Burghers 2024 Poem by Sheena Blackhall

Burghers 2024
The Aiberdeen Burghers from An Unfinished Work pamphlet no 201 by Sheena Blackhall/ Middleton
Under a charter granted by King Alexander II who reigned from 1214-1249, merchant burgesses were given the sole right to form a Guild, and this body exercised considerable power in the composition of the local Council.

Ambassadors to serve the city's needs
Burgesses once repelled her enemies
Donated weapons to the armoury
Paid for a feast to treat town councillors

The burghers held a guild box full of funds
Banded with iron, with four locks, four keys
Before the days of safes and internet
No scams back then, no IT expertise

In the sixteenth century Norwegian ships
At Newburgh whilst unloading, they were seen
But Newburgh was not a free port then-
Under the jurisdiction of Aberdeen

The Dean of Guild came with an armed officer
Arrested the crew, removed sails from each mast
If paperwork was wrong he'd set in motion
Attack, declared it a pirate ship, in the past

In fifteen ninety seven, the Dean watched over
Burning of witches, pirates' execution
The rebuilding of part of the old town house
In all things civic, seeking a solution

Isobel Skuddie was burned as a witch in March
Needing loads of peat and fir for fire
Tar barrels and a stake to tether her
Pay for John Justice, hangman, to light the pyre

Most executions were on the Heading Hill
Thousands of citizens came to watch the scene
22 women in one year alone
Met death by fire as a witch in Aberdeen

Today, the Guildry supports selected citizens
The Guildry award scheme gifts grants to the special
The Dean in full regalia joins
Remembrance Sunday, kirkin of the council
As in the past, still in the town today
The burghers put the city's fortunes first
This port that is a global trading point
This cradle that its citizens has nursed