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{{short description|Goblin found in folklore}}
{{other uses}}
The '''redcap''' (or '''powrie''') is a type of malevolent, murderous [[goblin]] found in folklore of the [[Anglo-Scottish border]] region. The redcap 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.<ref name=Henderson>Henderson, William (1879). ''Folklore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders'' (2nd ed.) W. Satchell, Peyton & Co. p. 253.</ref><ref name=Briggs>Briggs, Katharine (1976). ''An Encyclopedia of Fairies''. Pantheon Books. p. 339. {{ISBN|0394409183}}.</ref> He is also known as '''Redcomb''' and '''Bloody Cap'''.<ref name=Henderson/>
==Description and behaviour==
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, [[sabaton|iron boots]], a [[pikestaff]] in his left hand, and a red cap on his head".<ref name=Henderson/><ref name=Briggs/> 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,<ref name="Briggs" /> 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.<ref name=Henderson/><ref name=Briggs/>
==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.<ref name=Briggs/>
The [[Kabouter]] (Kaboutermannekins), or redcaps of [[Dutch folklore]], are also very different and more akin to [[Brownie (folklore)|brownies]].<ref>Henderson 1879, pp. 250, 253.</ref><ref>Briggs 1976, pp. 247, 339.</ref>
The ruin of Blackett Tower, a border fortress that was owned by the Bell family in the [[Civil parishes in Scotland|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.<ref>Wood, J. Maxwell (1911). ''Witchcraft and Superstitious Record in the South-Western District of Scotland''. Dumfries: J. Maxwell & Son. pp. 294-5.</ref><ref>Westwood, Jennifer and Kingshill, Sophia (2009). ''The Lore of Scotland: A Guide to Scottish Legends''. Random House Books. p. 126. {{ISBN|9781905211623}}.</ref>
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.<ref>[[William Bottrell|Bottrell, William]] (1880). ''Stories and Folk-Lore of West Cornwall, Third Series''. F. Rodda, Penzance. p. 93.</ref> 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''.<ref>Allingham, William (1862). ''Nightingale Valley: A Collection of Choice Lyrics and Short Poems.'' London: Bell and Daldy. pp. 42–3.</ref>
==Robin Redcap and William de Soulis==
[[File:Hermitagecastle1.jpg|thumb|Hermitage Castle, home of Robin Redcap]]
Scots nobleman [[William de Soulis]], was said in folklore to have a redcap [[familiar]] called "Robin Redcap". This entity was 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.<ref name="Mack146">Mack, James Logan (1926). ''The Border Line''. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. p. 146.</ref> 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]]'' (1802) 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.<ref>Scott, Walter (1849). ''Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border'' (Vol. 4). Robert Cadell, Edinburgh. pp. 235–257.</ref> 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.<ref>Scott 1849, p. 243.</ref> Robin Redcap should not be confused with the mischievous [[hobgoblin]] known as Robin Roundcap of [[East Yorkshire]] folklore.<ref>[[Eliza Gutch|Gutch, Eliza]] (1912). ''County Folklore (Vol. 6)''. David Nutt. p. 54.</ref><ref>Nicholson, John (1890). ''Folk Lore of East Yorkshire''. London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co. pp. 80–1.</ref>
==See also==
* [[Bluecap]]
* [[Far darrig]]
* [[Kobold]]
* {{lang|rgn|[[Mazapégul]]}} – a mischievous nocturnal elf in the folklore of [[Romagna]],<ref name=":022">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=21 November 2020 |title=Mazapegul: il folletto romagnolo che ha fatto dannare i nostri nonni |trans-title=Mazapegul: The elf from Romagna who ruined our grandparents |url=https://www.romagnarepublic.it/territorio-e-storia/mazapegul-il-folletto-romagnolo-che-ha-fatto-dannare-i-nostri-nonni/ |access-date=1 March 2024 |website=Romagna Republic |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref name="riminitoday2">{{Cite web |last=Lazzari |first=Martina |date=29 October 2023 |title=Piada dei morti, preparazione e curiosità sulla dolce "piadina" romagnola |trans-title=Piada dei morti: Preparation and curiosity about the sweet Romagnol "piadina" |url=https://www.riminitoday.it/social/piada-dei-morti-preparazione-e-curiosita-sulla-dolce-piadina-romagnola.html |access-date=17 February 2024 |website=RiminiToday |language=it}}</ref> known for disrupting sleep and tormenting beautiful young girls,<ref name=":022" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Campagna |first=Claudia |date=28 February 2020 |title=Mazapegul, il folletto romagnolo |trans-title=Mazapegul, the romagnol elf |url=https://www.romagnaatavola.it/it/mazapegul/ |access-date=1 March 2024 |website=Romagna a Tavola |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref name=":72">{{Cite web |date=13 March 2014 |title=Mazapègul, il 'folletto di Romagna' al Centro Mercato |trans-title=Mazapègul, the 'elf of Romagna' at the Market Centre |url=https://www.estense.com/2014/367708/mazapegul-il-folletto-di-romagna-al-centro-mercato/ |access-date=2 March 2024 |website=estense.com |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref name=":82">{{Cite web |last=Cuda |first=Grazia |date=5 February 2021 |title=E' Mazapégul |trans-title=It's Mazapégul |url=https://ilromagnolo.info/rubriche/tradizioni/e-mazapegul/ |access-date=2 March 2024 |website=Il Romagnolo |language=it-IT}}</ref> who also wears a red cap<ref name=":022" /><ref name=":5" />
* [[Nain Rouge]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Fairies}}
[[Category:English legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Goblins]]
[[Category:Northumbrian folkloric beings]]
[[Category:Scottish legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Germanic legendary creatures]]