248 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



as a girl in the early years of the past century ; the only persons 

 permitted to take part in it were " honest wed women and 

 true maidens " who, with hand on God's word, declared 

 themselves as such. According to the version given, those 

 who had a wish needing the help of the fairies and other 

 hidden powers, and who desired likewise to baffle the evil 

 aims and spells of witchcraft, were required to keep a sharp 

 look out for the coming of the Hooded Crows ; on hearing 

 the first cry of the birds, and immediately after seeing them, 

 two women were to go indoors and prepare a dish of choice 

 food, to be mixed and made into balls, the herbs and other 

 ingredients for which were laid ready to hand, and the twain 

 about to work the charm were to add in turn one thing at a 

 time, both repeating an incantation, until all should be 

 mixed ; the balls, to the number of nine, each tied in a separate 

 cloth, were then to be dropped into a pan, ready boiling on 

 the fire, the last to be dropped in as the last line of the in- 

 cantation was repeated, both holding this last and ninth ball. 



THE INCANTATION. 



Hooded Craws frev ower t' sea, 

 \ Ah pray o' ye ti gracious be, 



. Sthrang o' wing, an' far o' fleeght. 



Ah beg a favour fra yer might. 

 ; Byv t' blood o' t' hawks, 'at fouled yer nist, 



Byv t' ullot's^ blood 'at brak yer rist, 

 ! Byv t' blood o' t' fox 'at teeak- yer prey, 



• An' raair an' all t' egg suckin' jay, 



• • Ah coss^ nut yan, bud coss 'em all, 



An' pray ill luck ti' on 'em fall. 



Wi' wicken thauvel,'* siller speean,^ 



Wi' han's held cross'd ; an' saut" 'at t' meean^ 



Ez leeghted^ on three waning neeghts, 



• Fra wezzle's^ heart, an' wild cat's leeghts, 

 r Fra nine white grubs fra fur an' rig, 10 



Fra flat tailed wo'ms fra mou'd an' mig.^^ 

 Fra chafiferi2 grubs, an' deead lambs' een, 



1 Owls. 2 took. 3 curse. * " Wicken thauvel " — a wooden implement 

 used for turning flat cakes on a " girdle." ^ silver spoon. ^ salt. 

 7 moon. 8 lighted. ^ weazel's. l" " fur an rig — furrow and ridge (of a 

 field). ^^ " mou'd an mig " — mould and manure heap. ^^ cock-chafer. 



