Welcome, fellow wanderers of the Scottish Highlands! Let me introduce you to the tattiebogle. It’s a tale steeped in the magic of medieval times, where farmers crafted scarecrows with extraordinary powers. In the rich agricultural land of Cromar, nestled in the heart of Deeside, our story unfolds, weaving together the lore of tattiebogles, the exploits of the notorious Gilderoy MacGregor, and the mysterious Warlock Stane.
The Birth of Tattiebogles: A Highland Tradition
In the North-East of Scotland, these magical guardians were known as tattiebogles. Bogles are ugly or terrifying ghosts in Scotland. And a tattiebogle inhabits a potato - or tattie-field. While in other corners of Europe, they bore names like bootzamonor, shoy-hoy, or Jack-in-the-straw. The farmers believed in their mystical abilities to ward off evil spirits and usher in the much-awaited spring. With inventive variations, from skulls on poles in Italy to wooden witches in Germany, these scarecrows hold a unique place in the folklore of different regions.
Gilderoy MacGregor and the Outlaw's Lair
Fast forward to the turbulent times after the plague, when Cromar faced the rampant raids of the notorious outlaw Gilderoy MacGregor and his Highland band of cattle thieves. Initially hired as protectors, they turned rogue, hiding in the Burn o' Vat gorge, driving cattle along the heathery roads with impunity. The Privy Council issued a "Wanted: Dead or Alive!" proclamation, but the highlanders' cunning ways persisted, leaving farmers like Akey Broon at the mercy of theft and destruction.
Akey Broon's Pact with the Warlock Stane
After enduring the loss of his cattle and home to Gilderoy's marauding band, Akey Broon sought a solution to safeguard his crops from the ravages of both thieves and crows. Guided by the echoes of the past, he ventured to the Warlock Stane at Craiglash, where dark spirits still roamed. The tales of this mysterious stone, where you hear no bird song, lingered. A stone stained with the blood of the Aberdeen Witch Trials, featuring witches like Margret Clarke and Janet Davidson. It is here they met before their capture and execution. At midnight, the warlock Colin Massie appeared and offered Akey a spell to create the ultimate tattiebogle.
The Creation of the Tattiebogle: A Gruesome Ritual
Following the warlock's instructions, Akey gathered eerie ingredients to craft the powerful tattiebogle. Pull a turnip from the field for a head. Place the eyes of a barn owl stoned to death. Insert the mouth of a smallpox victim. Next, buttons are made from the eyes of seven dead creatures. A rabbit. A cow. A deer. A snake. A salmon. A badger. A wildcat.
The tattiebogle needs hands. Cut them from the executed corpse swinging from the gibbet. Pluck out the criminal’s rotten heart and secretly place it within the straw chest. The scarecrow came to life after a chilling incantation. A laird, a lord, a lily, a leaf, a piper, a drummer, a hummer, a thief.
The tattiebogle’s gruesome head twisted. The owlish eyes glowed yellow. The crows took flight. Akey Broon's fields flourished. His neighbour’s fields were ravaged by fleeing crows. As the tattiebogle's influence grew, so did the darkness that surrounded it.
The Tragic Demise of Akey Broon
Despite the initial success, misfortune befell Akey Broon. Disaster struck the next year, the tattiebogle's power did not protect from creeping blight. Yet the tattiebogle’s sinister power grew stronger. Akey, driven to despair, severed its hand with his scythe. The creature screamed, and Akey's life took a tragic turn. Running from the scene he tripped, falling upon his scythe. His hand sliced off like the tattiebogle’s.
Now no longer able to plough his fields he turned to the whisky bottle for comfort. Spurred on by drink one night he returned to the tattiebogle. A swift swing of the scythe beheaded the evil monster. The head spinning in the air, the yellow eyes blazing with anger. Akey Broon tormented by his actions was found babbling like a madman. He met a grim and lonely end in bedlam, leaving behind a legacy of mystery and caution.
Legacy Unraveled: Gilderoy MacGregor's Downfall
In the shadow of Akey Broon's tragedy, Gilderoy MacGregor and his band faced justice, finally captured and hanged in Edinburgh in 1658. A new era dawned for Cromar, as a cattleman took over the farm, unaware of the supernatural events that had unfolded.
And so, dear travellers, as you wander through the picturesque farming lands of rural Aberdeenshire, look out for modern tattiebogles in the fields. And remember the tale of the tattiebogle—a guardian born of magic, haunted by the past, and forever etched into the rich tapestry of Highland folklore. Safe travels!
This is my rewriting of a tale I share whilst guiding in Deeside, Aberdeenshire. The original story appears in the excellent Aberdeenshire Folk Tales written by Grace Banks and Sheena Blackhall.