Scottish Myths and Legends

by Rodger Moffet

  "On the morrow, afore noon, shall blow the greatest wind that ever was heard in Scotland."

  This apparently predicts the death of Alexander III in 1286 who died the day after Thomas said it. The Scottish king was killed on a stormy night when travelling from Edinburgh Castle to see his queen in Kinghorn, Fife, and it is believed that his horse lost it's footing in the dark and the king was found the following morning on the shore with a broken neck. Alexander died without an heir.

  "At Eildon tree, if yon shall be, a brig ower Tweed yon there may see."

  From the Eildon tree that Thomas is talking about you can now, in fact, see a bridge which crosses the river Tweed.

  Other supposed predictions that were made by Thomas which have since come true are the succession of Robert the Bruce to the Scottish throne; Scotland's decisive loss to the English at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513, at which Scotland's James IV was killed; and he foresaw the union of the Scottish and English crowns which occurred in 1603. Thomas allegedly said that when the Tweed flooded into Merlin's grave, Scotland and England would have one king. Initially it seemed that this prophecy had turned out incorrect, but on the day of James VI's coronation the supposed grave of Merlin in Drumelzier flooded with water from the Tweed.

  Thomas went on and lived the rest of his life in the real world, until one day when it is said that Thomas finally went back to see his lover in the Land of the Fairies after he went out for a walk and was never seen again.

  In the 17th century, a Scottish Learmonth settled in Russia, and the famous 19th century Russian romantic writer and poet, Mikhail Lermontov (1814-1841) claimed to be a descendent of this Learmonth. Lermontov was thought of as the most important poet in Russia after the death of Alexander Pushkin in 1837 and it has been claimed, however never proven, that Lermontov is related to Thomas the Rhymer.

  Legends of the Clans

  Nearly every clan has a legend, the 'Seannachie' or Bard would keep these legends alive, passing them down through the generations. Clan legends have become part of Scotland's rich folk lore. With so many inter clan feuds its not surprising that stories of bravery or betrayal have have sprung up.

  The Grey Dog of Meoble and Clan MacDonald

  By Amanda Moffet

  There is an old legend which dates back to the early 1800s telling of a large dog with a rough grey coat and an unearthly wailing bark that appears to descendants from the Morar MacDonalds at the point of death.

  The tale begins with a young Highlander called Dugald MacDonald, the young man owned a deerhound which he loved very much. Like other young men at this time Dugald was called off to war. He was away from his home and his faithful dog for several years. When finally he returned home his neighbors told him that his beloved dog had left home and was living wild on an island in the middle of a small loch, high among the hills. Also in the time he had been away his deerhound had given birth to four pups. The pups were now almost fully grown. Dugald was warned that due to heir lack of human contact they were so savage that it was unsafe to go anywhere near them.

  Dugald ignored the warning and set of to visit the hill-loch, the only way to get to the island was to swim. Dugald desperate to be reunited with his dog swam over to the island. When he arrived on the island he managed to locate the dogs lair in the heather. The deerhound was away and her pups, on hearing him approach, emerged and tore him to pieces. When the deerhound returned and saw what had happened to her master, her howls of agony brought the folk of the glen to the scene. The pups were speedily hunted out and killed and Dugald's body was laid to rest in the little burial-ground at the mouth of the Meoble River.

  Legend has it the deerhound began a lonely and pathetic vigil, frequently waking the neighborhood with her mournful howling as she watched over her master's grave, until one day she was discovered lying stretched out dead beside it.

  For long afterwards the story of her watch over the grave was talked about through the district, but gradually, with the passage of time, it was largely forgotten, until one of Dugald's brothers became seriously ill at Rifern, a small crofting township lying across the river from the grave-yard. One night the ghost of the deerhound appeared at his bedside. It looked at him for several minutes, then gave a terrible cry and disappeared. A little later the man died. The spectre of the Grey Dog had made its first appearance.

  Another account of the ghostly deerhound appearing happens to an old Highland lady who lived in Glasgow in the early 1900s and whose family were closely related to the MacDonalds of Meoble. The old woman lived alone, confined to her room for many years and a friend who lived across the street was in the habit of calling each day to attend to her needs. On one occasion as the friend was leaving the flat, a large dog, of a type she had never seen before, passed her on the stairs. She thought no more about it until the following day when, much to her surprise, she saw it again, this time lying on the old lady's doorstep. With difficulty she pushed it aside and went in. In the course of the conversation, she happened to mention the dog. Her friend sat up in bed her eyes alight. When asked to describe the dog she replied:

  "it was very large, around the size of a Shetland pony, it was grey with a long curly tail."

  '"Ah!" exclaimed the old lady with a smile of contentment on her lips. "The faithful friend – she came at last." And with that she sank back on her pillow and passed away.

  The Repentance Tower

  By Rodger Moffet

  Hoddom Castle in Dumfriesshire is one of those places that have a special significance in our families own history. It was here that my mother and father first met while both were stationed there at the end of World War II when the castle was used a a military camp. The castle was never occupied again after the war and has gradually deteriorated to the point where it has become dangerous and the grounds are now home to a sprawling caravan park. A short walk out from the grounds and up a nearby hill takes you to the enigmatic 'Repentance Tower' which once stood on the castle's estate. The tower and the small graveyard it stands in yields some interesting stories about the people who once owned Hoddom Castle and the surrounding lands.

