Elf Bulls or Fairy Cattle
“There was elf bulls rowtting and skyolling* up and downe there, and they affrighted me.”
So said Isobel Gowdie, when speaking of Fairyland, in her 1662 witchcraft confession. Deer were sometimes referred to as fairy cattle in the Highlands of Scotland. Could they be Isobel’s elf bulls? I have encountered roaring stags in the woods here in Aberdeenshire, and they certainly affrighted me. The baby pictured was less scary.
The elf bulls, and many other mysteries, I contemplate, and on I go…
* Rowtting and skyolling is usually translated as bellowing and screeching, Isobel’s wonderful words conjuring a truly fearsome noise made by the elfin creatures.
Sisters at the Edge of the World
From the misty hills of ancient Scotland emerges a tale of love, betrayal, and the fight for freedom. Join Morragh in SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD for an unforgettable journey.
“The setting is ethereal and spellbinding as our main characters walk a fine line between what has been and what is to come. A beautiful tale of ancient wonders and kindred souls.” Historical Novel Society review
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