The redcap (or powrie) is a type of malevolent, murderous goblin found in Border folklore. He is said to inhabit ruined castles along the Anglo-Scottish border, especially those that were the scenes of tyranny or wicked deeds and is known for soaking his cap in the blood of his victims.[1][2] He is also known as Redcomb and Bloody Cap.[1]
Redcap is depicted as "a short, thickset old elf with long prominent teeth, skinny fingers armed with talons like eagles, large eyes of a fiery red colour, grisly hair streaming down his shoulders, iron boots, a pikestaff in his left hand, and a red cap on his head".[1][2] When travellers take refuge in his lair, he flings huge stones at them and if he kills them, he soaks his cap in their blood, giving it a crimson hue. He is unaffected by human strength,[2] but can be driven away by words of Scripture or by the brandishing of a crucifix, which cause him to utter a dismal yell and vanish in flames, leaving behind a large tooth.[1][2]
Variants
The tale of a redcap in Perthshire depicts him as a more benign little man living in a room high up in Grantully Castle. He bestows good fortune on those who see or hear him.[2]
The ruin of Blackett Tower, a border fortress that was owned by the Bell family in the parish of Kirkpatrick-Fleming in Dumfriesshire, was haunted by a more traditional ghost known as "Old Red Cap" or "Bloody Bell". A description of the tower and ghost was given by William Scott Irving in the poem "Fair Helen" in which the "ghastly phantom" holds a bloody dagger beneath a red eastern moon.[5][6]
The term redcap is also used in a more general sense. For example, in the village of Zennor in Cornwall fairies were often referred to as "red-caps" (including the more benevolent trooping fairies) because of their fondness for wearing green clothing and scarlet caps.[7] This characteristic is demonstrated by an excerpt from the poem "The Fairies" by the Irish poet William Allingham: Wee folk, good folk/trooping all together/Green jacket, red cap/and white owl's feather.[8]
Robin Redcap and William de Soulis
Hermitage Castle, home of Robin Redcap
The redcap familiar of Lord William de Soulis, called "Robin Redcap", is said to have wrought much harm and ruin in the lands of his master's dwelling, Hermitage Castle. Ultimately, William was (according to legend) taken to the Ninestane Rig, a stone circle near the castle, then wrapped in lead and boiled to death.[9] In reality, William de Soulis was imprisoned in Dumbarton Castle and died there, following his confessed complicity in the conspiracy against Robert the Bruce in 1320.
Sir Walter Scott in Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border records a ballad written by John Leyden entitled "Lord Soulis" in which Redcap has granted his master safety against weapons and lives in a chest secured by three strong padlocks.[10] Scott states that the Redcap is a class of spirits that haunts old castles, and that every ruined tower in the south of Scotland was supposed to have one of these spirits residing within.[11] Robin Redcap should not be confused with the mischievous hobgoblin known as Robin Roundcap of East Yorkshire folklore.[12][13]
^Gutch, Eliza (1912). County Folklore (Vol. 6). David Nutt. p. 54.
^Nicholson, John (1890). Folk Lore of East Yorkshire. London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co. pp. 80–1.