  The first curiosity is in its name "Repentance Tower". Dating from around 1560 local legends suggest that it was built by Baron Herries as a form of atonement for cutting the throats of some English prisoners while on a stormy crossing back over the Solway Firth and dumping the bodies at sea.

  Another version of the story however has gained more credibility:

  During the mid 16th century warfare between Scotland and England was common over this disputed border land. In the 1540s the English had captured Dumfriesshire and forced many to become 'assured Scots' pledging allegiance to England and giving up hostages to help them keep their promises. Among these Assured Scots was John, Master of Maxwell. Maxwell had an eye on Agnes Herries and the lands and title that he would inherit on marrying her. However as long as he sided with the English this could never be. At the Battle of Durisdeer Maxwell had turned out for the English but the signal of a black flag was given to his men and they turned against their English allies. The Scots were victorious and the English fled back to Carlisle. Maxwell won the maiden and the title of Lord Herries but paid a heavy price as all but one of the 15 hostages that had been taken to assure his loyalty were executed.

  The hill on which the tower stands was once used as the location for part of the chain of defensive beacons which stretched along the border lands to warn of English invasion. The new Lord Herries built this tower on the spot using stones from the ruin of nearby Trailtrow Chapel. Standing not only as a defensive structure the tower would serve as a monument to the hostages who died and as a memorial that showed his personal remorse.

  Later the estates passed into the hands of the Murray family and a small graveyard sprung up around the tower. John Murray, who's family owned lands nearby travelled to America in the 18th century and returned with a young black slave called Moses. As time went on the slave become a close friend of Murray and took on his
surname. No longer a slave but a free man he was given the honour of being buried in the family graveyard as an everlasting symbol of their friendship.

  The Gordons at Otterburn

  By Donald Cuthill

  On the 5th of August, 1388, the Battle of Otterburn took place. This was a skirmish between Scotland's James, 2nd Earl of Douglas, and England's Henry "Hotspur" Percy, the son of the Earl of Northumberland. This battle was part of continuous Anglo-Scottish border conflicts that were quite common at the time. It was a decisive Scottish victory, but was also a relatively bloody affair, with thousands of casualties, mainly on the English side.

  Since it was a border fight, many of the lowland clans fought along with the Earl of Douglas. Some of these families included Clan Lindsay, Clan Johnstone, Clan Montgomery, Clan Graham, and Clan Gordon. Since it was such a decisive and famous victory several ballads were written about it, including a ballad called The Battle of Otterburn.

  In the ballad a number of the families get mention, including the Gordons on a couple of occasions.

  The ballad begins:

  It fell about the Lammas tide

  When the muir men win their hay,

  The doughty Earl of Douglas rode

  Into England to catch a prey.

  It then continues to mention some of the clans there:

  He chose the Gordons and the Graemes,

  With them the Lindsays light and gay -

  Later on in the ballad it goes on to claim that the Scots proved to have been quite blood thirsty, particularly the Gordons, and slayed a lot of their enemy.

  The moon was clear, the day drew near,

  The spears in flinders flew,

  But mony a gallant Englishman

  Ere day the Scotsmen slew.

  The Gordons good in English blood

  They steeped their hose and shoon.

  There were also a number of Scottish casualties too, including, unfortunately for the Gordons, their leader, and father of Sir Adam Gordon, who also went on to give his life for his country.

  Clan MacFie and the Selkie

  By Amanda Moffet

  The origins of Clan MacFie/MacPhee and all it's name variations are said to be descended from a Selkie or seal woman.

  Selkies are a mythical people who can change from human form to seal form with the aid of a detachable skin. These skins are individual and only can be used by the person who owns them. If a selkie loses her skin, she is forced to remain in human form until she finds the skin again. The skins, however, are known to be enchanted and will find their way back to their owner no matter how long it takes. Selkies are found along the coasts of Scotland, Ireland, Britain, and in some parts of Norway and Iceland. When in seal form, the Selkies look like an ordinary seal, but when in human form the Selkies are usually dark skinned, with dark hair and beautiful dark eyes. Human Selkies are quite shy and sing beautifully. Some say a Selkie in human form will be surrounded by a faint glow, which only increases their attractiveness.

  While one such selkie was in her beautiful human form, her skin of seal, she married the first MacFie, who hid her fur so she could not return to the sea.

  The origin of Selkies isn't exactly clear. Some peoples believe that angels who fell to the earth became faeries if they landed on solid ground, and selkies if they fell in the sea. Others believe that Selkies are the souls of people drowned at sea who were being given a second chance at life as a shapeshifter.

