THE SCENE: In the passage below, a weather-witch describes in detail how to gain control over the wind.
THE TEXT: When we raise the wind, we take a rag of cloth, and wets it in water; and we take a beetle [a piece of flattened wood] and knocks the rag on a stone, and we say thrice over:
“I knok this ragg upon this stane
To raise the wind, in the DIVELLIS name
It shall not lie until I please again!”
When we would lay the wind, we dry the rag, and say (thrice over)
“We lay the wind in the DIVELLIS name,
It shall not rise until we like to raise it again!”
And if the wind will not lie instantly after we say this, we call upon our Spirit, and say to him “Thieffe! Thieffe! Conjur the wind, and cause it to lie”
We have no power of rain, but we will raise the wind when we please.
– Confessions of Issobell Gowdie, spouse to John Gilbert, in Lockloy, 17th Century AD