February 07, 2023
redcap, other, uses, disambiguation, redcap, powrie, type, malevolent, murderous, goblin, found, border, folklore, said, inhabit, ruined, castles, along, anglo, scottish, border, especially, those, that, were, scenes, tyranny, wicked, deeds, known, soaking, bl. For other uses see Redcap disambiguation The redcap or powrie is a type of malevolent murderous goblin found in Border folklore He is said to inhabit ruined castles along the Anglo Scottish border especially those that were the scenes of tyranny or wicked deeds and is known for soaking his cap in the blood of his victims 1 2 He is also known as Redcomb and Bloody Cap 1 Contents 1 Description and behaviour 2 Variants 3 Robin Redcap and William de Soulis 4 See also 5 ReferencesDescription and behaviour EditRedcap is depicted as a short thickset old elf with long prominent teeth skinny fingers armed with talons like eagles large eyes of a fiery red colour grisly hair streaming down his shoulders iron boots a pikestaff in his left hand and a red cap on his head 1 2 When travellers take refuge in his lair he flings huge stones at them and if he kills them he soaks his cap in their blood giving it a crimson hue He is unaffected by human strength 2 but can be driven away by words of Scripture or by the brandishing of a crucifix which cause him to utter a dismal yell and vanish in flames leaving behind a large tooth 1 2 Variants EditThe tale of a redcap in Perthshire depicts him as a more benign little man living in a room high up in Grantully Castle He bestows good fortune on those who see or hear him 2 The Kabouter Kaboutermannekins or redcaps of Dutch folklore are also very different and more akin to brownies 3 4 The ruin of Blackett Tower a border fortress that was owned by the Bell family in the parish of Kirkpatrick Fleming in Dumfriesshire was haunted by a more traditional ghost known as Old Red Cap or Bloody Bell A description of the tower and ghost was given by William Scott Irving in the poem Fair Helen in which the ghastly phantom holds a bloody dagger beneath a red eastern moon 5 6 The term redcap is also used in a more general sense For example in the village of Zennor in Cornwall fairies were often referred to as red caps including the more benevolent trooping fairies because of their fondness for wearing green clothing and scarlet caps 7 This characteristic is demonstrated by an excerpt from the poem The Fairies by the Irish poet William Allingham Wee folk good folk trooping all together Green jacket red cap and white owl s feather 8 Robin Redcap and William de Soulis Edit Hermitage Castle home of Robin Redcap The redcap familiar of Lord William de Soulis called Robin Redcap is said to have wrought much harm and ruin in the lands of his master s dwelling Hermitage Castle Ultimately William was according to legend taken to the Ninestane Rig a stone circle near the castle then wrapped in lead and boiled to death 9 In reality William de Soulis was imprisoned in Dumbarton Castle and died there following his confessed complicity in the conspiracy against Robert the Bruce in 1320 Sir Walter Scott in Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border records a ballad written by John Leyden entitled Lord Soulis in which Redcap has granted his master safety against weapons and lives in a chest secured by three strong padlocks 10 Scott states that the Redcap is a class of spirits that haunts old castles and that every ruined tower in the south of Scotland was supposed to have one of these spirits residing within 11 Robin Redcap should not be confused with the mischievous hobgoblin known as Robin Roundcap of East Yorkshire folklore 12 13 See also EditBluecap Far darrig Kobold Nain RougeReferences Edit a b c d Henderson William 1879 Folklore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders 2nd ed W Satchell Peyton amp Co p 253 a b c d e Briggs Katharine 1976 An Encyclopedia of Fairies Pantheon Books p 339 ISBN 0394409183 Henderson 1879 pp 250 253 Briggs 1976 pp 247 339 Wood J Maxwell 1911 Witchcraft and Superstitious Record in the South Western District of Scotland Dumfries J Maxwell amp Son pp 294 5 Westwood Jennifer and Kingshill Sophia 2009 The Lore of Scotland A Guide to Scottish Legends Random House Books p 126 ISBN 9781905211623 Bottrell William 1880 Stories and Folk Lore of West Cornwall Third Series F Rodda Penzance p 93 Allingham William 1862 Nightingale Valley A Collection of Choice Lyrics and Short Poems London Bell and Daldy pp 42 3 Mack James Logan 1926 The Border Line Edinburgh Oliver amp Boyd p 146 Scott Walter 1849 Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border Vol 4 Robert Cadell Edinburgh pp 235 257 Scott 1849 p 243 Gutch Eliza 1912 County Folklore Vol 6 David Nutt p 54 Nicholson John 1890 Folk Lore of East Yorkshire London Simpkin Marshall Hamilton Kent amp Co pp 80 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Redcap amp oldid 1130152043, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