  Selkies often fall in love with humans and vice versa, but the relationship seldom ends happily. The pull of the sea is so strong that the selkie usually returns, leaving a heartbroken mortal behind, and sometimes the children of the pairing are left as well. A human male is able to force a selkie woman to stay with him as his wife if he can steal away her sealskin and hide it. Only by locating her skin can she return to the sea, and if she does indeed find it she always leaves the man, sometimes taking her children to the sea with her. If the husband was good to his wife, she will protect and assist him from the sea, filling his pots with crab, warning him of storms, and ensuring good fishing for him. If a male selkie leaves his mortal wife for the sea, he will return to claim his children after 7 years, paying the mother for caring for the child and leaving her childless.

  The children born of a union between a selkie and a human are known as "Sliocha nan Ron" meaning "children of the seals". They are known as the Roan, and some are capable of turning into a seal if they possess their seal skin. The child is born with this skin and often with webbed feet or hands and rough patches of skin on their head and body. Parents of Roan children usually take the skin and hide it from the child, giving it back when the child is old enough to understand their gift. Even today, entire families are thought to be the distant descendants of Selkies. One of these families is the clan Macfie of Scotland. The name Macfie is derived from an older version of the name "Macduffie" which is derived from the Gaelic term "MacDubhSithe" meaning "son of the dark fairy of elf". The legend claims that the first Macfie took a selkie as a bride.

  The Falcon and the Ox-Yoke of Clan Hay

  By Tom Moss

  The origin of the Hay family, Earls of Errol, is said to date from the time of the Battle of Luncarty believed to have taken place in 971 A.D. The Danish were invading Scotland. The reigning sovereign was Kenneth III who, at the time of the event, was residing at Stirling.

  The battle took place in Pertshire, where this story is set, a tale which has existed in Scottish oral legend.

  When news reached Kenneth III that Danes had landed north of the River Esk in Angus informing him that they had pillaged, burned and murdered and that they were now en route to Perth. King Kenneth immediately set off, with his soldiers camping at Montcrieffe Hill on the way.

  At Luncarty a fierce battle developed, both sides fought equally hard. At one point the ferocious Danes, broke up one of the groups of the Scots army, resulting in the survivors attempting to retreat in the confusion.

  Nearby a countryman and his two sons, ploughing a field saw this happen, the father, commanded his sons to put a halt to this retreat. Armed with what they could find, an ox-yoke they barred the way of the fleeing men. He and his two sons forced them back into battle where they fought so well that the tables were turned and the Danes were left beaten.

  The father requested to accompany the King to Perth where he was to be honoured for his contribution to the victory.

  King Kenneth III commanded that a falcon be let off from Kinnoull Hill and that as far as it flew, the land would belong to the hero and his sons. The bird flew to a stone in St. Madoes Parish, still known as the Hawks Stone. The stone is now situated in a private garden. This took in some of the best land in the Carse of Gowrie, so overnight the peasant had become a very rich and powerful man.

  The Chiefs of the Hays carry their coat-of-arms three bloodstained shields representing the father and his two sons, the falcon, the ox-yoke and the supporters, two peasants, representing the two sons.

  A most interesting aspect relating to the legend is the fact that in 1770 a Mr. Sandeman, who farmed at Denmarkfield, which is the farm now occupying the site of the Battle, decided to level some tumli (mounds of earth, especially ones marking the sites of ancient graves) to make a bleaching field. On proceeding, the bones of men and horses were found. A little distance off, beside a large stone, traditionally pointed out as the grave of a Danish King, a sword was uncovered. This would appear to prove that a battle had been fought, to say nothing of the name of the farm.

  MacQueen's battle with the last Wolf

  By Amanda Moffet

  One of the visitors to our site has told us about a MacQueen legend. She found it on a microfiche taken from a book published in the about Clan MacQueen, which is now sadly out of print. There were a couple of Clan MacQueen legends in this book. One was a love story where a MacQueen ran off with a lass from a clan that was promised to a lad of another clan.

  The other was about a wolf that had been ravaging in Clan Chatta
n area and finally killed a young MacKintosh lass. The Chief of Clan Chattan called the clan levies out to search. First the levies were to report for a gathering then a search strategy would be made. The MacQueen was on route to the gathering coming through a gap in the mountains, when he came upon a wolf. There the wolf attacked him, he was forced to kill the wolf or be killed himself. He severed the head and took it with him to the gathering. He was many hours late when he finally entered the gathering due to his encounter with the wolf. The gathered clan levies jeered him and the Clan Chattan Chief admonished the MacQueen. The MacQueen said not one word, reached into his ruck and pulled out the wolf's head in a flourish and tossed it at the chief's feet. The MacQueen turned and walked away and returned to his home.

  As it happens, the book noted that this was the last recorded killing of a wolf on the Island of Alba and the MacQueen is supposedly credited with his kill. Pretty sad as the wolf's head is on the coat of arms for the MacQueen's.

  The version I have read tells of hunter named MacQueen, of Pall-a-chrocain, on the river Findhorn, in 1743. MacQueen was a giant of a man, and renowned as a deer hunter. He died in 1797.

  The land had become the hunting ground for a great black beast. The beast had already killed two children, and it was the Laird of MacIntosh who summoned a meeting to discuss what was to be done. The men arrived at the meeting except MacQueen. Eventually he arrived.