries feed the birds in winter. The berries have a tiny pentagram on
them. The pentagram is the ancient symbol of protection. The Rowan tree
indicates protection and control of the senses from enchantment and
beguiling. ''

--
John Dean -- Oxford

khann

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

>
> The 1913 Webster's Dictionary has two separate entries for "paly":
>
> Paly
>
> Pal"y (?), a. [From Pale, a.] Pale; wanting color; dim. [Poetic] Shak.
> Whittier.
>
> Paly
>
> Pal"y, a. [Cf. F. palé. See Pale a stake.] (Her.) Divided into four or
> more equal parts by perpendicular lines, and of two different tinctures
> disposed alternately.
>

I would venture that Webster's 2nd defn is not entirely well-advised as
there is no heraldic requirement for more than two parts divided
vertically.

From SOEDIII:
Paly 1486 . Her. Said of a shield (or of a bearing) divided palewise.
Palewise 1721 . Her. In the direction of a pale; vertically.

From Arthur Charles Fox-Davies _The Art of Heraldry, An Encyclopędia of
Armory_ 1904; reprinted 1986:
p.71 The pale is a broad perpendicular band passing from the top of the
escutcheon to the bottom, . Like all other ordinaries, it is stated to
contain the third part of the area of the shield .
p.72 When the field is striped vertically it is said to be "paly" of so
many .

Arms were oftened marshalled by impalement -- two coats of arms
displayed per pale on a single shield. So, on the basis of the heraldic
usage of paly shown in the SOEDIII, the division may be accomplished in
any practical number of divisions from two upwards.

Donna Richoux

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

Be that as it may, I'm quite satisfied that the "paly" in the lullaby is
the first one, "pale, dim." And probably in Suzanne's ballad, too.
Seeing the "Shak." citation, I hunted down a working Shakespearean
search engine (MIT's has never come back, but there's another called
"The Works of the Bard") and found these:

King Henry VI, Part ii
Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips
With twenty thousand kisses, and to drain
Upon his face an ocean of salt tears

King Henry V
Fire answers fire, and through their paly flames
Each battle sees the other's umber'd face;

Romeo and Juliet
No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest;
The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade
To paly ashes, thy eyes' windows fall,
Like death, when he shuts up the day of life;

Good enough for me.

khann

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

> >
> > The "rowan shield" would seem to refer to the knight's shield marked
> > with a device of a rowan tree, or some part thereof.
> >
> > KHann
>
> And here's a further thought on that :-
>
> '' ROWAN (Sorbus aucuparia)
> The Rowan tree (also called Mountain Ash) is long known for aid and
> protection against enchantment. Sticks of the Rowan were used to carve Runes
> on. It was also used in the art of metal divining. Rowan spays and crosses
> were placed over cattle in pens and over homes for protection. Its lovely
> red berries feed the birds in winter. The berries have a tiny pentagram on
> them. The pentagram is the ancient symbol of protection. The Rowan tree
> indicates protection and control of the senses from enchantment and
> beguiling. ''
>

Quite right, and no doubt the reason the chap took all the trouble to
bear his rowan shield down to the water's brim. But rowan puts witches
off, right? So either the good knight neglected the necessary red thread
or his shield was, as I surmised, a mere depiction of rowan and
therefore powerless as a protection beyond the physical plane. Lucky for
him! If it had been of proper rowan it would have kept the witch at bay
and he would have expired in a briny red flood. As it is he got himself
magically stitched up, laid, and an enchantment of protection against
future wounds. That's not a bad deal in return for a handful of wet
goldenrod.

Rowan is the preferred wood for building butter churns as it prevents
the butter from being "overlooked" by faeries. A whip of rowan is
necessary for controlling bewitched horses. Rowan wood was also used as
the material for one of the three legs of a "witching stool", a proper
stool being made from beech, oak, rowan, and elm.

Возможно, адреса электронной почты являются анонимными для этой группы или вам требуется разрешение на просмотр адресов электронной почты ее участников, чтобы увидеть исходное сообщение.

Despite the warnings, the young man is unable to resist the witch's charms and agrees to her proposition. He is quickly whisked away to her enchanted castle, where he is trapped for eternity. The song ends with a plea from the young man, who now realizes the mistake he has made and desperately wishes to be free from the witch's clutches. The Witch of the Westmoreland is a haunting and evocative ballad that explores themes of temptation, desire, and the consequences of making rash decisions. It is a cautionary tale that warns against the allure of power and material wealth, reminding listeners to be mindful of the choices they make. Throughout the years, the song has been covered by numerous artists, each adding their own unique interpretation to the tale. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the timeless nature of the story and the universal themes it explores. In conclusion, the Witch of the Westmoreland is a captivating folk song that tells the tale of a young man who falls under the spell of a powerful witch. It serves as a reminder of the dangers of succumbing to temptation and the importance of making wise decisions in life..

Reviews for "The Witch of the Westomoreland: Protection Spells and Rituals"

1. Mark - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Witch of the Westomoreland". The story was slow-paced and didn't seem to have a clear direction. The characters felt underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with them. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. Overall, I found the book to be uninteresting and struggled to finish it.

2. Emily - 3 stars - While "Witch of the Westomoreland" had an intriguing premise, I found the execution to be lacking. The world-building was vague and confusing, leaving me with more questions than answers. The writing style was also inconsistent and occasionally hard to follow, leading to a disjointed reading experience. Although there were some interesting ideas and moments, they were overshadowed by the overall confusing and disjointed nature of the book.

3. Rachel - 2 stars - I found "Witch of the Westomoreland" to be quite underwhelming. The plot was predictable and lacked originality, following the usual tropes of the fantasy genre without adding anything new or exciting. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions felt unrealistic at times. Additionally, the pacing was slow and left me bored. Overall, I was disappointed by this book and don't think I would recommend it to others.

The Witch of the Westomoreland: Embracing Nature's Magic